Pacquiao vs. Cotto: The best bet for your money

When I see great boxers, I can’t help but compare them with stocks in the stock market. Pacquiao and Cotto are elite fighters that belong to the top 10 P4P rankings of the prestigious Ring Magazine. They are equivalent to blue chip stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Index. Currently, Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, is regarded as the best boxer in the world, so that makes him the bluest of the blue. On November 14, 2009, there is a score to settle between these two great warriors and it’s poised to be a rough and bloody encounter. Again, just like in the stock market, big money is definitely involved here because of the betting odds. As of this writing, the boxing odds favor Pacquiao by a mile, but we expect to see some major changes as the fight draws near. I am a serious investor but I am tempted to wage some money on this fight, so that makes me a bit of a gambler. This, to me, is a make or break fight that could make you either rich or poor in a span of several minutes. The fight will produce a winner and a loser, although, a tie is always a possibility. Nevertheless, I am going to wage a lot of money on this very explosive event and make sure I won’t be on my gambling mode but on my investor mode when I do my decision. How will I do it? Simple, I’ll analyze the fighters based on their records and achievements. Check below:

Manny Pacquiao “Pac-Man”

Fight record: 54 fights / 49 wins / 3 losses / 2 draws / 37 Kos

Achievements: Current Ring Magazine #1 Pound-for-Pound Boxer in the World
Current IBO and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight Champion
First boxer to win lineal championship in four different weight classes
Won six world titles in six different weight divisions

Stance: Southpaw

Nationality: Philippines

Advantage: Power and Speed

Notable Wins:

Chatchai Sasakul KO8
Lehlohonolo Ledwaba TKO6
Marco Antonio Barrera TKO11 and UD12
Juan Manuel Marquez D12
Erik Morales TKO10 and KO3
Oscar Larios UD12
David Diaz TKO9
Oscar De La Hoya TKO8
Ricky Hatton KO2

Miguel Angel Cotto “Boricua Bomber”

Fight record: 35 fights / 34 wins / 1 loss / 27 Kos

Achievements: Ring Magazine #6 Pound-for-Pound Boxer in the World
Current WBO Welterweight Champion
Former WBA Welterweight Champion
Former WBO Light Welterweight Champion

Stance: Orthodox

Nationality: Puerto Rico

Advantage: Power and Size

Notable Wins:

Lovemore N’dou UD12
Paul Malignaggi UD12
Carlos Quintana RTD5
Zab Judah TKO11
Shane Mosley UD12

Conclusion:

Their records alone show that they are really fundamentally sound and betting on either of them is still a good choice. The problem now is that they are fighting against each other, leaving you clueless whether POWER & SPEED would overcome POWER & SIZE or vice versa. Between these two, Pacquiao has a way more impressive resume than Cotto’s, but I still do not discount the fact that he is going up in a weight class where he has not fought a guy like the Boricua Bomber. People say that he might be biting more than he can chew, but time and time again, he has proven the skeptics wrong. His wins against Dela Hoya and Hatton were very much downplayed that I wanted him to beat the Klitschko brothers just to prove that he is in a different league. I believe Pacquiao’s thrashing of these two men was legitimate (case closed). His memorable fights against these legends, future hall of famers, champions and former champions, make me forget about his three losses on record because of the way he defeated them. In my own opinion, he is still undefeated. And by the way, just looking at his record, he probably does not know what a tune-up fight is? Or does he? Just check his last ten opponents and figure out who among them were considered a tune-up fight. Miguel Cotto, on the other hand, is another favorite of mine. He is another fighter I also still consider undefeated, if not, because of a potentially illegal substance that Margarito’s corner applied with his hand-wraps. A loss is still a loss, but being pounded by fists made of concrete is a different story. Cotto is a legitimate welterweight with obviously above average skills. He has defeated great fighters with different styles and had fought bigger opponents most of the time. It is a very interesting match-up as we witness two fighters relatively walking through the unknown, with Pacquiao fighting in unfamiliar territory against a legitimate, skillfull and dominant welterweight, and Cotto fighting a boxer with a caliber of Pacquiao. To be honest, it’s hard to bet against anyone from these two because both of them are capable of upsetting each other, and there is always a question of “what if?” But then again, a decision has to be made. I will bet on Pacquiao all-in. Why Pacquiao when Cotto can potentially give you a bigger reward? Well, just wanted to secure my money. Look, aside from Manny’s achievements, he appears to be the hungrier of the two and works really hard to achieve greater heights to give honor to his country. He is a proven commodity. Wow! If you are investing in a stock market, a company with the same qualities and achievements as Pacquiao’s is always a good buy. I am confident that his current run won’t stop with Cotto, and that my forecast tells me that there will be no correction leading up to the target fight between him and Mayweather.

Embarrassing moments: Aaah shhooooes!

I had this embarrassing moment, one time, when I left the office for an important meeting at Shangri-La Hotel. Every time I drive, I’d usually wear my beige driving shoes no matter what, and it has been a constant habit pretty much like putting a seatbelt on. Upon arriving the hotel entrance, I quickly grabbed my coat, reached for my bag (which contains important documents), got my valet ticket and walked really fast because I was already 10 minutes late. While in the lobby I just realized that I’ve forgotten to change my shoes!!! I wanted to turn away but it was too late, my clients-to-be waived at me. I was so embarrassed that my dark suit did not match my beige driving shoes. - Danny

It was a terrible feeling when one morning I had to ask my neighbor if I could hitch a ride with her to Makati since my office is just a walking distance away from hers. I had experienced hitching a ride before and it wasn’t a pleasant one since she and her teen-aged kids are notorious for wearing strong perfume. Since my car broke down, I had no choice but to prepare my nose. I walked over to her house where they were patiently waiting for me inside the car. I hopped in and said “hi!” to everyone. Five minutes later, I was surprised that I wasn’t smelling perfume but something like that of a smelly shit. Then everyone started reacting to the stench including me. Everybody rushed to open their windows to gasp some fresh air and immediately checked on each one’s shoes to find out where the smell was coming from. Then at one moment, I realized that my left shoe was surrounded by dog poo! OMG! I might’ve stepped on some on my way over to their house. I quickly apologized to everyone. Talk about embarrassment. – Reenalyn

One day, I remember leaving for work at 5:00 in the morning so I could be in the office just before 6 am. It was stormy and it still looked like night time. After taking a cold bath, the electricity shut off probably due to bad weather, I used a flash light so I could get my clothes on. It was a struggle going to the office because few jeepneys were plying the streets, so I was out soaked-wet patiently waiting for one to arrive. When I reached our office, one of my officemates noticed that the color of one of my shoes didn’t match the other. My left shoe was black while the right one was blue. I felt humiliated and embarrassed because everybody in the office was laughing including the janitors and guards. To make things even worse, I was visited by our Vice President to join the laughter. - Weng

This was probably the most embarrassing moment in my life. I was on my way to the office where I was about to get my final interview. It was 10 a.m. and finding a parking space in Makati was getting a little difficult. Luckily, I found one but I still had to walk some few blocks to reach the office. I was already half-way to my destination when the most horrifying moment happened. The soles of my shoes were about to disengage, and that’s probably the reason why I could hear and feel some flapping underneath. I knew at that point I was in serious trouble. At first, going back to my car wasn’t an option as I had just passed a coffee shop and some establishments where there were just full of people. Still, I believed that the best option is to get back to my car and change them with my old pair which I’ve considered, at that moment, way-way presentable than the pair of new ones I rarely use for special occasions. But to get back to my car was a big problem because I would be putting myself in embarrassment. So I decided to stop by a corner until I chanced upon city sweeper (metro aide). Obviously, he was wearing a dirty pair of black rubber shoes, but I had to grab my chance. I called him and asked if I could borrow his shoes so I can get to my car. He was hesitant at first but I told him about my problem and my willingness to pay him P500 out of desperation. Good thing he obliged and I was able change in no time. What happened to my interview next? Don’t even dare ask! - Oliver

Philippines' Rag Dolls

"Pokwang" and "Tessa Prieto-Valdez"


Separated at birth? Nope. Welcome to the crazy world of Philippine showbiz! Here we have two personalities who come from different corners of the world. Let's check their diffrences: Pokwang's a jolog while Tessa's an elite; Pokwang's from ABS-CBN while Tessa's from GMA; Pokwang's an actress while Tessa's a columnist; Pokwang's a singer while Tessa's a fashion designer; Pokwang's a comedian while Tessa's a socialite-philanthropist; Pokwang's a fashion horror while Tessa's a fashion icon; Pokwang wears cheap clothes while Tessa wears expensive clothes.

Now let's go their similiraties: Pokwang's seen on TV while Tessa's also seen on TV; Pokwang loves wearing flambouyant and outrageous dresses while Tessa loves wearing flambouyant and outrageous dresses; Pokwang has rich friends (Willie and the celebrity family) while Tessa has rich friends too (the country's elite families); Pokwang looks like Tessa from a far while Tessa looks like Pokwang from a far; Pokwang's life of the party while Tessa's life of the party; Pokwang wears thousands of accessories whil Tessa wears thousands of accessories.

Wow! this is tiring....anything else you can think of?

Embarrassing moment: Phone interruption gone wrong

I remember back in college, me and my friends would hang around in a corridor to do girl watching. We’d normally rate them 1-10 based on their good looks and gorgeous bodies. At one time, I decided to do a research which had nothing to do with my studies…and that‘s… to get their phone numbers. Once I got their numbers I would immediately give them a ring using a fake name. During those times, cellular phones were not a necessity yet, and having one would make you a very unusual human being. One way to talk to these pretty ladies whom you’ve never ever met was through the phone and hoped you’d become phone pals someday. Most of the girls I called on were high-profile and the ones considered in the socialite or elite group. Yes, it was hard to penetrate this market and my battering average was like a big “0”. Meaning, out of the top 50 I made 0 phone pals. Instead, I just concentrated on targeting the B market, but this too proved to be difficult and so I decided to call off my stupid hobby. One Saturday night, I was so bored at home that it felt like my mind was going to explode. I knew I had to do something crazy or else my weekend’s ruined. I was checking some items on my desk ‘til I stumbled upon my pocket-sized phonebook. There I saw the list of remaining girls that I have not called yet including one of my beautiful socialite classmates who happened to be my ultimate crush. It took me almost an hour to get my blood and guts running until I convinced myself that there was no way she’d find out who the caller was. Since I don’t come from an English speaking family, I knew I had the talent to pull the trick and sound like a legitimate one on the phone. Finally, I’ve mustered enough courage to dial her number. When the phone was answered I heard a cute sounding girl say “Hello?”...I choked… so I immediately dropped the call because I was positive it was her. Second call, I asked if I could talk to her but she said “No”. The third time the phone went busy for a while. After about 30 minutes I tried to call her again, and this time, she accommodated the call but you could sense that she was a little irritated. I said that I was trying to call my friend and must have dialed the wrong number, since I thought her voice kinda’ sounded cute, I could not help but call her back and perhaps have a friendly chat . The next 45 minutes was like a police interrogation of who I really was but I was a very uncooperative suspect. As our conversation went on for hours she was getting a little convinced that maybe the call was just a stray call, and that she began to ease down and really started to make a real chat. I remember sharing a few laughs with her which was a good sign (Hanep! Ang galing ko talaga!). Although she gave me a fictitious name, Emily, I could not care less. All I care was that I was talking to my ultimate crush and the potential of us becoming phone pals was almost sealed. There was a time that I was getting carried away by my emotions that I wanted to reveal my real identity. Good thing I was able to hold myself like a professional scammer. For hours we were like two people trying to get to know each other and finding out if we were compatible. Suddenly, I heard an incoming tricycle and it sounded like it’s going to stop in front of our house. I checked on the time and it was 3:20 am…yaiiiks!! Time really flies when you’re having fun! I had a feeling that my parents were on that tricycle so I told her that I’ll call her back in 5 minutes because I had to drink my medicine. Actually, I just did not want her to hear the tricycle because I told her that me and my family lived on the 20th/F of a condominium somewhere in Makati Business District. Indeed, my parents were on that tricycle and they had just arrived from a 2-week vacation in our province, Bicol. When I came out to greet them, my parents were surprised to see me fully awake and energetic. I told them that I was waiting for them and was on the phone the whole time talking to my friend, Aldrin, who was helping me with my assignments. I hurriedly carried their stuff and rushed back to my room to call her back. Then we hit it off on the phone again. This time, she would already make pa-cute comments like: “I thought you’ve forgotten about me coz it took you 10 minutes to call me back”...wow kilig! Then I said “I actually didn’t want to drink my medicine anymore because you just made me feel better”…wow counter kilig! As we were exchanging kilig words, I suddenly heard my mom’s voice on the phone using the extension line… and with a subtle tone I remember her saying: “ ‘To (short for Toto) punta ka muna nang banyo” then she put the extension phone down. She (Kate) asked: “Who was that on the line? She sounded so creepy”. I said: “Aaaah…I think there’s a party line?”. Then, I heard my mom again saying: “’’To? ‘To?”…(there was a pause on the line) ….although I knew she was my mom, I asked: “Who is this party line?”…then she exclaimed: “Hoy Resmond! Ano ba!? Kanina pa kita pinapalabas diyan! Buhusan mo nga muna yung kubeta at may taeng natira!” Ayy de puta! I couldn’t believe my mom blurted it out. I immediately told Kate that I think I’ll have to call her again to clear the party line even though I knew I was busted when my mom shouted my real name. By the way, the fake name I gave Kate was Timmy which was a far cry from my real name. So I went out of my room and disgustedly asked my mom why she had to say all of those things on the phone. She just answered without pakialam: “Eh, ang tagal tagal mo! Ano ba kinahihiya mo? Kaibigan mo at lalaki naman yang kausap mo! Buti kung babae or girlfriend mo”…”Ang tanda mo na ‘di ka pa marunong mag-flush ng dumi mo”. Oh my! Oh my! I could not believe this was happening to me. For a moment I was in heaven and now I’m in Elm Street. After things toned down, I called her to check whether everything would still run normal. When she answered the phone, she asked angrily: “Who are you really?!” I said answered: “Timmy!” Then she asked again: “Are you Resmond my classmate?” Just before I could reply, she said: “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” and banged the phone real hard. Right at that moment I wanted to kill myself and thought about not going to school on Monday, but not going to school meant I was guilty, so I decided to attend class and just act normally as if I did not make the call. Surprisingly, she was the one absent that day and days followed I didn’t see her in school anymore until I found out that she had dropped out. I really felt guilty about the whole thing, or maybe she just really took it hard on herself. Either way, had she not dropped out, I would have been the one melting in shame.

Resmond (Sweet Talker)

(If you want to share your embarrassing moments, please email mybalot@gmail.com)

The Evolution of Darna

Darna 1973 Darna 2009


Our beloved superhero, "Darna", is still making waves after all these years in Philippine television. Although the first movie happened in 1951, the application of special effects were more evident during the version of Vilma Santos' Darna way back 1970's, where we were, sort of, awed by the result. Fast forward to 2009, we are again witnessing the rise of Darna in a television series which will be portrayed by Marian Rivera. I'm not too sure if we are going to see a lot of changes in the plot, characters and others, maybe there will be, but please don't count on 'em too much. What I'm sure is that Darna is getting more beautiful and sexier. What about the special effects? Sadly, after 36 years, nothing much is to be expected. In Hollywood, their animation is beginning to look like real, but in our case, our real life is beginning to like an animation. Honestly, I don't even see a drastic change in the next 100 years. Go judge for yourself...


Click on these video links:

Darna 1973 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzYUS1md6aE

Darna 2009 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Hrd4zaGbE

Cars from Mars

1. Beetle



Left image: The original look.

Right image: My goodness! Say, I’m confused!? Am I actually seeing a Rolls Royce or a Beetle? My eyes are probably playin’ tricks on me. How come my grandfather didn’t tell me there was a merger that occurred between these two brands once upon a time? Now this is what I call a clear middle class car coz it represents both luxury and economy in one.

2. Honda Civic

Left image: The original look.

Right image: Monstrous! Literally, monstrous! This is 365 days a year halloween car. What’s up with those nostrils? I’m afraid to find some boogers hanging there. What’s up with those razor sharp teeth? Must’ve spent too much already on those toothpaste. Nice car to stuff in all your candies when you do your trick or treating.

3. Volvo Cross Country

Left Image: The original look.

Right Image: Wait a minute?! Isn’t this supposed to be a family car that the kids would love to be in especially during those long trips out of town? I wonder why this car had to be turned into a giant looking Tonka Truck toy...mmmm? Well, maybe this is a sure way to make the toy indestructible.

4. Camaro

Left image: The original look.

Right Image: OMG! I know this car is already fast, but to have those huge wheels on, I doubt it if it’s gonna make any difference. To find out if it would work, I suggest a pleasant afternoon downhill drive will do. Don’t forget to slam hard on the gas pedal so that if you lose control and smash the car, you can say “Boy! It worked!”. Oh, did I tell you that Ronald McDonald is interested to buy that car?

5. Porsche 928

Left image: The original look.

Right image: Nope! This isn’t the Porsche Cayenne nor its early Frankenstein version. Somebody just made sure that his fast machine won’t slow down in the Autobahnn in case it gets flooded. Now I’m thinking…maybe this is where the Cayenne was derived from?

6. Corolla AE

Left image: The original look.

Right image: Sometimes an over-sized engine and a spoiler can make a car look good and perform well. This, however, seems that the car wants to double-up in those departments by putting on those double over-sized engine and double spoilers. With all the extras provided I’m scared that the car might sink rather than fly. Oh well, double cheeseburger anyone?

7. DMC Delorean

Left image: The original look.

Right image: Are you kidding me!? Was Spielberg really planning to make a movie called “Back to the Past”? How about Jurassic Park Part 4 “T-rex Tires”? This is a perfect murder as I believe that this car is a collector’s item. Only few of these were built back in the 80’s and if you happen to have one, I suggest keep it locked in your vault. On the other hand, I think those monster wheels could make good illusion that the car is actually flying especially at night.

8. Lada

Left image: The original look.

Right image: A classic mini sporty car turned garbage. Absolutely something went wrong nad it looks like one of Picasso’s abtract painting…the difference is this one looks worthless, or some rich person will buy this for a $1Million so that it can be burned right away. Totally no respect for the car. See the kind of spoiler used? It could serve as a bench perfect for picnics or during outdoor concerts, or perhaps, a practice set for those gymnast wannabes.

9. Honda Civic

Left image: The original look.

Right image: This is car is obviously A U.S. version and the owner is 200% crazy. How did I guess? Simple. Cars in the U.S. are known for sporting extended bumpers…not bad. Super extended bumpers is like making it “The world version” look. This is good enough to make your car not just a transportation but a playground . Your child will surely enjoy the slide on the hood instead of the real ride. I bet this car lies too much…any similarities with Pinnochio?

10. Mercedes Benz C-Class

Left image: The original look.

Right image: Holy smoke Batman! Is this the ride of Ms. Piggy? Who the hell on earth would murder such a car? The only thing respectable now is the emblem. How do you expect to bring your wife, say, in a formal function? She’ll probably feel prouder riding in a taxi than be seen coming out of a big mechanical pig. This is absolutely made from Mars.

Embarrassing moment: Shoot that bowl

I was in my 3rd year highschool when my most embarrassing moment happened in the 80's. I was a basketball varsity player ...actually bangko ako... in an exclusive co-ed school somewhere in QC. It was goin' to be our second game in the finals and we were preparing not to be eliminated coz our opponent took game 1 of best of three. Twenty minutes before our big game, my friend, #11, brought out 3 raw eggs from his bag and gave one to me. I asked him if this would have anything to do with our performance to think I was just a reserve and might not even have the chance to play kasi crucial na yung game. He replied "H'wag ka nang ba-bakla-bakla lunukin mo nalang". When I swallowed the whole thing it almost made me puke... pero I believed that some strange power will emerge when I play. He added "O, ano? Di lang pang boxing yan para din sa basketball yan". During the first half of the game, our opponent led as many as 16 points and it gave us a lot of reason to lose our confidence. At the start of the second half, our team captain, #42, started hitting 4 consecutive 3 pointers, and that somehow made things moving for us. With all the wild cheers going and the excitement building around the gym, I began to feel excited and was able make several sneaky hot farts until one of the my team mates whispered "Si coach ata umutot kasi ang baho". I laughed so hard coz I knew it was mine but my team mate thought I was laughing because of what he told me. As the final two minutes approached, our team was still behind by 4 points but we knew the momentum had shifted to us. By the time we cut the lead to just 2 points, our coach called for a time out with 23 seconds left in the clock. When the game resumed, #42, like what all best players do, managed to steal the ball during an in-bound pass and hit a jumper...Boom! The crowd was sent into a pandemonium including our principal, who almost lost his false teeth and wig from non-stop jumping. With 19 seconds left in the game, disaster struck! Our point guard and second scorer, #12, committed his 5th personal foul and I was being asked to replace him given that our two other average players graduated too. At that point, we saw our opponents trying to take back what was rightfully theirs from the beginning...the lead. I made an inbound pass to #42 and he immediately forced his way to the basket only to find out it was too tight. Although I was the only one open, #42 didn't bother to pass the ball to me as if passing it to me would spell disaster...He was wrong! With nobody to pass on, he desperately gave the ball to me, and with nobody to pass on too, I panicked and made the shot from the side...Boom! I hit the edge of the board (patay ang butiki) but I was fouled, meaning, I get to take 2 free throws. I missed the first shot...Damn! I was so nervous that butterflies have started flying in my stomach. I remembered telling myself --just one shot and I'll be an instant hero. I dribbled ala Rudy Distrito...then, lo and behold, I made the second shot...My very first point in the league...Boom! The crowd went crazy and started chanting my name. The other team called for a time-out...yes, just what our team needed too. As our coach nervously laid out his instructions, we could hear the crowd's cheer getting louder and louder, I started to feel the real power of the raw egg, and this time it's coming from my stomach...possibly, the first attack. I tried to psyche myself but it was too late...the second attack came and it felt like my ass was going to shout. I managed to control it despite the goose bumps running all over me. I recalled my coach giving instructions to me but none came in my head as I was thinking of my next step in case the dreaded third attack strikes. I was like a boy possessed by a devil staring at his face and ready for the kill. Both were crucial--the game and my stomach. I was like torn between two lovers...But the thought of the embarrassment I might get into in case it happens gave me a concrete decision to tell my coach that I can't continue playing coz my knee suddenly hurts...lame excuse I made...but who cares. He was stunned! He said "Tang'@#! Anong arte yan? 'Di ka pa pinag-papawisan bali na buto mo! 6 seconds nalang kahit di ka na gumalaw!" Then I realized...Oo nga, 6 seconds nalang tapos I would already achieve my freedom to go to the bathroom. Just as the inbound was to take place, the third attack was about to take place too, and with all might, this one seemed impossible to stop (nag-aalburoto na!!!). The inbound was intercepted by my team mate who quickly made a strong pass to me, and there was I, completely unaware of what's happening coz of my sudden diarrhea problem , catched the ball with my face and eventually allowed the steaming hot smelly shit come out of my shorts and, the next thing I knew, I was making the entire gym as my toilet bowl. Super naka-kahiya! We won the game but it was the opposing team that looked like they had won the game. They were laughing non-stop and even joined the crowd in chanting my name. Several days after suffering my humiliation, my classmates teased me by saying I-shoo-shoot mo na lang sa toilet bowl nag-mintis ka pa". It was really for the record and I don't know if, after all these years, the students then talk about this incident during their reunions. - Robert Jawo

(If you want to share your embarrassing moments, please email mybalot@gmail.com)

Balooot's Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Prettiest Pinay Celebrities (for the month of May '09)

It's time to rank these celebrities to find out who among the current female celebrities is part of the top 10 pound for pound prettiest and sweetest faces in Philippine showbiz. We've read and seen magazines and internet sites where, sadly, the ranking were still influenced by popularity. Honestly, would you rank Sarah Geronimo on your top 5 list? We have nothing against her, and with full respect, we believe she is talented, pretty and well-mannered, but to be high on that list is a little, well, questionable. Here, the basis of the ranking is plainly concentrated and focused on pretty face alone despite some of them possessing slight physical deficiencies, meaning, they maybe a little slim or a little chubby. Take note, we said a little of everything. Would you want us to rank someone pretty but has become overblown like a whale? We can mention many but we'd rather shut our mouth. Of course, from time to time, this ranking may change as others improve and some fade. As of now, here are the top 10 (bottom first):

10. Maja Salvador

Yes, she is pretty but a little typical for some. Good thing, her wholesome sweet image has somehow helped her to break the top ten. This is a nice place to start climbing up. But with more prettier stars in front of her, it may be a little hard to penetrate the top 5 unless all of them get victimized by surgical disasters.

9. Roxanne Guinoo

Her career is a little over-shadowed right now as some of her peers take the spotlight. This lady can turn herself from sexy vixen to pretty wholesome. As of now, we're just glad that her face starts to bloom, but for how long?We don't know.

8. Heart Evangelista

When she first came out of the scene, we thought the potential was there for her to take the top spot for a long time. Her sweet face is like telling you that she needs to be loved. Though her looks did not really improve that much, it only got worse when her image was tainted after her failed relationship with a loser.

7. Shaina Magdayao

We've spotted this lady way way back when she was still holding a doll. We knew that she'll be a huge potential. Her eyes are round and expressive, and kinda like the ones you see when you watch japanese cartoons. All we wanted to say is that we hope that her pretty face keeps on improving to immediately break into the top 5.

6. Anne Curtis

Definitely, one of the prettiest ladies to have ever come out of Philippine cinema. A dyosa, indeed, personified. Our only reservation with her is that her face is a little confused; sometimes a woman, and sometimes a girl. At any rate, we still consider her a pretty face to reckon with.

5. KC Concepcion

The daughter of megastar Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, one of the most good looking men of his generation. Their product is stunning. First of all, she's lucky enough to get her dad's good looks but it was just too much of it and yo
u'll start wondering if she was Gabby wearing a wig. Nevertheless, her beauty spells elegance.

4. Marian Rivera

As popular as she is today, We believe that her pretty face, more than her talent, is what made her a hit in show business. Well-chiseled face combined with almond twinkling eyes could make one guy fall in love instantly. As long as she does not get over exposed, she'll be staying in the top 5 for along long time.

3. Carla Abellana

What!? Who?! Forgive us for putting her high on the list. She may be a clone of Marian but her fresh pretty pretty face is hard to ignore. She is the daughter of the 80s matinee idol (not sure about this), Rey PJ Abellana. Gosh, we don't see the similarity here. Anyway, thank you Mr. Abellana for this beautiful thing. Watch out people, she's the next big thing in showbiz, and a real contender for the top spot.

2. Angelica Panganiban

She and the number one are actually a toss up. This lady keeps getting prettier and prettier everyday. So beautiful, you'll start to wonder if her face is real or a product of digital wonder. Her looks definitely belong to the upper echelon and she's really going to stay in this list for a long time.

1. Bea Alonzo

We are not a kapamilya nor a kapuso, and definitely not a fan at all. She is purely what we call a pretty face at its best. Her face is not perfect but the shape of her face, eyes, lips and nose are almost. Okay, let's just say that everything about her is beautiful. We did did not say she's irreplaceable,but right now, she's the top P4P prettiest face in showbiz.

Stay tuned for our next update in the coming weeks to find out if there are changes. Again, this list is created by balooot.com. Feel free to let us know your opinions.

Breaking the myth: The power of money

Pera o Mukha? Yes, alam natin si Brad Pitt yung nasa right pero sino yung isa? Pwet niya? Este, of course di natin siya kilala. Ganun talaga ang buhay sometimes 'di fair, at kung may swe-swertihin diyan, ay mag-pasalamat nalang; kung may mamalasin, ehh, goodluck na lang. I've been long intrigued with the issue between pera at itsura. In fact, mas-marami na ako ngayong nakikitang babae na may asawa o boyfriend na ang itsura ay parang nanay nalang nila ang makakatanggap ng pag-mumukha nila. Ito ba yung tinatawag na true love? or may hidden reason lang? Let's find out. Okay, looking at the pictures above, we all know na no-match ito pag-kinumpira mo, at parang Mike Tyson versus Palito ang magiging labas nito. Let's make a scenario nalang, yan. Let's consider anonymous persons sila. Tapos, kunwari, sa lugar niyo ay wala na talagang lalaki kung hindi mga unggoy na lang. Itong dalawang lalaki na 'to ay naging persistent suitors mo,and syempre since tumatanda ka na, kailangan mo na rin mag-decide kung sino sa kanila ang pakakasalan mo. Remember, strict ang parents mo and lahat ng kapatid, kamag-anak at kaibagan mo ay naka-asawa ng mga good-looking at mayayaman. Dapat ka na rin mag-desisyon. Bago ang lahat, ito ang tale of the tape:

Guy 1 (yung bakbak yung ngipin)

Face value: Very poor; unacceptable

Height: 1 inch shorter than you

Body: Alanganin

Profession: Established businessman

Cars: Mercedes, BMW, & Porche Properties: 5 Mansions & 2 buildings

Attitude: Funny, matalino, mabait & thoughful

Account: P 500M

Guy 2 (yung gwapingus)

Face value: Excellent

Height: at least 5 inches taller

Body: Body beautiful mala-greek god

Profession: Jack of all trades; pa-buhat dito pa-buhat doon para kumita

Cars: Wala at wala rin alam sa kotse

Properties: May lupa rin paminsan sa kuko

Attitude: Funny, matalino, mabait & thoughtful

Account: Wala at may utang pa nga na P338.00 na 2 years nang di mabaya-bayaran

So, nakita niyo na mga ang katangian nila. Ito na nga, medyo nade-develop ka na rin sa kanilang dalawa at parang nagbibigay na ng clue na ikaw na nga ang pakakasalan. Oo nga pala, di rin sila babaero, sa totoo pa nga mga one-woman man sila. Halos parehong-pareho ang ugali, pero yun nga lang, nag-kakaiba sa pera at itsura. Si Guy 1, sigurado di ka na makakatikim ng gutom, maliban nalang kung nakalimutan mo nalang bumili ng pag-kain, and lahat lahat ng gusto mo halos mabibili mo na. Ang downfall lang, paminsan wala nang challenge sa buhay at baka ma-bored ka lang. At sa tingin mo ba matutuwa ka sa bawa't pag-gising mo sa umaga ganun klaseng mukha ang sasalubong sa 'yo? Si Guy 2 naman, pwede naman talagang i-display sa lahat ng tao ng hindi kayo mahihiya. Pang showbiz talaga. Maganda rin naman ugali, yun nga lang, ni pambili ng sardinas di alam kung saan kukunin. Bahala na kayo mamili sa kanila. Sa mukha ba? O, sa pwet? Este!, sa ma-pera?

What makes you feel proud to be a Filipino?

Are you really proud to be a Filipino? Was there ever a time when you denied that you are a true blue Pinoy? I've encountered lots of pure bred pinoys that could no longer speak tagalog after staying abroad in just 6 months? WTF! Taking a lifetime to learn a foreign language is understandable, but to forget your native tongue in just a few months is as crazy as wearing roller blades while wall climbing. But anyway, here is the list of the top things (in order) that will bring out the true pinoy blood in you:

5. San Miguel Beer

I've tasted several beers in my life and that includes San Miguel. They say it's probably one of the best beers in the world--it's a lie! It's the BEST beer in the world. Of all the best tasting beers, this has got to be it. A product of Southeast Asia's first brewery established in 1890, this beer is one of ther largest selling beers among the top 20 beer brands in the world. Every filipino from rich to poor, men to women,drinkers to non-drinkers, in sickness and in health, will tell you that they prefer this beer over other imported ones. Strange for people who are known to possess a colonial mentality isn't it? Well, that's how good this beer really is.

4. Arnel Pineda and Charice Pempengco

When it comes to singing, the Philippines is a country that is full of song birds. Filipinos are known to be natural singers whether they sing good or bad. From karaoke party to television shows, you'll see filipinos belting it out. So much talents, it's no surprise that you'll see them making waves in the international scene. Journey's frontman, Arnel Pineda, is not an american but a 100% filipino. Arnel was invited over by the band after watching him nailing the notes of their popular ex-vocalist Steve Perry on YouTube. Listen to Pineda and you'll be convinced that he's even better than the original. And that's what I call a real a career defining JOURNEY. Another product of YouTube is the small and petite, Charice Pempengco. What were not recognized of Charice's singing talent when she competed in local TV shows, such as: IBC13, RPN9, ABS-CBN and GMA7, were recognized by the more established and prestigious international shows like Oprah, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and London's The Paul O'Grady Show. What were the filipinos thinking then? Now that the young lady's shining, everybody just wants a piece of her. According to Josh Groban, Charice has one of the most beautiful voices he has ever heard in a long time.

3. The Beaches

If you're in Manila, the malls rule. But if you're going out of town, the best places to go are the pristine beaches the country has to offer, not just to million of filipinos, but also to foreigners who want to experience vacation at its finest. The Philippines, if you look at it, is like a hidden paradise situated along the southeast part of Asia. Sadly, some parts of the country, especially in the urban cities, are quite unpleasant and heavily polluted at all times. Despite the inconsistencies, the lovely country is still blessed with beautiful white sand beaches with crystal clear waters that is beyond imagination. No wonder the tourists, local and foreigners, alike, flock these places every year. World renowned beaches like Boracay, Palawan, Camiguin, Bohol and Amanpulo, are just few that captivated even some of the famous personalities including royal families. If you haven't been to any of these places, then chances are you're missing half of your life already.

2. Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao

Who would have believed that the new king of boxing is a filipino. Pacquiao's skills are true testament that Filipinos can compete even at world-class level and still come out superior. This man came from a humble beginning and made it to the top with both feet still planted on the ground. Manny "Pacman"Pacquiao, a 6-division world champion and the only boxer to have ever achieved a 4th Lineal World Title, is also the reigning top P4P and the most exciting boxer in the world today. He's truly one of the best boxers to have ever come out in Asia and probably one of the all-time greats in the world. List of sure hall famers that he has defeated include: Oscar De La Hoya, Marco Anotnio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and just recently, Ricky Hatton. He's really a God's gift to filipinos because whenever he fights the people are glued to their televisions including the criminals. It becomes absolutely crimeless in Manila, and the only time it happened was when Pope John Paul II visited the country wayback in 1995.

1. OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)

Yes! they are our modern heroes. With so much political drama in the Philippine Government, many have been left in despair. To most Filipinos the light at the end of the tunnel is moving farther and farther away every year. The loss of confidence in the country has triggered many Filipinos to explore other opportunities outside the country leaving thousands or more families incomplete. I don't know any other country where there are no Filipinos nowadays. Practically every country in this world is occupied by a Filipino, even a dangerous and war-torn country like Iraq. We sometimes hear a lot of people say "She's just a domestic helper in HK" or "He's just a truck driver in Saudi Arabia". But guess what? I actually bow to these people for the great sacrifices they make just to feed their families. In reality, the OFWs are what make the country afloat. They are the reason why the Philippines is still breathing. Every year they pour in dollars into the Philippine system. On top of everything, the dedication and exceptional talent of the OFWs clearly put the country on the world map.