Michael Jackson's choreographer with the Cebu Dancing Inmates

The Cebu Dancing Inmates did it again, grabbing global prominence over the Web and other broadcast media via YouTube.  They initially made huge waves around the world when they performed Michael Jackson's Thriller, which spread like a viral video on the Internet.. This time, they cooked up something bigger with the help of Michael Jackson's choreographer, Travis Payne, and MJ's dancers themselves! Payne taught the dancing inmates the steps to "The Drill," the last choreography he and MJ did for the concert This Is It before the King of Pop died.

I couldn't help but share it with you, guys. Enjoy the video!

Let's all unite for Haiti

The whole world was shocked by the massive devastation caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, which killed thousands of people, crumbled  houses and buildings, destroyed vehicles, and swallowed countless other people who are, until now, declared as missing.

Horrible images and heart-breaking reports about the rescue operations continue to spread through the media - people, injured or not, are seen crying in the street with nowhere to go, nothing to eat, no family to be with.  What could be more devastating than that?  Coming from a family who had experienced the wrath of nature last September through Typhoon Ondoy, I know how horrible it is to be left with almost nothing.  But Ondoy left our family and house intact.  Haiti's earthquake had no mercy.

"Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has suffered a number of recent disasters, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds," according to a BBC report.

I salute all the men and women who devoted and continue to devote their time, efforts, and prayers to Haiti's relief operations. One of them is the dedicated medical team called Doctors Without Borders.  They're currently extending medical operations in Haiti and other humanitarian crises all over the world, particularly neglected crises that remain outside the media spotlight. For more information and for your donations, here's the link to Doctors Without Borders. God Bless us all!

Press Secretary Remonde dies

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde passed away at 11:51 am yesterday, according to a doctor from Makati Medical Center where he was rushed and tried to revive.   Remonde was reportedly found unconscious inside his home earlier and wasn't breathing when he was brought to the hospital.  All efforts to revive him failed.  He suffered cardiac arrest at about 9:30 am and was brought to the hospital at 11:20 am.

Remonde was among the first batch of apointees under the mandate of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

During his stint as press secretary, we saw him tackle, belie, or defend (and get grilled gazillion times over) issues surrounding the present administration, even PGMA's alleged breast implant. Remonde was also heckled by members of the media when he tried to join an indignation rally of journalists last December, demanding justice for the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. He was called names like "tuta" (puppy) and puppet.  

Despite the challenges of his job being the press secretary of a controversy-riddled administration and President, Remonde seemed to be in top shape. But according to his personal physician, Dr. Anthony Leachon, the press secretary's “risk factors” were a bit high. He was hypertensive, and had coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Death comes like a thief in the night.  You'll never know when you're gonna breathe your last.   Did the pressures of the ever demanding job add up to his health risks?   Makes me wonder.

Jessica Cox: a Fil-Am pilot without arms

She flies an aircraft using only her feet and toes. Her absence of arms nor her fear of flight did not stop her from getting a license to fly an aircraft and be the first and only pilot without arms in the US, and perhaps in the whole world.

Jessica Cox, a Filipino-American, was born without arms.  But she can do almost anything without help including putting on her contact lenses.  She even plays the piano and is a black-belter in Taekwondo!  In a TV interview during their visit here, her Filipina mom said Jessica does things all by herself.  When faced with a new task that Jessica has failed to do yet, Jessica looks at it as a challenge and is something that she has yet to figure out, instead of branding it impossible to do.  My, she can do a lot of things at ease using only her legs when a lot of people can't even do with arms.  I can't even drive a car, nor play the piano, nor do I have any belt in Taekwondo or anything.  

Jessica is one perfect example of a positive and winning attitude.  She shows the whole world that anything is possible as long as you don't put a barrier on yourself.