Filipino devotees self-flagellate, defying ban on gatherings

MANILA -- Barefoot and with their backs bloodied by repeated flogging, Catholic devotees in the Philippines defied a ban on gatherings on Good Friday to perform a ritual of self-flagellation as a means of atonement during Holy Week.

Participants were few compared to recent years, after authorities reimposed tight restrictions in response to a jump in coronavirus infections, worsened by the spread of more transmissible variants.

But near one church in Manila's Tondo area, about 10 devotees, wearing face masks and with the cloth cut away from the backs, struck their backs with bamboo whips swung rhythmically from left to right as they walked.

"I prayed for my parents. I'm thankful they haven't gotten sick," said 25-year-old devotee Melvin Devibar. "Even during this pandemic, I don't believe we will be affected by COVID as long as we pray."

Other, larger groups from other areas had sought to join the flagellation ritual at the Tondo church but were stopped at police checkpoints and made to turn back.

The Philippines reported a daily record 15,310 new coronavirus infections on Friday, one of the region's highest since the pandemic started, bringing its total to 771,497 cases, among the most in Asia.

Many Filipinos perform religious penance in the week leading to Easter in the hope they will be cleansed of sins and illnesses and their wishes might be granted.

But the Catholic Church, the dominant faith in the Philippines, has expressed disapproval of self-flagellation and considers it an extreme misinterpretation of faith.

It says prayers and sincere repentance are enough to commemorate Lent.

-reuters- 

Easter Day blasts at Sri Lanka hotels, churches kill 156

COLOMBO -- A string of blasts ripped through high-end hotels and churches holding Easter services in Sri Lanka on Sunday, killing at least 156 people, including 35 foreigners.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condemned the attacks as "cowardly" and said the government was working to "contain the situation".

Images circulating on social media and local news stations showed extensive damage at one of 3 churches targeted in the near simultaneous blasts on Sunday morning.

Much of the church roof was blown out in the explosion, with roof tiles and splintered wood littering the floor and pools of blood in between wounded worshipers.

The injured flooded into local hospitals, where officials reported hundreds of wounded were being admitted.

POLICE CHIEF WARNING

The nature of the blasts was not immediately clear and there were no immediate claims of responsibility.

But documents seen by AFP show that Sri Lanka's police chief Pujuth Jayasundara issued an intelligence alert to top officers 10 days ago, warning that suicide bombers planned to hit "prominent churches".

"A foreign intelligence agency has reported that the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama'ath) is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo," the alert said.

The NTJ is a radical Muslim group in Sri Lanka that was linked last year to the vandalisation of Buddhist statues.

The first blast was reported at St Anthony's Shrine, a well-known Catholic church in the capital Colombo.

A second deadly explosion was then confirmed at St Sebastian's, a church in the town of Negombo, north of the capital.

"A bomb attack to our church, please come and help if your family members are there," read a post in English on the church's Facebook page.

Soon after, police confirmed that a third church in the town of Batticaloa had been hit, along with 3 high-end hotels in the capital.

Hospital sources said British, Dutch and American citizens were among the dead, with Britons and Japanese among those injured in the attacks.

'COWARDLY ATTACKS'

President Maithripala Sirisena said in an address that he was shocked by the explosions and appealed for calm, and the prime minister was expected to speak to the media shortly.

On Twitter, Wickremesinghe wrote: "I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks on our people today.

"I call upon all Sri Lankans during this tragic time to remain united and strong. Please avoid propagating unverified reports and speculation. The government is taking immediate steps to contain this situation."

The hotels targeted in the attack are all popular destinations for tourists, among them the Cinnamon Grand, which is near the prime minister's official residence in Colombo.

An official at the hotel told AFP the blast there had hit the restaurant, and reported at least one person had been killed.

At the Shangri-La hotel, an AFP photographer saw extensive damage on the second floor restaurant, with windows blown out and electrical wires hanging from the ceiling.

'HORRIBLE SCENES'

"Emergency meeting called in a few minutes. Rescue operations underway," Sri Lanka's Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Harsha de Silva, said in a tweet on his verified account.

He said he had been to 2 of the attacked hotels and was at the scene at St Anthony's Shrine, where he described "horrible scenes".

"I saw many body parts strewn all over," he tweeted, adding that there were "many casualties including foreigners".

"Please stay calm and indoors," he added.

Embassies in Colombo warned their citizens to shelter in place, and Sri Lankan Airlines told customers to arrive at the airport 4 hours ahead of flights because of ramped-up security in the wake of the attacks.

Only around 6 percent of mainly Buddhist Sri Lanka is Catholic, but the religion is seen as a unifying force because it includes people from both the Tamil and majority Sinhalese ethnic groups.

There have been no attacks in Sri Lanka linked to foreign Islamist groups, despite local media reports that a 37-year-old Sri Lankan was killed in Syria in 2016 while fighting for the Islamic State group.

In January, Sri Lankan police seized a haul of explosives and detonators stashed near a wildlife sanctuary following the arrest of 4 men from a newly formed radical Muslim group.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Take a tour of San Sebastian Basilica this Holy Week

MANILA – Planning your Visita Iglesia in Manila this Holy Week? You might want to join the free guided tour of the San Sebastian Basilica on Maundy Thursday.

Parishioners and pilgrims can take part in the quick tours starting at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The San Sebastian Basilica will hold a mass for the Lord’s Supper at 5 p.m. and confessions from 7 to 10 p.m.

The all-metal church will hold the Encuentro (5 a.m.) and Siete Palabras (12 p.m.) on Good Friday and an Easter Vigil (8 p.m.) on Black Saturday.

On Easter Sunday, a Salubong (4 a.m.) will be held followed by a solemn mass, Agape and egg hunting at the Basilica Garden.

Fr. Rene Paglinawan of the Parish of San Sebastian and the Order of Augustinian Recollects, who are custodians of the San Sebastian Basilica, said: “While we focus on restoring our spirits this Holy Week, we would also like to draw attention to the need for restoring our important buildings.”

“This church symbolizes the foundation of our lives, our society, our culture and our faith,” he added.

Inaugurated in 1891, the San Sebastian Basilica features the design of Spanish architect Genaro Palacios and the steel of Belgian contractors Societe Anonyme de Travaux Publics.

The interior artwork was done by Academia de Dibujo, Pintura y Arte of Manila under the leadership of Lorenzo Rocha, with the stained glass windows made by German firm Heinrich Oidtmann.

For more information about the tour, contact Cora Delicana at (0915) 284-2440 or Maricel Gavan at (0905) 109-1890, or call (02) 734-8908 or 734-8931 local 120.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PH banks' schedule during Holy Week 2015

MANILA, Philippines – Wondering which banks will be open during Holy Week?

Several banks have issued their Holy Week advisory, saying they will only be open until April 1 (Wednesday).

However, the banks assured their ATMs and electronic channels will be ready to handle transactions and other banking services.

Bank of the Philippine Islands

All branches and kiosks of BPI and BPI Family Savings Bank will be closed from April 2, Thursday to April 5, Sunday. Regular banking operations shall resume on Monday, April 6.

BDO Unibank

All BDO branches will be open to service the banking needs of the clients and the general public until Wednesday (April 1). Regular banking operations will resume on April 6.

Philippine Savings Bank

PSBank said its 246 branches will be closed after regular banking hours on April 1, Wednesday, and will resume regular operations on April 6, Monday.

“We ensure that our ATMs will have adequate cash for the long weekend. A dedicated team will also monitor and make sure that all ATMs will remain fully functional and accessible,” said PSBank Branch Banking Group Head/FVP Francis Llanera.

UCPB

UCPB branches will be closed from April 2 to 4 (Thursday to Saturday). Banking operations will resume on April 6, Monday.

Security Bank

Security Bank branches will be closed starting April 2, Thursday, and normal operations will resume on April 6, Monday. Exception to this schedule are Security Bank NAIA Branch which will be open from April 2 to 4 and Security Bank Sta. Elena Branch at 168 Shopping Mall, Binondo, Manila which will be open on April 5.

During these days, Security Bank Online and all Security Bank ATMs are available to serve customers’ banking needs.

Philippine Veterans Bank

Philippine Veterans Bank branches will be closed from April 2, Thursday up to April 4, Saturday. Its ATMs, however, will be fully stocked for the long weekend. Banking operations will resume on April 6, Monday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Hotel offerings for Easter 2014

MANILA – Stuck in Manila this Holy Week? A number of hotels in the city are offering special packages and activities for both kids and adults as Easter Sunday nears.

Here are some of them. These are not endorsed by ABS-CBNnews.com.

Discovery Suites

Discovery Suites is offering Easter staycation packages for guests who will stay from April 14 to 20.

Rates are at P4,000 net for a regular junior suite, P4,500 net for a regular one-bedroom suite, P5,500 net for a junior serendipity suite, and P6,500 net for a one-bedroom serendipity suite.
The room packages are inclusive of a breakfast buffet for two persons and a P250 discount on the Super Duper Easter Egg Hunt Party on April 20.

Those who will book three nights in a one-bedroom suite will get a special rate of P1,500 net, a P500 food credit and two tickets to the Easter egg hunt.

Walk-in guests to the Super Duper Easter Egg Hunt Party may buy tickets for P750 net each.

For more information, call (02) 719-8888 or e-mail rsvn@discovery.com.ph.

Edsa Shangri-La

Edsa Shangri-La hotel is set to hold a fantasy winter-inspired party for kids called Easter Frost on Sunday, April 20.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the hotel’s ballroom will be transformed into an ice-themed kingdom with princes and princesses, reindeers, snowmen and a Snow Queen. The venue will feature games for kids such as Snowflake Cookie Decorating, Frosty Face Paint and Glitter Tattoo and Easter Frost Egg Hunt, among others.

Tickets are priced at P1,350 net per person inclusive of a kid’s meal, and are available at the hotel’s events lounge until April 19.

Edsa Shangri-La is also offering a Manila’s Easter Retreat Package this Holy Week. Guests who stay for two consecutive nights will be given 50% savings on the second night, while those who stay for three consecutive nights will get one night free. Stays are inclusive of complimentary breakfast for two adults and two children below 12 years old at HEAT, unlimited Wi-Fi access, and use of the Health Club and swimming pool.

The hotel also has a month-long promo at HEAT. The restaurant’s lunch buffet is priced at P900 net on Mondays to Saturdays, while the dinner buffet costs P1,100 net on Sundays to Thursdays. The promos is for tables of five persons or more.

Meanwhile, Easter-inspired chocolate eggs and other goodies are offered at Edsa Shangri-La’s bakeshop until April 20.

For more information, call (02) 633-8888 or e-mail reservations.esl@shangri-la.com (for rooms), events.esl@shangri-la.com (Easter Frost tickets), or restaurantrsvns.esl@shangri-la.com (dining).

Hyatt Regency Hotel and Casino Manila

Hyatt Regency Hotel and Casino Manila is offering Easter room packages for guests who will stay at the hotel until April 21.

Guest rooms are at P4,888 net, while regency suites are priced at P8,888 net. Each room package includes a buffet breakfast for two adults and up to four kids below 12 years old at Market Café, 40% discount on lunch and dinner buffet at Market Café from Thursday to Sunday, complimentary in-room Internet access, use of Club Oasis Fitness Centre and outdoor swimming pool, 15% discount on massage services and 10% discount on spa treatments.

On April 20, Hyatt Regency Hotel and Casino Manila will hold an Easter Summer Freeze event which will feature an egg hunt and other kids’ activities. Rates are at P500 net for hotel and restaurant patrons, and P900 net for walk-in guests.

For more information, call (02) 245-1234.

Makati Shangri-La
An Easter egg hunt will be held at Makati Shangri-La from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets for the event, dubbed Easter Fun Fair, are priced at P750+++ per adult or child. Each pass includes three food stubs and one beverage stub.

Makati Shangri-La is also offering Easter-inspired chocolates, cakes and customized hampers starting at P200 each. Guest who dine in any of the hotel’s outlets may enjoy 15% savings on Easter goodies when they present the dining receipt on the same day.

There are also different Easter promos for Makati Shangri-La’s food and beverage establishments. Circles Event Café is offering a hearty buffet lunch with roasted turkey breast, lamb carving, foie gras terrine and more from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at P1,850 per person.

Shang Palace lets guests choose from two Cantonese cuisine set menus that include dishes such as stewed pork ribs, grilled rack of lamb or pan-fried cod fillet with whipped egg white in carrot sauce. The two menus are priced at P2,688 and P3,888 and are available for lunch and dinner.

Inagiku will hold a special utage lunch buffet at P1,980 per person, while the Lobby Lounge will have an Easter high tea buffet with a 14-piece orchestra at P650 per person.

Meanwhile, Makati Shangri-La also has special room packages for guests who wish to have a staycation this Lenten season. Guests who book their room on or before April 18 may avail of discounted rates. One night in a superior room, for instance, only costs P6,000 net.

For more information, call (02) 814-2580 or e-mail rric.slm@shangri-la.com (Easter egg hunt and restaurants) or reservations.slm@shangri-la.com.

Mandarin Oriental Manila

Mandarin Oriental Manila is offering Easter Getaway room packages starting from P5,000++ this Holy Week.

On Easter Sunday, kids can take part in an egg hunt and hands-on creative sessions such as cake decorating, egg painting and fun crafts at the hotel for P1,999 net. There will also be an Easter lunch buffet package at Paseo Uno for P4,999 net, which includes two adults and one child.

For more information, call (02) 750-8888 or e-mail momnl-reservations@mohg.com.

Manila Hotel

Guests who stay at the Manila Hotel from April 14 to 20 can avail of special Easter room packages.

The Eggcitement package, which costs P6,100 per room per night, includes complimentary breakfast for two adults and two children under 12 years old at Café Ilang Ilang and a food and beverage voucher worth P1,000 at the Mabuhay Palace.

The Eggstreme package, on the other hand, costs P4,499 per room per night and gives guests a 20% discount on Café Ilang Ilang’s breakfast buffet.

The hotel also has Easter dining offerings from April 14 to 20. Café Ilang Ilang will hold a Sunday brunch buffet at P2,450 net per person, while the Mabuhay Palace will offer a special set menu at P2,200 net per person.

On Easter Sunday, Manila Hotel will hold an Egg Hunt from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Admission fee is at P400, but guests who booked the Easter room packages can let two kids participate in the event for free.

For more information, visit Manila Hotel’s Facebook page or call (02) 527-0011 local 1175 to 1179 (room packages) or local 1260 to 1261 (restaurant reservations).

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila will hold a garden-themed treasure hunt for kids on April 19. The venue will feature giant mushrooms, teacups and flowers as well as activities like face painting, balloon sculpting, interactive games, photo booths and a magic show.

Guests who will book a room on April 18 or 19 get two tickets to the activity. Room rates start at P5,850+++ for April 14 to 17, and P6,500+++ for April 18 and 19.

Meanwhile, Sofitel Philippine Plaza will also offer special dining options this weekend. Its buffet restaurant, Spiral, will feature dishes such as Easter lamb with Provencal vegetables.

La Veranda, the restaurant’s enclosed terrace, will have a kiddie salon with balloon twisting and egg coloring booths. There will also be an Easter rabbit distributing chocolate eggs each time the Easter bells ring.

Rates start from P1,980+++ for adults and P1,350+++ for children 4 to 11 years old. Offer is valid from April 18 to April 20 only.

For more information, visit Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s Facebook page.

The Peninsula Manila

The Peninsula Manila is set to hold a winter-themed celebration at its food and beverage establishments this Easter.

A Delice Francais afternoon tea will be held at The Lobby at 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. from April 17 to 20. Rates are at P1,580++ per adult and P800++ per child under 12.

On Easter Sunday, guests can have brunch at Escolta and Spices from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Rates are at P1,200++ per child under 12, P2,200++ per adult and P3,100++ with a glass of champagne.

There will also be a Winter Wonderland Easter Egg Hunt at the Rigodon Ballroom at P1,200 per person. Two children per table at the Sunday brunch at Escolta or Spices can come in for free.

Meanwhile, The Peninsula Manila is also offering Easter room packages for guests who will stay at the hotel’s Premiere Suite until April 20. Rates are at P16,800++ per night (One Egg in a Basket), and P16,000++ per night for two nights (Two Eggs in a Basket).

The suite stay includes halo-halo for four at The Lobby or lunch/dinner for two in Escolta, a special Easter gift, daily buffet breakfast at Escolta for two adults and two children under 12, complimentary club access, unlimited local calls, free wired and wireless Internet access, and use of The Peninsula Fitness Center and outdoor swimming pool.

For more information, visit www.peninsula.com/manila.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Review: 'Son of God' bound to be a Lenten hit

Filipinos know the story of Jesus's passion and death very, very well. We recall these sorrowful events every year since our childhood during the yearly Lenten rituals we perform and Lenten movies we watch. Owing to its simple, audience-friendly, homespun style, this latest film about Jesus entitled "Son of God" is bound to join the list of classic religious films the whole family can watch and meditate on during the seasons of Lent and Easter.

"Son of God" covers everything from the Annunciation, the Birth in Bethlehem, His ministry, passion, death and resurrection and the beginning of the early Church with Paul and Ananias. Initially it would play like a documentary, with a narrator telling the story in between scenes. But starting from scenes with the adult Jesus, narrations were not needed anymore. Towards the end though, narrations were needed again to tell the stories about the early fathers of the Church.

The actors were all unknown to me, no big stars here. The casting and acting was predictable. The good characters look and act kindly. The bad characters look and act evil. All the events happen more or less in the order we know it. We hear most of the verses we expect to hear. They may not be said in the same context as it was in the Bible, but the effect is generally the same. Yet, despite being so familiar, it still remains compelling to watch.

Jesus is played by Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado. He has a calm and gentle face, with smiling eyes. From the first time we see him at his Baptism at the Jordan, to his crucifixion, death, and resurrection, Morgado's portrayal of Jesus, while in no way as intense as Robert Powell's or James Caviezel's, is still very much on point. He should be favorably appreciated by the faithful. He plays Jesus with kindness, humility and dignity.

It turns out that the actress who plays the older Mother Mary is Roma Downey, who was in the inspirational TV series "Touched by an Angel" and one of the producers of the History TV series "The Bible" from which this movie was derived. She was very effective in her portrayal of the Lord's suffering mother during the scourging at the pillar, the way of the Cross to Calvary. Her Mary will move us to tears.

I believe this movie will be a Holy Week staple from this year onwards for my family and for many other Catholic families. This is the version of Jesus' life and death most of us know by heart. The good intentions of this film's makers radiate through and touch the viewers. This version is safe, straightforward and uncontroversial, with violence mercifully muted for younger viewers. This film may be judged as plain in the artistic sense, but artistry is probably not as much its intention as it is to inspire. 8/10

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PH marks Good Friday with bloody mock crucifixions

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines - Catholic zealots in the Philippines re-enacted the last hours of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, whipping their backs and nailing themselves to crosses in a grisly Easter ritual that persists despite Church disapproval.


Foreign and local tourists flocked to the outskirts of the city of San Fernando, a 90-minute drive from Manila, to see the annual spectacle where a Christian "passion play" is taken to its blood-soaked extreme.

In a vacant plot of land beneath the burning sun in the San Juan district, long nails were driven through the hands and feet of four men who took turns hanging on a cross as attendants prayed for them.

Elsewhere in the city, hooded men lashed their bloody backs with cloth and bamboo whips, doing penance for their sins while spraying onlookers with flecks of blood.

Devotees commit to undergo the mock crucifixion in exchange for a gift from God such as the healing of a sick loved one.

"I am used to it already," said Alex Laranang, 58, who was nailed up for the 14th time.

Laranang, a short, sunburnt man who sells baked buns to bus passengers, said: "It is just like a needle going through my hand. After two days, I am ready to go back to work again."

So far, he told AFP, his suffering has been rewarded as his wife and children enjoy good health and he continues to make a good living.

"I am doing this for my family, so that no one will get sick and that my livelihood will continue. I am just a poor man. But I don't ask God to make me rich," he said.

He and the three other men grimaced as the nails were pounded into their hands, but they fixed their eyes on the sky and appeared to be in a trance as they each hung on the cross for up to 10 minutes.

After they were taken down, the men hobbled off to a medical tent as Western tourists snapped pictures.

Men in other districts of San Fernando were scheduled to go through the ordeal later Friday in a demonstration of the deep religious fervour in the Philippines, which has Asia's largest Roman Catholic population.

Norwegian Charlotte Johanssen, 26, a Manila resident who was among the crowd of onlookers, said some of her visiting friends had found the sight too much to take.

"I have friends who felt sick to their stomachs and who got nauseated," said Johanssen, who works for an aid group in the Philippine capital.

"There are those who get amazed. You can't imagine how anyone can subject themselves to this kind of pain," she said.

The mock crucifixions have been going on for decades despite official disapproval from the Philippines' Catholic bishops.

"The bishops have been saying for a long time they disapprove of this. But people make such vows. They sacrifice themselves for others," said Father Francis Lucas, executive director of the Philippine bishops' media office.

"We have so many crosses to bear in life. We don't need to bear a real one," he told AFP.

The Philippines, a former Spanish colony, is home to more than 80 million Catholics and the Church wields strong influence, ensuring that divorce and abortion remain illegal.

Some Filipinos were disappointed that Manila-born Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle missed out this month when Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen at a Vatican papal conclave to succeed Benedict XVI, becoming Pope Francis.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Where to eat in the metro during Holy Week

While many malls closed on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, those staying in the metro can still eat out as several restaurants decided to stay open through the Holy Week.

On the Make It Makati Facebook page on Thursday posted a list of restaurants in the city that will remain open on Thursday and Friday.

These establishments include Filling Station in the red-light district of P. Burgos, which will stay open for 24 hours on the two days. Filling Station, which is decked like an all-American diner, is known for its milkshakes, burgers and other comfort foods.

Also open all day long during the two days are Whistle Stop on Jupiter Street, which is known for dishes like Hainanese Chicken Rice; and Old Swiss Inn at the Somerset Olympia on Makati Avenue, which is popular for its fondues and other European classics.

Popular Italian-American chain Italliani’s in Greenbelt 2 will also stay open until midnight on the two days, while coffee addicts can get their favorite joe at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Tordesillas St. in Salcedo Village, which will stay open until midnight.

Pancake House at the Manila Polo Club and Paseo de Magallanes will also remain open on Thursday and Friday, according to Make It Makati.

While the casual American chain T.G.I. Friday’s in Glorietta will be closed on Thursday and Friday, other branches of the popular hangout will stay open on Holy Week. According to the restaurant’s Facebook page, these branches are: Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Galleria, Tomas Morato in Quezon City, Eastwood in Libis, Bonifacio High Street, SM Mall of Asia and Harbor Point Subic.

Tenants at the Veranda of the SM Mall of Asia and those at SM By the Bay will remain open during the Holy Week, SM Malls announced earlier.

Newport Mall in Pasay City is also open.

Meanwhile, the popular IHOP restaurant at the Bonifacio Global City is open on Maundy Thursday until 9 p.m., but will be closed on Good Friday.

Many restaurants at the Bonifacio High Street are also open, according to the tech blogger Abe Olandres. "Sobrang dami tao nag pilgrimage sa BGC today. Talo pa regular working day sa traffic sa parking," he tweeted on Thursday afternoon. "The High Street restos and coffee shops are all standing room only."

Over at Manila, the foodie institution Aristocrat in Malate is also open.

At the picturesque Paco Park, My Kitchen by Chef Chris Locher also decided to stay open for Holy Week.

"No time like Holy Week to get around the city quick. Come and visit us at the Oasis Paco Park Hotel for a great meal. My Kitchen by Chef Chris will be open daily throughout the week!" the restaurant said in its Facebook page.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

How your favorite stars are spending Holy Week

Just like many Filipinos, your favorite celebrities are also taking advantage of the Holy Week break to relax and enjoy time with their friends and family.

Actress KC Concepcion, for instance, said she will be out of the country, although she didn't say where exactly she will be going, while singer Zsa Zsa Padilla, along with daughter Zia Quizon are in Vietnam, although her other daughter, Karylle, is in Singapore.

"I can't wait to go out of the country for Holy Week. One more working day & I'm outttttt!" Concepcion announced on her official Twitter account.

After holding a mini-concert in Boracay, actress Anne Curtis told ABS-CBN's Ginger Conejero that she will be going to Sri Lanka for the holidays. Meanwhile, Kris Aquino and her sons Joshua and James "Bimby" Yap Jr. are currently in Europe for a two-week break.

On Thursday, celebrities took to their social media accounts to post about their vacations.

Kapamilya stars Nikki Gil is in an undisclosed beach destination with boyfriend Billy Crawford. "Warming up before our dive!" she tweeted.





Also spending the Holy Week together are Isabel Oli and John Prats, who are going to Batangas. "Batangas bound :) #familytime," she posted on Twitter.




Also preferring the beach is actress Ruffa Gutierrez, who is in Cebu. "My view right now. Feel like jumping in the sea...

source: abs-cbnnews.com

'More FAN in the Philippines': Pinoys feel the heat, keep cool enough to tweet

MANILA, Philippines - Scorching temperatures on Saturday caused many Filipinos to turn to Twitter and say it's definitely 'More FAN in the Philippines.'

Metro Manila felt the heat at 34.6 degrees Celsius at 12 noon, the second hottest since January 2012. Given that many Filipinos had taken a long Holy Week break to go to the provinces and resorts, however, it may have felt even hotter in other areas. Humidity at one point went beyond 50 percent, and many Filipinos tweeted about their hourly battles with the weather.

By 3 pm on Saturday the phrase "more FAN in the Philippines" was the top trending topic on Twitter in the country, and fifth on the worldwide list.

The Twitter topic is a play on the current Tourism slogan: "It's More Fun in the Philippines."

"More FAN in the Philippines is trending dahil mainit ngayong summer?" said King del Rosario on his Twitter account. "Pag pista ba ng Lucban trending din ang More PANSIT in the Philippines?"

On March 23, temperatures soared to 34.7 degrees Celsius, which was followed by torrential rains the next day. There is a high probability that isolated rains will follow widespread heating in the country. Isolated rains may be strong at first but will lose their strength after an hour of downpour.

source: interaksyon.com