Issues

Fans screamed and cried as host Ryan Seacrest announced the top two remaining contestants on Season 11 of the popular “American Idol” show Friday morning (Manila time). Crowd favorite Filipino-American-Mexican Jessica Sanchez was named in the top two, meaning she will be in the final round next week. Sanchez, who hails from Chula Vista, San Diego, California, will be pitted against Phillip Phillips, the other finalist. Joshua Ledet was eliminated after public voting determined he was the contestant with the least number of votes. Sanchez's top 2 achievement is the highest attained by a contestant with Filipino heritage on the show. Sanchez's mother is Filipina, while her father is Mexican. 'Last girl standing' The 16-year-old Sanchez is the last girl standing on “American Idol” this year. On Wednesday night’s performance (Thursday in Manila), Sanchez sang three songs : Mariah Carey’s “My All,” Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing,” ...

This coming June 20, 2011, Monday was declared by the Malacañang as holiday. It was declared a special non-working holiday to commemorate the 150th birthday of the country's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. "(This is) to give all Filipinos the opportunity to commemorate Rizal’s patriotic deeds and sacrifices for the country, rekindle their admiration and respect for him, and to celebrate this milestone with appropriate ceremonies," President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said in Proclamation No.154 issued on April 26. The said date was being declared as holiday because of the request of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to commemorate the hero's birthday. Rizal's birthday was on June 19 but since it falls on Sunday it was moved to the nearest Monday.