Catriona Gray raises funds for young people of Tondo through 'Legacy Ball'

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Catriona Gray

There's no stopping model, actress, singer, and beauty queen Catriona Gray from helping the poor young people of Tondo, Manila.

This is as the former Miss Universe announced the holding of Catriona Gray's Legacy Ball at the City of Dreams Manila ballroom in Parañaque City to benefit Young Focus Philippines on Nov. 22.

Guests and donors will attend the fundraising event, which will be filled with music, fashion, and purpose. 

The event will be hosted in partnership with City of Dreams Manila, Nobu, and DreamPlay. It will also be co-presented by Sailun Tires, Belo Medical Group, Uma Nota, Cetaphil, Urban Smiles, Jhaena Jewels, and Strokes Beauty. Tancinco, Mangco and Associates Law Office will be a major sponsor.  

Young Focus is a non-governmental organization that supports children and their families in the Smokey Mountain area of Tondo.

The organization believes in the power of education to overcome poverty, which is why it enrolls children and young adults in school. Young Focus began in Smokey Mountain with 225 beneficiaries in 2008.

Young Focus now has a total of 936 beneficiaries. Catriona has promoted the organization and its advocacy since winning the Miss Universe title in 2018. 

Catriona will also auction off select fashion pieces she has worn over the years during the event to raise more funds. She has been planning the auction since 2020, but the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has put this initiative on hold.  

During a press conference at City of Dreams, Catriona talked about her big vision for Young Focus.

"The big vision is to reach more kids. There will always be a need for education. It's not about what we want to have, but it's following through on how we're helping in the long term," Catriona said in continuing her support for the private group.

Catriona added: "The problem with education is not a quick fix. It's not handing out meals to feed the empty stomach. It's something that takes years to complete. To see the big picture form takes a long time and a lot of resources. So it's a long-term vision. I'm someone here for the long term, and I hope my dedication to this cause over the years can encourage other people to see the long-term benefits."

The Filipino-Australian beauty queen answered on the possible target funds for the event: "As much as possible." She also hopes the legacy ball will become an annual event to support Young Focus.

Jeffrey Vadillo, Vice President of Cornerstone Entertainment, expressed support for the cause of Carione for Young Focus.

"This event has been Catriona’s dream for years, and we’re happy to see it come together. We’re glad to see more brands wanting to join us in this effort. Let’s make a positive impact together!" said Jeff. 

Catriona Gray's Legacy Ball is organized by Cornerstone Entertainment, the beauty queen's talent management agency. 

Founded by Erickson Raymundo in 2005, Cornerstone Entertainment is a premier Filipino multimedia entertainment agency continuously pushing the envelope in talent management, music, concerts, events, film, and television to provide the best content for Filipinos and beyond.

First time

In May 2016, Catriona and her mother visited Young Focus for the first time. This experience inspired Catriona’s advocacy work as she entered the world of beauty pageantry. 

She was determined to use this platform to raise awareness about important issues, particularly the significance of education for the urban poor.

Since then, Catriona has raised funds and raised awareness for Young Focus by organizing concerts both in the Philippines and abroad. After winning Miss World Philippines in 2016 and placing in the Top 5 internationally, Catriona chose to compete in Miss Universe 2018.

During the Miss Universe competition, she became more vocal about supporting Young Focus and the children from the Smokey Mountain area. This brought positive publicity to Tondo and helped enhance public respect for the families living there.

On Dec. 17, 2018, Catriona won the Miss Universe title. The media attention surrounding her advocacy work for Young Focus increased significantly. This led to numerous interviews and television appearances for both staff and students.

Everyone was curious about Young Focus, what it did, and its thoughts on Catriona's victory. Catriona placed both Young Focus and the people of Tondo in a highly positive spotlight.

Young Focus transformed from a little-known non-governmental organization to the most talked-about organization in the Philippines! The year 2018 concluded with a spectacular finale.

Young Focus Philippines

Young Focus has been supporting children and their families in the Smokey Mountain area of Tondo, Manila, since 2008. They began their work with 225 beneficiaries that year. As of the current school year, 2023/2024, Young Focus serves 936 beneficiaries.

The group believes education is the most effective tool for overcoming poverty among children and young adults. The organization enrolls students, ranging from elementary school age to college, in government education programs. In addition to these programs, Young Focus provides extra tutoring, life skills training, personal coaching, and social support.

Children who have dropped out of school can join our catch-up education programs and then re-enroll in school. Young Focus also offers a preschool for children aged 3 and 4. Young Focus supports the parents throughout the child's education by providing teaching and coaching programs.

Young Focus aims to enhance young people's mental, physical, and social well-being in disadvantaged communities through education, healthcare, and personal support.

It allows poor children and young people to grow intellectually, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually through education and personal coaching.

Young Focus aims to help young people discover and develop their hidden talents and gifts, enabling them to break free from the cycle of poverty.

The organization provides a brighter future for children from low-income families in the Philippines. Young Focus works directly with children in their environments to maximize their impact.

Programs

The programs of Young Focus are customized for specific needs, enabling children to develop intellectually, creatively, spiritually, and socially.

It enrolls children from preschool to college in government education, providing extra tutorials, life skills training, personal coaching, and social support.

Children who have dropped out of school can join our ‘catch-up’ education programs and then enroll (again) in school.

Throughout the child’s education, Young Focus supports the parents, too, by providing teaching and coaching programs.

Bianca Umali on how she takes care of her beauty and body

BY ANNALYN S. JUSAY 

Nov 2, 2024 02:53 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The appeal of being "simple" enticed Bianca to accept her latest endorsement for Pina Beauty. 

Bianca Umali

Even though she's only 24, Sparkle artist Bianca Umali has figured it all out. This is evident when you hear her speak about dealing with criticism and dispelling other people's preconceived notions about her.

Having grown up in show business early on, Bianca revealed that she has learned to take negative comments in stride. 

"Naging malinaw sa akin ever since na you can never please everyone. At kahit na anong perfect mo, kahit pa anong polido mo o galing mo sa lahat ng ginagawa mo, meron at meron silang masasabi tungkol sa iyo," she pondered. 

(You can never please everyone - no matter how perfect you are at what you do, people will always have something to say about you.)

The Genz Z actress noted that getting older has given her a different perspective, especially when dealing with negative things.

"Regardless if maganda o hindi maganda ang sabihin tungkol sa akin ng mga tao, I respect that because opinion nila yun, just as much as they should respect my opinion as a person as well," she reasoned out.

(Whether people have good or bad things to say about me, I respect that because it's their opinion.) 

Bianca observed that she's often misunderstood because she's an introvert and her strong mestiza features make her look like a snob. But being self-aware, she has learned to turn these negatives into her own superpower.

Sparkle artist Bianca Umali (second from right) with officers of Fcoy 15 Trading Corp., the makers of Pina Glow soap and lotion

"A lot of people tell me that I have a strong presence but I actually see that now as a superpower. I tell myself: okay, when you walk into a room, people may feel you're too strong but  let them know you're not. Ikaw yung mag-approach, bumati ka, make the most out of it and make them know you all the more. Kasi yun yung masarap. Pag narinig nila na hindi ka pala masungit, masarap ka pala kausap, ganyan ka pala bilang tao. It feels more fulfilling."

If Bianca acts and thinks more mature than her years, blame it on the fact that she was orphaned early. Being raised as a young girl by her grandmother, Vicky taught Bianca the value of simplicity.

The appeal of being "simple" enticed Bianca to accept her latest endorsement for Pina Beauty. This all-Filipino skincare brand makes its unique soap and lotion infused with watermelon.

"I was never a fan of many steps (in skincare)  and always go for what is expensive because we trust that the name is what we pay for. Because of how my lola raised me, I'm very mindful, especially regarding budgeting. But at the same time, we want to take care of ourselves.  Brands like Pina stand for what a Filipina truly is.  Being a beautiful Filipina doesn't have to take so much hard work. It's not just a dream, we can achieve it," Bianca stressed.

It also helped that Bianca aligned herself with Pina's advocacy to espouse the welfare of Filipino soldiers. "I know who I am; I know what I stand for and believe in. I will endorse brands that I am confident align with things and my values," she stated.

Aside from her beautiful face, people can't help but admire Bianca's toned body now. She's doing this as part of the bigger picture because her mother died when she was only 5, followed by her father when she turned 10.

"I want to take extra care of my body so that when I have kids, I will be able to live longer and make more memories with them," she intoned.

Bianca credits her boyfriend of seven years, fellow actor Ruru Madrid, as a "big factor" in her "motivation" to be fit.

"We work out together, and it means so much that we live a healthy lifestyle together," she pointed out.

She added that she wants to be an excellent example to her followers and fans.  

"I want to share with the new generation that taking care of ourselves is important. It may be hard at first, but when you feel the change and understand what benefits you get from working out, from knowing which products are for you and prioritizing self-care, you will be happier. You will live your best life," Bianca stated.

Total self-giving without expecting any return

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

IT’S the call Christ addresses to us when he told his disciples: “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Lk 14,12-14)

True generosity is attained when we completely gratuitously give ourselves to others, just like God who gives himself to us completely gratuitously. Never mind if our generosity is not reciprocated, which is unlikely since when we are generous with others the tendency is also for the others to be generous with us in their own way.

The crucial point in this business of generosity is the gratuitousness of our self-giving. This should be the attitude in our self-giving. It has to be done without counting the cost, without expecting any reward. We should not worry about anything, because God knows everything and gives us everything that we need. And he cannot be outdone in generosity. The more we give of ourselves, the more he will reward us.

We just have to do our self-giving very freely. As Christ himself told his apostles, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Mt 10,8) And the first one to live by this principle is Christ himself. He gave himself freely to us, including his own life. He did not mind the sacrifices, the insults and mistreatment he underwent.

This is what true love is. It is total self-giving. But the mysterious part of it is that it actually generates more love and self-giving in others. It inspires others to give themselves in the way of true love. That is why true love has its own reward. It has the dynamic of being repaid also with love.

We should always be encouraged to give ourselves to others gratuitously without strings attached, without conditions. Even if instead of being reciprocated properly and requited, our love is misunderstood and rejected, we just have to go on loving. The only reason for loving is because that is what true love is. It is this love that is the real essence of God, of whom we are his image and likeness.

This truth of our faith about gratuitous generosity in our self-giving is also amply dramatized in that lesson Christ gave regarding the unprofitable servant. (cfr Lk 17,7-10) “When you have done all you have been commanded,” Christ said, “say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Loving and serving cannot and should not be quantified in terms of cost and reward. It is above all these considerations. It’s a purely spiritual operation that should not be spoiled by giving it some material and temporal value. It’s where we can approximate, keep and build up that dignity of being the image and likeness of God and adopted children of his. It’s how we become God-like.

This is how God serves and gives himself to us, with complete gratuitousness. He even goes all the way of still loving and serving us even if we do not reciprocate his love properly. This is how we should serve and give ourselves to others also!

I shall raise him on the last day

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 2, 2024 00:52 AM 

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Death is part of the human condition; no one can escape it; it is “the great leveler” (Homer in The Odyssey). It respects no one, whatever his/her gender, race, age, etc. is. 
The departure of loved ones always brings the pain of loss, creating some kind of void within us. The more memorable or precious the memories are, the more challenging it is to accept the loss. But, as it is also often being said, time heals and with life moving forward with its new experiences, that pain or grief slowly fades away.  

Still, the departed are never forgotten. They might have disappeared, but their memories are kept alive in our hearts. 

Our faith tells us that there is a resurrection from the dead that has its source in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus himself. 

Hence, death is not the end of everything; in fact, it is a bridge that leads us to a new and fuller form of life, a life that does not end, in a world that does not know tears.

 

First Reading • Wis 3:1-9 [or 2 Mc 12:43-46] 
 

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. 

Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

 

Gospel • John 6:37-40 [or 14:1-6] 
 

Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 

And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

 

Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

Palace sets Nov. 4 as day of national mourning for 'Kristine' victims

BY ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Nov 2, 2024 10:05 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Marcos ordered that the National Flag be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Nov. 4 on all government buildings and installations throughout the Philippines and abroad.

• As of Oct. 30, 2024, Typhoon Kristine affected a total of 1,788,630 families or 7,033,922 individuals. It likewise caused 139 casualties nationwide. 

President Marcos has declared Monday, Nov. 4, as a Day of National Mourning for the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine which ravaged several parts of the country last month.

MOURNING THE LOSS — Families of landslide victims due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in Talisay, Batangas pay their last respect to their deceased loved ones at the Talisay Public Cemetery on Oct. 29, 2024. (Santi San Juan)

In his Proclamation No. 728, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Oct. 30, Marcos said he is one with the entire country in mourning the tragic loss of life caused by the storm.

"The nation deeply mourns this tragic loss and joins the families and loved ones of our departed brothers and sisters in this moment of immense sorrow," he said. 

"The onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine caused the loss of lives and tremendous destruction of property, including immense damage to agriculture and critical infrastructure lifelines, as well as the disruption of the means of livelihood, and the normal way of life of the people, especially in the affected areas," he added.

With this, the President has ordered that the National Flag be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Nov. 4 on all government buildings and installations throughout the Philippines and abroad.

"[U]nder the... Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, the Philippine Flag shall be flown at half-mast on all buildings and places where it is displayed as a sign of mourning during tragedies of national significance," he wrote.

Severe Tropical Storm Kristine ravaged several parts of the country from Oct. 21 to 25, bringing torrential rains and violent winds that triggered widespread flooding and landslides and drastically affected the lives of many Filipinos.

Based on a report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), as of Oct. 30, 2024, Typhoon Kristine affected a total of 1,788,630 families or 7,033,922 individuals.

It likewise caused 139 casualties nationwide.

NEWSCELEBRITIESMUSIC Records that could be broken at 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards

ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT NEWSCELEBRITIESMUSIC

BY JONATHAN HICAP

Nov 2, 2024 08:42 AM 

The 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) will be held on Nov. 10 at Co-op Live in Manchester, United Kingdom. 

MTV EMA nominees (Photos from MTV, X, Instagram) 

Wettbasis.com has collected all the records that could be broken at this year’s ceremony. 

• Taylor Swift has already broken Justin Bieber’s record for the most nominations ever received at the MTV EMAs, however, in 2024, she could potentially tie Justin Bieber and become the most awarded artist in the MTV EMAs history. Bieber is currently at No. 1 with 22 EMAs won and Swift is at No. 2 with 15 EMAs won. However, Swift is nominated for seven EMAs at the 2024 ceremony, which could bring her total to 22 EMAs won.
• Taylor Swift could also extend her record as the most awarded female artist in the MTV EMAs history (Swift is nominated for seven EMAs in the following categories: Best Video, Best Artist, Best US Act, Best Live Act, Biggest Fans, Best Pop and Best Collaboration). 
• Eminem could extend his record as the most awarded rapper in the MTV EMAs history - he has won 14 EMAs and he is nominated for two more trophies in 2024 (Best Video and Best Hip Hop)
• Nicki Minaj could extend her own record as the most awarded female rapper in the history of the MTV EMAs and she could also break her tie with Lady Gaga and become the second most awarded female artist in the history of the EMAs. Minaj has won 12 EMAs and she is nominated for two more awards in 2024 (Best Hip Hop and Biggest Fans).  Additionally, if she wins both of the awards she is nominated for, Minaj could tie Eminem as the most awarded rapper at the EMAs.
• Lady Gaga could break her tie with Nicki Minaj and become the second most awarded female artist in the history of the EMAs if she wins her 13th EMA (Gaga is nominated in the Best Collaboration category for “Die With a Smile” with Bruno Mars)
  
   

BEST VIDEO

• Taylor Swift (“Fortnight”) could extend her record as the most awarded artist in the Best Video category.  She is the only artist that has won the award three times (“Anti-Hero”, “All Too Well: The Short Film” & “ME!”), so a win in 2024 for “Fortnight” would be her fourth. 
• After becoming only the second artist ever to win Best Video at the EMAs for two consecutive years (following Justice) last year, Taylor Swift could extend this record and become the first artist to ever win Best Video three years in a row if she wins her third consecutive trophy for “Fortnight.”
• Taylor Swift could break her tie with Dave Meyers (three wins) and become the director with the most wins in the Best Video category if she wins her fourth trophy for “Fortnight,” which was directed solely by Swift.  By winning, Swift would also extend her record as the artist with the most self-directed videos winning Best Video - two of Swift wins are for self-directed videos (“Anti-Hero” &  “All Too Well: The Short Film” and one win (“ME!”) is a video co-directed by Swift). The only other artist to win Best Video for a video they directed or co-directed is Kendrick Lamar who won for “Humble,” which he co-directed and he is nominated again this year with “Not Like Us”, which he co-directed,
• If Lisa and Rosalía win Best Video for their song “New Woman,” Lisa would become the first Thai artist to ever win Best Video while Rosalía would become the first Spanish artist to ever win Best Video

BEST SONG 

• Beyoncé (“Texas Hold ‘Em”) could break her tie with Pink and Lady Gaga and become the sole holder of the record for the most awards won in the Best Song category - all of them have won two times in this category, but Beyoncé could get her third victory in 2024 with “Texas Hold ‘Em” (she previously won in 2003 for “Crazy in Love” and in 2009 for “Halo”), which would make her the first artist to ever win in the category on three occasions 
• Ariana Grande (“We Can’t Be Friends”) or Billie Eilish (“Birds of a Feather”) could tie Beyoncé, Pink and Lady Gaga as the most awarded artists in the Best Song category if either of them wins their second trophy in this category. Eilish won in 2019 for “bad guy” and she is nominated in 2024 for “Birds of a Feather” while Grande won in 2014 for “Problem” and she is nominated for “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).”

BEST ARTIST 

• Taylor Swift could become the first artist to ever win the Best Artist category on three occasions; she could also extend her record as the most awarded female artist in the Best Artist category as well as the record for the most consecutive wins in the category since a victory in 2024 would be her third win in a row following wins in 2022 and 2023
• Raye could become the first British female artist to win in the Best Artist category (and only the second British artist ever to win following Ed Sheeran’s victory in 2021)

BEST NEW ACT

• Ayra Starr could become the first Nigerian artist to ever win in the Best New Act category
• Tyla could become the first South African artist to ever win in the Best New Act category

BEST COLLABORATION

• Rosalía could tie Karol G as the most awarded artist in the Best Collaboration category if she wins her second trophy for “New Woman” (with Lisa). Rosalía won the first time in this category in 2019 for “Con Altura” (with J Balvin and El Guincho)

BEST ALTERNATIVE

• Lana Del Rey could tie Thirty Seconds to Mars and become the most awarded artist in the Best Alternative category - if she wins, it would be her 4th trophy in the category, which would also extend her record as the most awarded female artist in the Best Alternative category

BEST HIP HOP

• Eminem could extend his record as the most awarded artist in the Best Hip Hop category. He has won nine times so a win in 2024 could be his 10th trophy in the category
• Nicki Minaj could tie Eminem as the most awarded artist in the Best Hip Hop category. She has won eight times so a win in 2024 would be her ninth. If she wins, Minaj would also extend her record as the most awarded female rapper in the Best Hip Hop category

BEST LATIN 

• Anitta could extend her record as the most awarded artist in the Best Latin category - she has won two times, so a win in 2024 would be her third. On the other hand, if Karol G wins, she will tie Anitta as the most awarded artist in the category with two wins. 
• Peso Pluma could become the first Mexican artist to win in the Best Latin category, while Rauw Alejandro or Bad Bunny could become the first artists from Puerto Rico to win in the category

BEST R&B

• Tyla could become the first South African artist to ever win the EMA in the Best R&B category

BEST K-POP

• Lisa or Jungkook could become the first solo artist to win in the Best K-Pop category on two occasions - both of them have won once as solo artists, but Jungkook has also won once as a member of BTS

BEST ELECTRONIC

• David Guetta could extend his record as the most awarded artist in the Best Electronic category. He has won six awards and a win in the category in 2024 would be his seventh (and fifth consecutive one)

BEST ROCK

• Coldplay or Green Day could tie Linkin Park as the artist with the most awards won in the Best Rock category if either of them win their fifth trophy in 2024

BES LIVE ACT

• Taylor Swift could tie U2 and Ed Sheeran and become the most awarded artist in the Best Live Act category. Swift could also become the first female artist to win two times in the Best Live Act category.

BEST AUSTRALIAN ACT

• Kylie Minogue or Troye Sivan could tie 5 Seconds of Summer, G Flip and Ruel and become the most awarded artists in the Best Australian Act category if either of them wins their second trophy in 2024.

BEST US ACT

• Taylor Swift could extend her record as the most awarded artist in the Best US Act category. She has won in this category three times in the past (2015, 2019 & 2021), so a win in 2024 would be her fourth. 

BEST PUSH ACT

• Laufey could become the first Icelandic artist to win in the Best Push Act category.
• Le Sserafim, The Warning or Flyana Boss could become the first all-female group to win in the Best Push Act category. Additionally, The Warning could become the first Mexican artist to win in the Best Push Act category.