No to Reproductive Health Bill and Yes to life

The Philippine bill aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. The bill has become the center of a contentious national debate. There are presently two bills with the same goals: House Bill No. 96 or the Reproductive Health Act and Population and Development Act of 2010 introduced by Albay 1st district representative Edcel Lagman, and Senate Bill No. 2378 or the Reproductive Health Act introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its key proposal that the Filipino taxpayer and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as birth control pills (BCPs) and IUDs, as the government continues to disseminate information on their use through all health care centers. Private companies and the public and private elementary and secondary school system will be required to participate in this information and product dissemination as a way of controlling the population of the Philippines.^[1]

The bill is highly controversial, with experts, academics, religious institutions, and major political figures both supporting and opposing it, often criticizing the government and each other in the process. The issue is so divisive that at one point, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines threatened to excommunicate the President, Benigno Aquino III if he supported the bill.

Black Swan

Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.

Thomas Leroy, the artistic director of a New York City ballet company, is mounting Swan Lake as the company's next production. Many of the ballerinas in the company aspire for the lead, which would have previously gone to the company's former principle dancer Beth Macintyre before her forced retirement. No one wants the the role more than Nina Sayers, who lives to dance, so much so that she wants to be exactly like Beth in every aspect. Nina lives with her overbearing mother, Erica Sayers, a former ballerina who now lives vicariously through her daughter as she never made it as a ballerina herself. Nina is a technically proficient and hard working dancer who can easily capture the essence of the innocent white swan, but Thomas doesn't believe she has the dark passion required to portray the black swan. An unexpected move by Nina convinces Thomas that Nina may have what it takes, and he gives her the lead. Thomas will do anything to get that passion out of her. Nina feels that her new place in the company is threatened by Lily, a ballerina newly arrived into the company from San Francisco. Lily, who is looser in every aspect of her life than Nina, encompasses the essence of the black swan more so than Nina. But as Nina believes Lily is to her what she herself was to Beth, Nina, in doing whatever it takes to be perfect as both the white swan and the black swan, descends into madness.

Be proud!

Maria Aragon, a 10-year-old Filipina from Winnipeg, Canada was invited to do a duet number with international singer Lady Gaga.Aragon had a chance to talk to Lady Gaga live over Winnipeg’s local FM station Hot 103. Gaga said that she was very happy to watch the young Filipina in her own rendition of “Born This Way”.“Not only do you have such a beautiful voice and you are so joyful to watch but, every once in a while, whether people believe it or not, I have a very bad day. And I was not having such a good day. And when Perez sent me the video of you singing ‘Born This Way’ I was so overjoyed that I began to cry,” Lady Gaga said.During the conversation, the Grammy Awards winner invited Maria Aragon to sing with her onstage upon learning that Hot 103 will be flying her to Toronto for her concert next month.“Oh maybe you’re just gonna have to come onstage with me and sing that song. What do you think?”,Lady Gaga said.Aragon couldn’t stop crying, but she told Lady Gaga how much she loves her music.Last Thursday, Lady Gaga posted in her Twitter account, which has more than 8 million followers, the pop superstar said: “Can’t stop crying watching this [video]. This is why I make music. She is the future.”She was referring to a video uploaded by Maria Aragon where she performs the pop singer’s “Born This Way.”

Top Musicals of All Time

Across The Universe (2007)
"Music's the only thing that makes sense anymore, man. Play it loud enough, keep the demons at bay."

*A musical romantic drama film starring Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess as a pair of star-crossed lovers in the midst of anti-war protests and rock & roll revolution.

High School Musical (2006)
"We need to save our show from people who don't know the difference between a Tony Award and Tony Hawk."

Mamma Mia! (2008)

"We danced on the beach, kissed on the beach and dot, dot, dot."

Grease (1978)

"A hickey from Kenickie is like a Hallmark card, when you only care enough to send the very best."

Phantom Of The Opera (2004)
"In sleep, he sang to me. In dreams, he came. That voice which calls to me and speaks my name. And do I dream again? For now I find the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind."

*A famous Broadway classic brought to screen featuring back-then newcomer Emmy Rossum and hunky actor Gerard Butler. Adapted from Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical, "Phantom Of The Opera" brings back nostalgic songs like "Angel of Music" and "The Music Of The Night". Butler sings for the first time in the movie, captivating the audience with his critically-acclaimed performance as 'The Phantom'.