Adam Liaw's first published cookbook after winning Masterchef Australia Season 2
Check out his blog post “Post Masterchef Life: One Year On” and read on all the wonderful things that came his way within the last 365 days.
Adam (R) posing with Callum Hann whom he faced in the Final 2 showdown of Masterchef Australia Season 2.
And for those who still watch Season 2 on Star World, just stay glued because finals week (starting tonight at 7pm) is a real thriller! 🙂
The Antilia House in Mumbai, India
I’d be a hypocrite if I say no to living in a place like Antilia House, but after knowing that the whole structure costs US$1 Billion to build, I just might reconsider. Talk about blowing off your money with a Tower Of Babel-like creation with 27 floors and a grand view of the slums surrounding the Mumbai skyline. And to top it off, the mind-boggling property is located in India where Blessed Mother Teresa spent her living years helping out the poorest of poor.
The owners of Antilia House: Mukesh Ambani (R) and wife Nita
Antilia House, owned by Mukesh Ambani – the World’s 4th Richest Man – is a family home for him, his wife and three children. I’m just wondering how they can still stay tight-knit, let alone in close physical contact. And just how do you call the househelp here? Domestic Support Specialists?
Anyways, I just thought of sharing because it simply amazes me that the extremes have been stretched even more. India may not be the poorest country in the world, but given its population, the poverty level on one end becomes extra highlighted as well.
Priscila Machado is still Miss Brasil 2011. A dramatic-looking Priscila being crowned Miss Brasil 2011
When Priscila Machado was crowned Miss Brasil 2011, not a few eyebrows were raised. Heck, people were shouting ‘Peladona!‘ (naked woman) in protest. And for a good reason at that. The newly-crowned beauty queen had topless photos circulating the internet prior to the finals. There were talks that she will be dethroned for violation of pageant rules regarding such.
But Priscila kept her cool and insisted that the said photos were unauthorized for publication. And as far as she is concerned, the same images do not exist. A willful disposition is required to stick to such explanation. If I were in her place, it would be difficult, especially with the clear knowledge that I actually posed with breasts hanging out. So far, the crown is still hers to keep as Sao Paulo will start welcoming the Miss Universe candidates in just a couple of weeks.
So how to rise from such controversy? Well, since Brazil is the host country of Miss Universe 2011, she should work double time to exude the highest level of warmth and graciousness in the competition. And instead of acting diva-esque in front of the delegates, she should be her friendliest self, short of winning Miss Congeniality. Humility is a virtue. Notwithstanding the fact that winning the crown is foremost in the minds of everyone, Priscila needs to take a calculated backseat for the meantime and focus on her hosting duties. Anyways, if she is destined to do a Denise Quinones and become Miss Universe right at home, then it will happen no matter how big the odds are.
Erina Lightholder, Miss Beauty of the Philippines USA 2011 will represent the Filipino community of US West Coast in Miss World Philippines 2011. Attention, beautiful ladies! Just a final reminder that the deadline for submission of application for Miss World Philippines 2011 will be this coming Monday, August 1. If you can’t make it, then might as well prepare for the 2012 edition instead.
The organizers have already finished their formal searches in the NCR, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and US West Coast. The ladies who submitted/will submit their entries online will most probably be screened at the PICC.
If you’re interested but still middling on whether to join or not, click on the application HERE, print and fill it out the soonest.
National finals will be on September 18 to be telecast live from the Philippine International Convention Center over at GMA-7. The winner, who will represent the Philippines in the 60th Miss World 2011 to be held in London on November 6, will take home PhP1 Million in cash, a condo unit from SM Development Corporation and more!
Miss Resorts World Manila 2011 will have its final screening of candidates on August 6, 2011 where 30 ladies will be short-listed to become this year’s official contenders for the coronation night scheduled on August 27 at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre inside the complex.
If you want your favorite to make it to the Top 30, just click HERE or on the “Choose Your Finalist” image above to go straight to the beauty contest’s FB app where you can cast your vote until August 5, 2011.
There are some familiar faces in there – ladies who previously joined Bb. Pilipinas (Ladylyn Riva & Gizelle Rivamonte), Miss Philippines Earth (Margo Midwinter & Goldy Baroa), Mutya ng Pilipinas (Jo Ann Peria & Lorraine Erum) and Ms. Eco-Tourism Philippines (Sabrina Watts). There’s also a former Miss Bikini Philippines (Princess Abella) who already represented the country in Miss Bikini International 2010.
Let’s see which girls will make it to the 2011 roster and get the chance to win the crown currently being held by last year’s winner, Wendy Tabulsalla. The eventual winner will take home more than PhP1 million worth of prizes plus a multi-page spread on Mega Magazine.
Lourenz Grace Remetillo, Miss Supranational Philippines 2011
Lourenz Grace Remetillo is officially Miss Supranational Philippines 2011 and will represent the country in Miss Supranational 2011 to be held in Plock, Poland on August 27.
The 21 year-old Iliganon, who stands 5’9″, is now getting ready to pack her bags and fix her travel documents before leaving for Central Europe early August. She now has the recognition of being the first Filipina to participate in Miss Supranational and the first Miss Supranational Philippines at that.
Good luck in the competition, Lourenz Grace!
Enjoy the experience! 🙂
Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella
Smiling or not, Alyssa remains to be a striking beauty!
The green-eyed redhead who stands 5’8.5″ is a native of Manalapan, NJ. She was Miss Teen New Jersey 2007 and placed 1st Runner-Up in Miss Teen USA of the same year. Thereafter, she started a modelling career that saw her gliding the ramp in creations by Sherri Hill, Scala, Serendipity Prom, Mon Cheri Bridals, Sophia Tolli, James Clifford, Rina di Montella, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Tilly’s. What amuses me a bit is that she also posed for book covers of romance and thriller novels.
Shapely Alyssa has the catwalk-savvy that can make her a pasarela standout.
I can already see Alyssa making heads turn in Sao Paulo. She may not have the exotic skin and dusky features of a girl from Ipanema, but she certainly makes up for it big time with all the winning attributes of a woman who just might become the most beautiful in the universe in less than two months from now.
Lots of luck, Alyssa! 😉
Last night, as part of the closing ceremony of Cinemalaya 2011, awards were given in three different sections: New Breed, Directors’ Showcase and Short Features.
“Ang Babae sa Septic Tank“, “Bisperas“, “Nino” and “Walang Katapusang Kuwarto” led the honor roll as follows:
Five (5) Balanghay Trophies:
Best Film (New Breed)
Best Director (New Breed) – Marlon Rivera
Best Actress (New Breed) – Eugene Domingo
Best Screenplay (New Breed) – Chris Martinez
Audience Choice Award (New Breed)
Five (5) Balanghay Trophies
Best Film (Directors’ Showcase)
Best Actress (Directors’ Showcase) – Raquel Villavicencio
Best Supporting Actress (Directors’ Showcase) – Julia Clarete
Best Cinematography (Directors’ Showcase) – Roberto Yniguez
Best Production Design (Directors’ Showcase) – Rodrigo Riccio
Four (4) Balanghay Trophies
Special Jury Prize (New Breed)
Best Supporting Actress (New Breed) – Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino
Best Supporting Actor (New Breed) – Art Acuna
Best Production Design (New Breed) – Laida Lim
Three (3) Balanghay Trophies
Best Film (Short Features)
Best Screenplay (Short Features) – Emerson Reyes
Audience Choice Awards (Short Features)
Three (3) Balanghay Trophies
Best Director (Directors’ Showcase) – Aureaus Solito
Best Original Music Score (Directors’ Showcase) – Diwa de Leon
Best Sound (Directors’ Showcase) – Diwa de Leon
Two (2) Balanghay Trophies
Best Supporting Actor (Directors’ Showcase) – Jim Pebangco
Audience Choice Award (Directors’ Showcase)
Two (2) Balanghay Trophies
Best Actor (Directors’ Showcase) – Bembol Roco
Best Editing (Directors’ Showcase) – Benjamin Tolentino
Two (2) Balanghay Trophies
Best Cinematography (New Breed) – Arvin Viola
Best Original Music Score (New Breed) – Christine Muyco and Gemma Pamintuan
Two (2) Balanghay Trophies
Best Editing (New Breed) – Lawrence Fajardo
Best Sound (New Breed) – Mike Idioma
One (1) Balanghay Trophy
Best Actor (New Breed) – Edgar Allan Guzman
One (1) Balanghay Trophy
Best Director (Short Features) – Rommel Tolentino
A scene from "Hanapbuhay" (Source of Living)
One (1) Award
NETPAC (Network of Promotion for Asian Cinema) Best Film
Note: No awards were given to the Special Jury Prize and Best Screenplay of the Directors’ Showcase category.
Congratulations to all the winners! Now which among these films will be invited to film festivals abroad? I hope that a majority of them will. 😉
P.S. For Cinemalaya 2012, the Gateway Cinemas (in Araneta Center) will be included among the screening venues of the films. That’s good news!
The girl from Rio Grande do Sul surprisingly defeated them all.
Priscila Machado, 25, was crowned Miss Brasil 2011 just a few hours ago and will now be officially the country’s delegate to Miss Universe 2011 which Sao Paulo will be hosting next month up until the finals on September 12. She outlasted 26 other ladies on the road to victory.
Machado’s win, though not exactly come-from-behind, did not sit well with the audience who watched the finals live at the HSBC Brasil Hall in Sao Paulo. Aside from the fact that she has already posed nude in photos before (supposedly a violation of pageant policies), many were rooting for Gabriela Marcelino, the 1st Runner Up from Bahia, who will now be Brazil’s bet for Miss International 2011. At any rate, the 1.80m beauty is the chosen one and time is ticking so fast before the Miss Universe delegates start arriving before mid-August.
Aside from Bahia, those included in the court of beauties are the reps of Acre (Danielle Knidell) who will go to Miss Continente Americano, Sao Paulo (Rafaela Butareli) and Amazonas (Tammy Cavalcante) who took runner-up slots in that order.
Good luck, Priscila! And may you be a most gracious host delegate for Miss Universe 2011!
P.S. Just in case the controversy surrounding Priscila’s nude photos costs her the crown, Gabriela from Bahia will most likely benefit as a result.
Debora Lyra was all light and sexy when she was crowned Miss Brasil 2010.
A year and 10 kgs. later, Debora Lyra is more at peace now that she will relinquish the Miss Brasil crown to a new winner.
If only she won in Las Vegas last year, things would’ve turned out better. And what an uplifting sight it could’ve have been to crown Miss Universe 2011 right in front of her countrymen, right?
But now that she has come full circle as Miss Brasil 2010, Debora is more than ready to face post-beauty queen life with wide open arms. If you closely look at her current photo on the left, there is a marked serenity in her face that tells of a sudden surge in maturity during the last twelve months.
Boa sorte na vida e no amor, Debora! O deus abençoa-o! 🙂
 | Grand Port on New Orleans, it’s your time to… |
 | Closer2Fame on New Orleans, it’s your time to… |
| Closer2Fame on New Orleans, it’s your time to… |
 | bong700 on Indonesia wins Miss Aura Inter… |
| bong700 on Indonesia wins Miss Aura Inter… |
 | mikama1 on Indonesia wins Miss Aura Inter… |
 | Really on Indonesia wins Miss Aura Inter… |
Click on the badge above to know more.
normannorman.com 
