Camaya Coast

The Camaya Coast is a beach resort with a residential development in the municipality of Mariveles in Bataan province, Philippines. The 450-hectare community includes commercial and residential developments, which includes six subdivisions.

The area currently holds a restaurant, an infinity swimming pool, an event hall, and a boutique hotel. The hotel was built with the exterior resembling the architecture of Miami, Florida, while the interior has an Asian contemporary look.

Representative Albert S. Garcia from the 2nd District of Bataan stated that the Camaya Coast had huge tourist potential, as it was already bringing significant tourism to Bataan in general, and he was optimistic about its future. The mayor of Mariveles, Jesse I. Concepcion, said that the Camaya Coast is far more accessible than other attractions in the region, as it is only two hours by land from Metro Manila, and only an hour by ferry boat from Roxas Boulevard. The chairman of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), Deogracias G.P. Custodio, commented that Camaya Coast as an integral part of the work-life balance lifestyle at the FAB and favors the contrast the resort gives to the industrial and business sectors that make up the FAB region.

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The Historical Mount Samat

Mount Samat is a mountain in the Town of Pilar, Province of Bataan, Republic of the Philippines that is the site of the Dambana ng Kagitingan or "Shrine of Valor".
Along with the island fortress of Corregidor, Mount Samat was the site of the most vicious battle against the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942 during the Battle of Bataan.
The mountain is now a war memorial. A huge white cross stands as a mute but eloquent reminder of the men who died there. It also acts as a tourist attraction with a war museum nearby that has a wide array of displays from paintings of the Philippine heroes to armaments used by the American, Filipino and Japanese forces during the heat of the battle.

Mount Samat is a parasitic cone of Mount Mariveles with no record of historical eruption. The summit of Mount Samat is 9.2 km (5.7 mi) NNE of the Mariveles caldera. Mount Samat itself has a 550-metre (1,800 ft) wide crater that opens to the northeast. The Mount Samat Cross is situated near the edge of the crater rim. burat

Historical significance
At the start of World War II in 1942 after suffering heavy losses against the Imperial Japanese Army all over Luzon, the Filipino and American soldiers retreated to Bataan Peninsula to regroup for a last valiant but futile stand. After four months of fighting, the 78,000 exhausted, sick and starving soldiers under Major General Edward P. King surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942 known as the fall of Bataan. It is the single largest surrender of U.S. soldiers in history and Mariveles, a town in the Bataan province, was their last stronghold after which, together with the Philippine soldiers, they were led on to the 80-mile (130 km) march to Capas, Tarlac known as the Bataan Death March.
The Mount Samat National Shrine shrine was erected as a fitting memorial to the heroic struggle and sacrifices of those soldiers who fought and died in that historic bastion of freedom.

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Las Casas Filipinas de Açúzar

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a tourist attraction and heritage park in Bagac, Bataan, Philippines.^[1] Built by José "Gerry" Acuzar, owner of the New San Jose Builders, the park features a collection of 27 Spanish Colonial buildings and stone houses (bahay na bato in Tagalog), planned to resemble a settlement reminiscent of the period. These houses were carefully transplanted from different parts of the Philippines and rehabilitated to their former splendor. It also has restaurants, a beach and a pool. In Las Casas, there are also horse rides.
 Sitting on a vast property close to the sea, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a heritage resort where 18th to early-20th century Philippine houses, or casas, from several parts across the country have been rebuilt and clustered together to resemble a colonial-era Philippine community. There are mansions, stone houses, and even wooden houses on stilts, replete with cobblestone streets, sidewalks, and even bridges.
the resort owners have scoured the archipelago for such decaying structures, disassembled them, and then reassembled them -- brick by brick, plank by plank, as they say. Not that this endeavor, apart from being business-driven, has been spared from criticism from some sectors who argue that they aren't actually preserving them because the houses have been uprooted from their original locations, however. But personally, I think most of these structures would have rotted away nonetheless because of our people's collective lack of appreciation and concern for history.

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Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is an undefined region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where a number of aircraft and ships are said to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The triangle does not exist according to the US Navy and the name is not recognized by the US Board on Geographic Names. Popular culture has attributed various disappearances to the paranormal or activity by extraterrestrial beings. Documented evidence indicates that a significant percentage of the incidents were spurious, inaccurately reported, or embellished by later authors. In a 2013 study the World Wide Fund for Nature identified the world’s 10 most dangerous waters for shipping, but the Bermuda Triangle was not among them. Contrary to popular belief, insurance companies do not charge higher premiums for shipping in this area.Triangle area
The first written boundaries date from a 1964 issue of pulp magazine Argosy, where the triangle's three vertices are in Miami, Florida peninsula; in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and in the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda. But subsequent writers did not follow this definition. Every writer gives different boundaries and vertices to the triangle, with the total area varying from 500,000 to 1.5 million square miles.Consequently, the determination of which accidents have occurred inside the triangle depends on which writer reports them.The United States Board on Geographic Names does not recognize this name, and it is not delimited in any map drawn by US government agencies.
The area is one of the most heavily traveled shipping lanes in the world, with ships crossing through it daily for ports in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. Cruise ships are also plentiful, and pleasure craft regularly go back and forth between Florida and the islands. It is also a heavily flown route for commercial and private aircraft heading towards Florida, the Caribbean, and South America from points north.

History/Origins
The earliest allegation of unusual disappearances in the Bermuda area appeared in a September 16, 1950 Associated Press article by Edward Van Winkle Jones. Two years later, Fate magazine published "Sea Mystery at Our Back Door", a short article by George X. Sand covering the loss of several planes and ships, including the loss of Flight 19, a group of five U.S. Navy TBM Avenger bombers on a training mission. Sand's article was the first to lay out the now-familiar triangular area where the losses took place. Flight 19 alone would be covered again in the April 1962 issue of American Legion magazine. It was claimed^{[by whom?]} that the flight leader had been heard saying, "We are entering white water, nothing seems right. We don't know where we are, the water is green, no white." It was also claimed that officials at the Navy board of inquiry stated that the planes "flew off to Mars."^{[dubious – discuss]} Sand's article was the first to suggest a supernatural element to the Flight 19 incident. In the February 1964 issue of Argosy, Vincent Gaddis's article "The Deadly Bermuda Triangle" argued that Flight 19 and other disappearances were part of a pattern of strange events in the region. The next year, Gaddis expanded this article into a book, Invisible Horizons.
Others would follow with their own works, elaborating on Gaddis' ideas: John Wallace Spencer (Limbo of the Lost, 1969, repr. 1973); Charles Berlitz (The Bermuda Triangle, 1974); Richard Winer (The Devil's Triangle, 1974), and many others, all keeping to some of the same supernatural elements outlined by Eckert.

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Giant Crystal Cave's Mystery Solved

 Buried a thousand feet (300 meters) below Naica mountain in the Chihuahuan Desert, the cave was discovered by two miners excavating a new tunnel for the Industrias Peñoles company in 2000.
The cave contains some of the largest natural crystals ever found: translucent gypsum beams measuring up to 36 feet (11 meters) long and weighing up to 55 tons.
"It's a natural marvel," said García-Ruiz, of the University of Granada in Spain.
To learn how the crystals grew to such gigantic sizes, García-Ruiz studied tiny pockets of fluid trapped inside.

The crystals, he said, thrived because they were submerged in mineral-rich water with a very narrow, stable temperature range—around 136 degrees Fahrenheit (58 degrees Celsius).
At this temperature the mineral anhydrite, which was abundant in the water, dissolved into gypsum, a soft mineral that can take the form of the crystals in the Naica cave.
The new findings appear in the April issue of the journal Geology.

           

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Gilas Pilipinas Emotional Win Over Jordan

Gilas Pilipinas fed off the energy of the hometown crowd and uncorked a big third-quarter run to rally past stubborn Jordan, 77-71, to notch their second win in the FIBA Asia Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Trailing by as many as 11 points in the second period and still behind by six at 42-36 with 7:55 left in the third period, the Nationals, boosted by a boisterous crowd, dropped a telling 17-0 blast to seize a 53-42 lead and take control of the game for good.

Shooter Jeff Chan waxed hot from the outside all game long while pint-sized Jayson Castro ran rings around his defenders as the two combined for 33 points and helped fuel that big third-quarter rally that left the Jordanians stunned.
Jordan rallied to within six a couple of times in the fourth, but Jimmy Alapag buried a dagger triple with 1:45 left to push Gilas ahead 73-64 and virtually seal the win.
Although Jordan is missing the services of ace playmaker Sam Daghlas, forward Zaid Abbas and former naturalized player Rasheim Wright, the Nationals gained some measure of vengeance against the Middle East squad that knocked them out in the semifinals of the same tourney in Wuhan.

Gilas goes for a sweep of Group A against Chinese Taipei in what is expected to be a highly emotional match. Jordan fell to 0-2 and needs to beat Saudi Arabia to advance to the next round.

The Main Man: Jayson Castro William is not called “The Blur” for nothing.
Although standing a mere 5-foot-11, the Talk ‘N Text guard dazzled his Jordanian defenders throughout as he finished with 16 points, seven coming in that decisive 17-0 blast in the third canto.

Aside from his offensive prowess, Castro also put the clamps down on counterpart Wesam Al-Sous, who could only score two in the second half after racking up 11 points in the first half.

Honorable Mentions: For the second straight game, Jeff Chan provided the needed firepower from beyond the arc for Gilas Pilipinas.

The southpaw gunner of Rain or Shine waxed hot with a team-high 17 markers, highlighted by five big triples including a big one that ignited the team’s breakaway in the third canto.

Also coming up big for the Nationals was Gabe Norwood, who had a solid all-around outing of eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and as many blocks in 37 minutes of action.

More importantly, the 6-foot-5 Rain or Shine forward also made life miserable for Jordan’s naturalized guard Jimmy Baxter, who could only come up with 14 points after sizzling with 30 in the team’s 87-91 setback against Chinese-Taipei.

Game Turning Point: Pouncing on the Nationals’ slow start, the Jordanians banked on the exploits of Wesam Al-Sous and forward Mohammad Hadrab in taking an early 20-9 cushion.

Jordan restored its big advantage late in the second canto off a lay-up by Mohammad Shaher Hussein for a 36-25 edge, keeping the Nationals and the considerable crowd relatively stunned into the break.

The Nationals, however, showed up with fire in their eyes in the third, wiping out a 36-42 deficit by scoring 17 unanswered points, capped by back-to-back buckets from forward Japeth Aguilar.

Two made freebies by the 6-foot-9 Aguilar gave Gilas its biggest lead at 61-47 early in the fourth canto before the Jordanians kept coming back and pulled within six off Hadrab’s pair of charities with 2:03 to play.

Calm and composed, skipper Jimmy Alapag restored order on the Nationals by hitting a clutch corner triple for a 73-64 cushion.

Jordan scored the next four points, still entertaining some glimmer of hope going to the last 35 seconds, but Gary David and Castro nailed four big free throws to put the result beyond the doubt.


They Said It:
Jeff Chan: “Malaking tulong talaga ‘yung crowd kasi nakakapag-boost ng energy.”

Jayson Castro: “Sobrang relaxed ‘yung depensa namin nung first half. Pero nung second half, lahat ng player nag-usap-usap na.”

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes: “The crowd really gave us a big lift. Gabe Norwood did a hell of a job against Jimmy Baxter tonight. (Mohammad) Hadrab really hurt us in the first half. He (Castro) struggled at the start so I pulled him out after making a couple of mistakes. He settled down when he came back in and we saw his real game. Aside from his ablity to put the pressure defensively, he also puts the offensive pressure against the other team.”

Jordan coach Evangelos Alexandris: “We are an inexeperenced team. We made some progress in the last two months. But it’s hard to play before these raucous fans. I believe we can get better and better in the future. They (Filipinos) made threes and the atmosphere was against us. We missed easy baskets and had easy turnovers.”

The scores:
Philippines (77) - Chan 17, Castro 16, De Ocampo 11, Douthit 11, Norwood 8, Aguilar 6, Alapag 3, Tenorio 3, David 2, Fajardo 0, Fonacier 0, Pingris 0.

Jordan (71) - Hadrab 19, Baxter 14, Al-Sous 13, Hussein 9, Abdeen 6, Abu Ruqayah 3, Alhamarsheh 3, Abuqoura 2, Zaghab 2, Alnajjar 0, Alfaraj 0.

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Yamashita's Gold, Also Referred to as the Yamashita Treasure

Yamashita's gold, also referred to as the Yamashita treasure, is the name given to the alleged war loot stolen in Southeast Asia by Japanese forces during World War II and hidden in caves, tunnels and underground complexes in the Philippines. It is named for the Japanese general Tomoyuki Yamashita, nicknamed "The Tiger of Malaya". Though accounts that the treasure remains hidden in Philippines have lured treasure hunters from around the world for over fifty years, its existence is dismissed by most experts. The rumored treasure has been the subject of a complex lawsuit that was filed in a Hawaiian state court in 1988 involving a Filipino treasure hunter, Rogelio Roxas, and the former Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos.

The looting and the alleged cover-up
Prominent among those arguing for the existence of Yamashita's gold are Sterling Seagrave and Peggy Seagrave, who have written two books relating to the subject: The Yamato Dynasty: the Secret History of Japan's Imperial Family (2000) and Gold Warriors: America's Secret Recovery of Yamashita's Gold (2003). The Seagraves contend that looting was organized on a massive scale, by both yakuza gangsters such as Yoshio Kodama, and the highest levels of Japanese society, including Emperor Hirohito. The Japanese government intended that loot from Southeast Asia would finance Japan's war effort The Seagraves allege that Hirohito appointed his brother, Prince Yasuhito Chichibu, to head a secret organization called Kin no yuri ("Golden Lily"), for this purpose. It is purported that many of those who knew the locations of the loot were killed during the war, or later tried by the Allies for war crimes and executed or incarcerated. Yamashita himself was (controversially) convicted of war crimes and executed by the U.S. Army on February 23, 1946.

The stolen property reportedly included many different kinds of valuables looted from banks, depositories, temples, churches, other commercial premises, mosques, museums and private homes. It takes its name from General Tomoyuki Yamashita, who assumed command of Japanese forces in the Philippines in 1944.

According to various accounts, the loot was initially concentrated in Singapore, and later transported to the Philippines. The Japanese hoped to ship the treasure from the Philippines to the Japanese Home Islands after the war ended. As the War in the Pacific progressed, U.S. Navy submarines and Allied warplanes inflicted increasingly heavy sinkings of Japanese merchant shipping. Some of the ships carrying the war booty back to Japan were sunk in combat.

The Seagraves and a few others have claimed that American military intelligence operatives located much of the loot; they colluded with Hirohito and other senior Japanese figures to conceal its existence, and they used it to finance American covert intelligence operations around the world during the Cold War. These rumors have inspired many hopeful treasure hunters, but most experts and Filipino historians say there is no credible evidence behind these claims.

In 1992, Imelda Marcos claimed that Yamashita's gold accounted for the bulk of the wealth of her husband, Ferdinand Marcos.

Many individuals and consortia, both Philippine and foreign, continue to search for treasure sites. A number of accidental deaths, injuries and financial losses incurred by treasure hunters have been reported.

At present, the Mines & Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Natural Resources of the Philippines is the Filipino government agency that grants treasure permits.
Treasure skeptics

University of the Philippines professor Rico Jose has questioned the theory that treasure from mainland South East Asia was transported to the Philippines: "By 1943 the Japanese were no longer in control of the seas... It doesn't make sense to bring in something that valuable here when you know it's going to be lost to the Americans anyway. The more rational thing would have been to send it to Taiwan or China."

Philippines National Historical Institute chairman and historian Ambeth Ocampo commented: “Two of the wealth myths I usually encounter are the Yamashita treasure and gossip that the Cojuangco fortune was founded on a bag of money…” Ocampo also said: "For the past 50 years many people, both Filipinos and foreigners, have spent their time, money and energy in search of Yamashita's elusive treasure.” Professor Ocampo noted “What makes me wonder is that for the past 50 years, despite all the treasure hunters, their maps, oral testimony and sophisticated metal detectors, nobody has found a thing.”
Rogelio Roxas lawsuit

In March 1988, a Filipino treasure hunter named Rogelio Roxas filed a lawsuit in the state of Hawaii against the former president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos for theft and human rights abuses. Roxas claimed that in Baguio City in 1961 he met the son of a former member of the Japanese army who mapped for him the location of the legendary Yamashita Treasure. Roxas claimed a second man, who served as Yamashita's interpreter during the Second World War, told him of visiting an underground chamber there where stores of gold and silver were kept, and who told of a golden buddha kept at a convent located near the underground chambers. Roxas claimed that within the next few years he formed a group to search for the treasure, and obtained a permit for the purpose from a relative of Ferdinand, Judge Pio Marcos. In 1971, Roxas claimed, he and his group uncovered an enclosed chamber on state lands near Baguio City where he found bayonets, samurai swords, radios, and skeletal remains dressed in a Japanese military uniform. Also found in the chamber, Roxas claimed, were a 3-foot-high (0.91 m) golden-colored Buddha and numerous stacked crates which filled an area approximately 6 feet x 6 feet x 35 feet. He claimed he opened just one of the boxes, and found it packed with gold bullion. He said he took from the chamber the golden Buddha, which he estimated to weigh 1,000 kilograms, and one box with twenty-four gold bars, and hid them in his home. He claimed he resealed the chamber for safekeeping until he could arrange the removal of the remaining boxes, which he suspected were also filled with gold bars. Roxas said he sold seven of the gold bars from the opened box, and sought potential buyers for the golden Buddha. Two individuals representing prospective buyers examined and tested the metal in the Buddha, Roxas said, and reported it was made of solid, 20-carat gold. It was soon after this, Roxas claimed, that President Ferdinand Marcos learned of Roxas' discovery and ordered him arrested, beaten, and the Buddha and remaining gold seized. Roxas alleged that in retaliation to his vocal campaign to reclaim the Buddha and the remainder of the treasure taken from him, Ferdinand continued to have Roxas threatened, beaten and eventually incarcerated for over a year.

Following his release, Roxas put his claims against Marcos on hold until Ferdinand lost the presidency in 1986. But in 1988, Roxas and the Golden Budha Corporation, which now held the ownership rights to the treasure Roxas claims was stolen from him, filed suit against Ferdinand and wife Imelda in a Hawaiian state court seeking damages for the theft and the surrounding human rights abuses committed against Roxas. Roxas died on the eve of trial, but prior to his death he gave the deposition testimony that would be later used in evidence. In 1996, the Roxas estate and the Golden Budha Corporation received what was then largest judgment ever awarded in history, $22 billion which with interest increased to $40.5 billion. In 1998, The Hawaii Supreme Court held that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's finding that Roxas found the treasure and that Marcos converted it. However, the court reversed the damage award, holding that the $22 billion award of damages for the chamber full of gold was too speculative, as there was no evidence of quantity or quality, and ordered a new hearing on the value of the golden Buddha and 17 bars of gold only. After several more years of legal proceedings, the Golden Budha Corporation obtained a final judgment against Imelda Marcos to the extent of her interest in the Marcos estate in the principal amount of $13,275,848.37 and Roxas’ estate obtained a $6 million judgment on the claim for human right abuse.

This lawsuit ultimately concluded that Roxas found a treasure, and although the Hawaiian state court was not required to determine whether this particular treasure was the legendary Yamashita’s gold, the testimony relied upon by the court in reaching its conclusion pointed in that direction. Roxas was allegedly following a map from the son of a Japanese soldier; Roxas allegedly relied on tips provided from Yamashita’s interpreter; and Roxas allegedly found samurai swords and the skeletons of dead Japanese soldiers in the treasure chamber. All this led the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal to summarize the allegations leading to Roxas’ final judgment as follows: "The Yamashita Treasure was found by Roxas and stolen from Roxas by Marcos' men."

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Interesting Filipino Music Trivia in History

Did you know the inspiration behind the Christmas song “Payapang Daigdig”?

Inspired by the ending of World War II, this song is acclaimed as the local counterpart of the traditional Western carol “Silent Night, Holy Night.” It was composed by National Artist for Music Felipe Padilla de Leon. (From the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, v. 6, p. 264-265)


Did you know that the lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem had versions in three languages?

The national anthem composed in 1898 remained without words until Jose Palma wrote the poem Filipinas, which was used as the anthem’s lyrics in 1899. In the 1920s, the American colonial government commissioned the translation of the original Spanish lyrics into English and the product of which was officially adopted by the Philippine Commonwealth in 1934. In 1956, the Filipino translation by Ildefonso Santos and Julian Cruz Balmaceda was officially proclaimed. Some revisions were still made in 1962, the product of which is the version which is now sung publicly.


Did you know that Arsenio H. Lacson was the first to use a campaign jingle?

“…it would only be after the war that Filipino politicians would have real use for campaign jingles. The first to use one was Manila city mayor Arsenio H. Lacson. Riding an emerging American musical trend of sensual African drumbeats and Cuban rhythms, the “Lacson Mambo” contributed to the mayor’s victories in 1951, 1955, and 1959.” (From PCIJ.org, 2004)


Did you know that Borromeo Lou was the Philippine “King of Jazz?”

In 1921, a Cebuano named Luis Borromeo returned from America and Canada as Borromeo Lou. It was he who brought “American-style stage entertainment” to the country. He redefined the traditional vod-a-vil (or bodabil) by integrating “Classic-Jazz Music” in shows. “Borromeo himself became a jazz bandleader, and became known as the Philippine “King of Jazz,” the title then given to the famous Paul Whiteman in America (From Pinoy Jazz Traditions. Pasig City: Anvil, 2004).”


Did you know that Maria Carpena was the first Filipino recording artist?

Maria Carpena, known as the first Filipino recording artist and sarswela star, recorded Ang Maya for Victor Records in 1913. She did the recording with the Molina Orchestra, at a makeshift studio in the Manila Hotel.
(From CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art, vol. 6)


Did you know that Atang de la Rama was the first Filipino actress to appear in the movies?

Atang de la Rama also became the lead star in around 50 zarzuelas in various languages and performed not only in locally-renowned venues but also in “open plazas” and “cockpits.” (From www.nhi.gov.ph)


Did you know that Atang de la Rama was once a singing telegram?

While rehearsing for a zarzuela, Honorata “Atang” de la Rama was brought all the way to Baler, Quezon to be part of Manuel Quezon’s courtship to Aurora (who later became Quezon’s wife) by singing for her. (From Looking Back. Pasig City : Anvil, 2010)
Did you know that Rowena Arrieta had written her first piano composition at age five?

Rowena “Winnie” Arrieta, a first rate pianist, learned to play piano at the age of two and read musical notes even before learning her ABCs at the age of four. She was officially proclaimed the first Filipino Tchaikovsky laureate, after winning fifth place in the Seventh Tchaikovsky Music competition, piano division in Moscow in 1982. (From FOCUS Philippines, Aug. 21, 1982)
Did you know that the song Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal was finished in one week?

Multi-awarded composer Ernani Cuenco wrote one of his favorite songs, Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal with his wife as his inspiration. He wrote it because he wanted to write something about love, not only love of husband for his wife, but rather a kind of universal love… love for fellowmen, love for one another. Due to some revisions, it took Cuenco one week to finish the song. (From FOCUS Philippines, Aug. 14, 1982)
Did you know that Epifanio de los Santos (whom EDSA was named after), was also a musicologist and considered one of the three best guitarists in the country during the American period?

A man of many talents, de los Santos was a lawyer, writer, historian, bibliophile, and antique collector. In 1918, while serving as fiscal for Bulacan and Bataan, he was designated technical director of the Philippine Census by Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison. He succeeded Trinidad Pardo de Tavera as director of the Philippine Library and Museum in 1925. He was also a gifted musician—a great pianist and guitarist. During his time, he was considered one of the three outstanding guitarists of the Philippines. The other two were General Fernando Canon, a revolutionary hero, and Guillermo Tolentino, a renowned sculptor.


Did you know that Sangdugong Panaguinip was the first Filipino opera?

Sangdugong Panaguinip is the first Philippine opera in the Tagalog language. It was composed by Ladislao Bonus who is dubbed as the “Father of Philippine Opera.” Bonus is the maternal grandfather of Felipe M. De Leon Jr., a music scholar and humanities professor at the University of the Philippines, and son of National Artist for Music, Felipe Padilla de Leon.

The one-act opera with five scenes was based on the Spanish libretto La Alianza Soñada by Pedro Paterno which was translated into Tagalog by novelist and dramatist, Roman G. Reyes. First performed at the famed Teatro Zorilla on August 2, 1902.
Did you know that the APO Hiking Society was formerly known as Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society?

The singing group composed of singers, humorists, and songwriters was organized in 1969. Before the group was trimmed down to three members: Jim Paredes, Danny Javier, and Boboy Garrovillo, it originally included Butch Dans, Lito de Joya, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito Kintanar, Sonny Santiago, and Kenny Barton. The group is known for the distinctive urban sound and sense of humor in their music. (From CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art, vol. 6)


Did you know that Hotdog, a Pinoy rock and roll band initiated what is now known as the Manila Sound?

Manila Sound is a very light kind of pop music that uses colloquial language (or Taglish) and is expressive of juvenile sentiments. (From CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art, vol. 6)


Did you know that Levi Celerio wrote the lyrics of the song Sa Ugoy ng Duyan in just 15 minutes?

In 1948, he and other Filipino artists boarded the SS Gordon in Honolulu. Levi Celerio wrote it while the ship was still docked in Honolulu. (From Music in history, history in music. Manila : UST Publishing, 2004)
Did you know that the popular Christmas song Ang Pasko ay Sumapit was originally in Visayan?

The song’s original Cebuano text Kasadya Ning Taknaa (How Happy is this Time) is by Mariano Vestil and its music is by Vicente Rubi. It was translated into Tagalog by Levi Celerio. Its beginnings may be traced to the celebration of the Cebuano feast of the Pili-Kanipaan held in December. It was first performed in Old Opon (now Lapu-Lapu City) and was recorded under the Mareco label seventeen years later. (From CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art, vol. 6)
Did you know that Cecil Lloyd was the “Mystery Singer” of the 1930s?

Cecil Lloyd (1910-1988) started singing on radio in 1930. He was featured as the Mystery Singer on KZRM in 1934. He first recorded Tagalog compositions “Ikaw” and “Buhat” in 1939. In 1948, he established the first Filipino-owned record company, Philippine Recording System, which featured his renditions of Filipino folk songs. He is considered the Father of the Philippine Recording Industry. He was also a professional lawyer. He finished law at the UP in 1936. (From CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art, vol. 6)
Did you know that the term “Jeproks” from the song Laki sa Layaw (Jeproks) is a reversed version of “Project”?

The term “Jeproks” or “Project,” which was widely used in the late 1960s and 1970s, refers to the youth who come from the middle-to-low middle-income housing projects of the government (e.g., Project 2 and 3). (From CCP encyclopedia of Philippine art, vol. 6)

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Good to Know Interesting Art Trivia

1. Leonardo da Vinci expended 12 years painting the Mona Lisa's lips.

2. Gothic was initially a period of condemnation among the Italian Renaissance creative persons who coined it. The period implied that, contrasted to better academic buildings, the Gothic medieval cathedrals were so crude that only a Goth could produce them.

3. On 3rd December 1961 Henri Matisse's painting Le Bateau was put the right way up after suspending upside-down for 46 days without anyone discovering at the repository of up to date Art in New York, America.

4. Roman statues were made with detachable heads, so that one head could be removed and replaced by another.

5. Paul Gaugin, the French decorator, was a labourer on the Panama Canal. About 25,000 employees died during its building.

6. In very old times, it was accepted that certain colours could battle the evil spirits that lingered over nurseries. Because azure was affiliated with the fantastic spirits, boys were clothed in that hue, young men then being considered the most valuable asset to parents. whereas baby young women did not have a colour affiliated with them, they were mostly dressed in black. It was only in the Middle Ages when pink became affiliated with baby young women.

7. When Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was thieved from the Louvre in 1912, 6 replicas were traded as the initial, each at a huge cost, in the 3 years before the original was recovered.

8. On 3rd Dec 1961 Grandma Moses, the renowned American primitive decorator, died at the age of 101

9. English creative person Andy dark, created a portrait of ruler Elizabeth II of Britain by stitching together 1,000 utilised tea bags.

10. Carbon paper was patented on October 7th 1806 by Ralph Wedgewood of London, England

11. During his entire life, artist Vincent Van Gogh traded just one decorating; Red Vineyard at Arles

12. In 1658 the first illustrated publication for children was published in Germany.

13. Mental sickness may be profoundly to blame for the creation and enduring attractiveness of Expressionism. Van Gogh's well-documented mental instability, and Edvard Munch's traumatic childhood and enduring neuroses helped to churn out some of the Expressionists' most significant works. Munch acknowledged that his mental illness was part of his genius, "I would not cast off my illness, for there is much in my art that I owe to it."

14. On 20th November 1929 Spanish surrealist creative person Salvador Dali held his first one-man show in Paris, France

15.The large canvases Jackson Pollock utilised for his Abstract Expressionist activity paintings were usually prepared flat on the floor while he painted. Pollock was a string of links smoker and would frequently decorate with a tobacco hanging from his lips. This commanded to the intriguing incorporation of tobacco ashes into the exterior of some of his greatest works.

16. Picasso could draw before he could walk, and his first word was the Spanish phrase for pencil.

17. The phrase 'cartoon' originally comes from decorating periodinology? The period 'cartoon' connects to a preliminary, but completely worked, sketch from which the outlines could be moved to be the cornerstone of a conceive for a fresco or decorating.


18. When Auguste Rodin displayed his first significant work, The Bronze time span, in 1878 it was so very sensible that people considered he had forfeited a reside model interior the cast.

19. The world famous Louvre Museum and Art Gallery in Paris, France was built in 1190 and was utilised as a fortress.

20. Rodin died of frostbite in 1917 when the French government denied him economic help for a flat, yet they kept his figurines affectionately housed in museums.

21. That in 1495 Leonardo da Vinci conceived a pyramid-shaped parachute, and began decorating The Last Supper.

22. Left-handed painter, Michelangelo, painted his well known David and Goliath with David holding his sling in his left hand.

23. Another famous left-hander, Leonardo da Vinci, composed all of his individual remarks from right to left, forcing those who read them to use a mirror.

24. Pablo Picasso loved animals. Through his mature person life he belongs to a favourite monkey, an owl, a goat, a turtle and loads of canines and cats. He was known to depart his studio windows open and to paint the pigeons that took flight through.

25. The first pencil was created in England in 1565

26. The period Art Nouveau was taken from the title of a shop that opened in Paris in 1895. In France, Art Nouveau is referred to as 'Modern Style'.

27. Vincent Van Gogh pledged suicide while decorating Wheat Field with Crows.

28. In 1961 Georges Braque was the first living artist to have his work displayed in the Louvre. In supplement to painting, Braque furthermore designed stage groups, costumes and showed publications.

29. Impressionism was granted its name from one of Monet's images, Impression: Sunrise.

30. persons have been decorating things for the past 20,000 years, but it wasn't until 1880 that you could buy prepared blended paints.

31. Genghis Khan forever impacted Eastern porcelain by inserting the Chinese to cobalt blue, which he carried from Iran.

32. In all of Dali's paintings you can find a self-portrait. That is, if you look hard you will glimpse at-least a silhouette of Dali himself.

33. Leonardo Da Vinci invented high heels

34. In the late nineteenth century the Impressionist action was primarily not obtained very well by the establishment. reconsiders were at times abusive: La Figaro, 1876, "Five or six lunatics, one of them a woman, have contacted here to exhibit their works. somebody should tell Mr. Pissarro forcibly that trees are not ever violet, the sky is not ever the hue of fresh dairy spread, that nowhere on soil are things to be glimpsed as he paints them." perhaps not, but the attractiveness of this action cannot be argued

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How to Remove Kidney Stones Naturally Without Surgery

The Kidney Stones can be treated with Non-Surgical method , i mean we can remove them applying some natural remedies and sustain a Good Diet by consuming wholesome foods The origin for this was yet hesitant, Studies states it is likely the hardening of urine will pave the way to Kidney stones

Natural procedure to remove kidney Stones

There are numerous causes other than this like intake of surplus Vitamin D, Infection and Obstruction. The Kidney pebbles vary from Size, if it is large it will block the urine and enlarges your body. In the 1000 persons on the soil, one will have this kidney pebble difficulty

Symptoms
Nausea and Vomitings will occur following the critical agony
smaller Back agony happens when it moves into kidney
Severe Abdomen pain occurs when it moves into the ureter

7 likely ways to heal Kidney pebbles routinely

1) Consume more Water
Drink more than two litres of water everyday
It will disintegrate the Toxins and flush the kidney pebbles out of your Body

2) consume Watermelon
The Substance present in watermelon will mend the kidney pebbles
As it is most of water, you can consume exactly or make them juice

3) Olive oil + lemon juice
The Mixture of Olive oil and Lemon juice extract extract should be in equal percentage
Drink this before your Bed time
It is an world broad herbal cure remedy for kidney pebbles

4) Exercises
Your body needs workout to stimulate the body and expel the kidney pebbles'
Try to do physical exercises atleast half an hour a day frequently

5) bypass very quick nourishment
bypass the caffeine, processed nourishment and alcohol
Consume the animal Protein nourishment Less

6) Reduce Oxalate nourishment
The edible kernels and nuts have high oxalate, try to bypass in your diet
The Green leafy vegetables also produces oxlate when prepared food, try to bypass them

If the Stones is too large sufficient which cnanot be healed by Natural remedies, please seek an Doctor recommendations, If you desire to avert this Kidney Stones, Try to Consume more water and decrease the intake of Calcium

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Mike Miller likely to Sign with the Thunder, Rockets or Spurs

Maybe Mike Miller has a little revenge on the brain.
After being amnestied by the Heat on Tuesday and clearing waivers to become an unrestricted free agent Thursday,
Miller is telling friends he's likely to sign with the Thunder, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
Other teams interested in the 33-year-old guard are said to be the Rockets and Spurs.

All the Thunder can offer Miller is the league minimum, but after being amnestied, the Heat owe him almost $13 million over the next two years.
Miller has won back-to-back championships in Miami, one being over the Thunder in which he hit an incredible 7 of 8 from 3-point range in the clinching Game 5. He primarily was deployed as a spot-up shooter for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. In the Finals against the Spurs, he hit 11 of 18 from 3. He's an elite shooter, a playoff-tested veteran and a player who knows how to play his role.
A few teams were interested in putting an amnesty bid in on Miller, though after word leaked he was considering back surgery, he cleared waivers on Thursday. Miller wants to sign with a contender, which the Thunder obviously are. The back surgery thing appears to have been a bit of a smokescreen to make sure he had his pick of teams. Because as for his health, Miller told the Sun-Sentinel on Tuesday:
"I'm excited about the next spot. I'm re-energized. I really am. I'm just feeling healthy. I'm ready to play. I started to get back in there again last week and I can't wait to play again next year."
                                                                                       
            

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LeBron Is Coming For A Day In Manila

Two championship rings, four MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and two All-Star MVPs, two Olympic golds, two Bronze, one Fiba gold.

But that’s not the whole story, because it doesn’t include the complete and absolute hate he had to endure while going about making those accomplishments. More than anything RESPECT is what I feel for this guy nothing more nothing less.

Anyway here’s the press release for the ‘leave a message’ part:

An Opportunity for Manila Fans to “Leave a Message”
Shortly after LeBron clinched his 2nd championship last month, Nike celebrated the athlete’s success with its “Leave a Message” campaign on digital and social media channels which featured basketball luminaries and influential figures for James, including, Spike Lee, Warren Buffet, Dr. Dre, Coach K, Phil Knight, Drake, Bill Russell and kids from The LeBron James Family Foundation leaving congratulatory messages for LeBron on his answering machine.

In the same way, Filipino fans will have a special opportunity to leave personal messages for LeBron through social media, radio and retail activation starting July 12, 2013. By visiting the Nike Basketball Facebook and Twitter pages, fans can “leave a message” for the two-time champion along with a photo of themself that express a personal message to LeBron. The caption of the photo should tag Nike Basketball Philippines (https://www.facebook.com/nikebasketball.phils) on Facebook or tag @NikePH on Twitter, both including the hashtag #WITNESSHISTORY.

Filipino fans can witness history and see LeBron live on July 23, 2013. Tickets will be distributed at Nike Park in Bonifacio Global City at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Tickets are free of charge and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Only two tickets will be given per person.

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Create Custom URL for Blog Post

Earlier days,your blog post URL couldn't be set before publishing your blog post.Blogger automatically generate URL for you from your post title.Most times our title have much more characters (40 and above) which automated URL could't include.As all you know URL play a vital role in Google Search Engine,so that to get good keyword included URL , I was creating URL first and then content next.
But some day before, Google introduced new option to create Custom URL in New blogger interface.
That means,before publishing the post itself ,you can see and edit the post URL according to your wish.

How To Customize Post URL :

1. Login to your Blogger account. And click on 'Create new Post' button (Pencil signed ) to open your Blog Post Editor.
2. At right side of Post Editor, Click on Permalink button.
   Add your URL in provided text field.

 




1. After customizing URL, Click on Done Button and Publish your post.

It sounds good that blogger have started to add some SEO tools these days.

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Heliocentrism

Heliocentrism, or heliocentricism, is the astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around a relatively stationary Sun at the center of the Solar System. The word comes from the Greek (ἥλιος helios "sun" and κέντρον kentron "center"). Historically, heliocentrism was opposed to geocentrism, which placed the Earth at the center. The notion that the Earth revolves around the Sun had been proposed as early as the 3rd century BC by Aristarchus of Samos, but Aristarchus's heliocentrism attracted little attention until Copernicus revived and elaborated it. Lucio Russo, however, argues that this is a misleading impression resulting from the loss of scientific works of the Hellenistic Era. Using indirect evidence he argues that a heliocentric view was expounded in Hipparchus's work on gravity
It was not until the 16th century that a fully predictive mathematical model of a heliocentric system was presented, by the Renaissance mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic cleric Nicolaus Copernicus of Poland, leading to the Copernican Revolution. In the following century, Johannes Kepler elaborated upon and expanded this model to include elliptical orbits, and supporting observations made using a telescope were presented by Galileo Galilei.
To anyone who stands and looks up at the sky, it seems that the Earth stays in one place, while everything in the sky rises in the east and sets in the west once a day. With more scrutiny, however, one will observe more complicated movements. The positions at which the Sun and moon rise change over the course of a year, some planets and stars do not appear at all for many months, and planets sometimes appear to have moved in the reverse direction for a while, relative to the background stars.
As these motions became better understood, more elaborate descriptions were required, the most famous of which was the geocentric Ptolemaic system, which achieved its full expression in the 2nd century. The Ptolemaic system was a sophisticated astronomical system that managed to calculate the positions for the planets to a fair degree of accuracy. Ptolemy himself, in his Almagest, points out that any model for describing the motions of the planets is merely a mathematical device, and since there is no actual way to know which is true, the simplest model that gets the right numbers should be used.However, he rejected the idea of a spinning earth as absurd as he believed it would create huge winds. His planetary hypotheses were sufficiently real that the distances of moon, sun, planets and stars could be determined by treating orbits' celestial spheres as contiguous realities. This made the stars' distance less than 20 Astronomical Units, a regression, since Aristarchus of Samos's heliocentric scheme had centuries earlier necessarily placed the stars at least two orders of magnitude more distant.

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The Rosetta Stone

The Rosetta Stone is a fragment of a stela, a free-standing stone inscribed with Egyptian governmental or religious records.

It’s made of black basalt and weighs about three-quarters of a ton (0.680 metric tons).

The stone is 118 cm (46.5 in.) high, 77 cm. (30 in.) wide and 30 cm. (12 in.) deep — roughly the size of a medium-screen LCD television or a heavy coffee table

But what’s inscribed on the Rosetta Stone is far more significant than its composition. It features three columns of inscriptions, each relaying the same message but in three different languages:

Greek, hieroglyphics and Demotic. Scholars used the Greek and Demotic inscriptions to make sense of the hieroglyphic alphabet.

 By using the Rosetta Stone as a translation device, scholars revealed more than1,400 years of ancient Egyptian secrets

Museum Image Gallery: Rosetta Stone on display in British Museum

The discovery and translation of the Rosetta Stone are as fascinating as the translations that resulted from the stone. 

 Controversial from the start, it was unearthed as a result of warfare and Europe’s quest for world domination.

 . Its translation continued to cause strife between nations, and even today, scholars debate who should be credited with the triumph of solving the hieroglyphic code.

  Even the stone’s current location is a matter of debate. This artifact has long held a powerful grip over history and politics.

 Since 1802, the Rosetta Stone has occupied a space in London’s British Museum.

                           

                             

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Solo Artist Who Had The Most Number One Hits

Mariah Carey.

Carey's latest single, "Touch My Body," made music history this week as she surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist with the most No. 1 singles in the modern pop era.

The cut is her 18th No. 1 song and the first single from her

"E=MC2" album, due April 15. Carey bests a tally Presley has held for 40 years. He last topped the singles chart with "Suspicious Minds" in 1969. Carey's 2005 comeback, "The Emancipation of Mimi," spawned two No. 1 hits, "We Belong Together" and "Don't Forget About Us." Should the new album meet with the same degree of success, she could tie or even best the Beatles' 20 No. 1 singles, a record for any pop group.

                                                                                        

 Justin Timberlake and Fergie share the record for the most number-one singles in Pop 100 for a solo artist, having four chart-toppers.

If you're intested in the UK charts, then Elvis has had a record 21 British chart-toppers, interestingly with 18 different songs (some were reissued/remixed).

The Beatles come second with 17 No 1s.

Paul McCartney has featured on more #1s than any other artist albeit under many different guises and pseudonyms: 24 in total!

- solo (1) "Pipes Of Peace"
- Wings (1) "Mull Of Kintyre/Girls' School"
- with Stevie Wonder (1) "Ebony And Ivory"
- with The Christians, Holly Johnson, Gerry Marsden, Stock Aitken & Waterman (1) "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey"
- as part of Ferry Aid (1) "Let It Be"
- as part of Band Aid (1) "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
- as part of Band Aid 20 (1) "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
- The Beatles (17).

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John McCarthy (mixed martial arts)

John Michael McCarthy, (born October 12, 1962 in Los Angeles, CA) the 'Octagon's ninth side', is the first head referee for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a retired Los Angeles Police Officer, and a Tactical Self-Defense Instructor at the Los Angeles Police Academy.

He formerly provided commentary and analysis for The Fight Network's coverage of UFC events. He also provided commentary for Affliction: Banned, the first MMA event co-produced by Affliction Clothing and Adrenaline MMA. He has served as head referee for hundreds of bouts in major MMA promotions dating back to 1993.^[1] He is also the founder of C.O.M.M.A.N.D., the training and certification school for MMA referees and judges.

 The nickname of 'Big John' came about because of his stature. He stands 6'4" and weighs 270 lb; making him larger than the majority of the athletes over whom he presides. According to a UFC interview, the nickname was given to him by UFC co-founder and promoter Art Davie. McCarthy recalls that the nickname began when he forcibly lifted Davie off the ground and held him in the air. John McCarthy is of Irish descent.
UFC
McCarthy was the most senior referee in the UFC and is well known for his delivery of "Let's Get It On!", a catchphrase created by boxing referee Mills Lane. McCarthy served as one of the head referees for nearly every fight in the UFC from UFC 2 until UFC 77, and was considered as much a part of the UFC as the octagonal arena itself. His 535th bout was the main event at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra finale in Las Vegas, Roger Huerta vs. Clay Guida.

McCarthy briefly retired after this bout to pursue a career as a commentator for The Fight Network but returned to officiating just a year later. Since his return, McCarthy has refereed for promotions all over the globe including the UFC and Strikeforce.

His connection to the UFC was attributed to his relationship with the Gracie family, particularly Rorion Gracie. McCarthy had been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Rorion at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, CA in the early 1990s, and was designated a certified "GRAPLE" (Gracie Resisting Attack Procedures for Law Enforcement) instructor by the Gracie Academy in December 1993.

When Rorion Gracie was putting together his new fighting promotion in 1993, McCarthy expressed interest in fighting for the UFC, but Gracie advised against it; however, due to his experience in law enforcement, McCarthy was seen as a fitting man to referee. He debuted at UFC 2: No Way Out in 1994.

The early days of UFC did not contain many rules; McCarthy's role was only to supervise the fight and to ensure that it ended promptly when a competitor either submitted (also known as tap out), was knocked out, or had his towel thrown in. Although first disfavored by UFC executives, after UFC 2 McCarthy insisted on referee stoppages when a fighter cannot intelligently defend himself.

On December 31, 2004, McCarthy served as the referee for a fight held on the K-1 Dynamite! card at the Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan between MMA legend Royce Gracie and Sumo legend-turned-fighter Akebono Taro.
Personal life
In September 2006, John McCarthy opened his first MMA school in Valencia, CA. This 29,000-square-foot (2,700 m²) gym is one of the largest MMA schools in California. His dozen or so instructors teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, judo, and MMA. In January 2007, he was awarded his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Currently, McCarthy lives in

Los Angeles with his wife Elaine and their three children: Ronald II (named after his grandfather), Britney and John Michael Junior (AKA "Little John").

In early 2008, McCarthy started a referee and judging course for MMA officials called COMMAND (Certification of Officials for Mixed Martial Arts National Development).
On September 1, 2011, McCarthy's autobiography titled "Let's Get It On - The Making of MMA and its Ultimate Referee" was released.

McCarthy appeared with retired MMA fighter Bas Rutten in New Found Glory's video "Listen To Your Friends", where he refs MMA fights between the band members. The music video, which was shot on November 5, 2008 in Los Angeles, California, premiered on March 9, 2009. He has also appeared on Fight Science "super cops" on national geographic.

McCarthy also appeared in the TV series "Friends", season 3 episode 24 "The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion" where he plays the referee of a UFC match between Tank Abbott and Jon Favreau.
McCarthy also serves as the referee on the MTV2 series Bully Beatdown, along with professional mixed martial artist Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

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Famous Failure of All Time

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PBA All Time Leader in Assists

 

PBA ALL TIME LEADER IN ASSISTS: (ACTIVE PLAYERS)

NO. 1 JIMMY ALAPAG              -- 2959 ASSISTS

NO. 2 WILLIE MILLER               -- 2294 ASSISTS
NO. 3 JAYJAY HELTERBRAND -- 1924 ASSISTS
NO. 4 ALEX CABAGNOT           --1816 ASSISTS
NO. 5 WYNNE ARBOLEDA       -- 1773 ASSISTS
NO. 6 MIKE CORTEZ                  -- 1764 ASSISTS
NO. 7 DANNY ILDEFONSO       -- 1598 ASSISTS
NO. 8 LA TENORIO                     -- 1454 ASSISTS
NO. 9 CYRUS BAGUIO               -- 1219 ASSISTS
NO. 10 MARK CAGUIOA            -- 1206 ASSISTS

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Michael Jordan The Legend

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials, MJ, is an American former professional basketball player, entrepreneur, and majority owner and chairman of the Charlotte Bobcats.

His biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in

popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.

After a three-season career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1982, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in slam dunk contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat". Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards.

Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances, three All-Star Game MVP awards, ten scoring titles, three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game). In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Jordan is also known for his product endorsements. He fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1985 and remain popular today. Jordan also starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam as himself. He is the majority owner and head of basketball operations for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, having won a bidding war to buy controlling interest in the team from founding owner Robert L. Johnson.

            

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