Teacher from remote Kenya village is world's best, wins $1 mn

DUBAI - A maths and physics teacher from a secondary school in a remote village in Kenya's Rift Valley has won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize for 2019, organizers have said.

Peter Tabichi, who organizers say gives away 80 percent of his monthly income to the poor, received the prize at a ceremony Saturday in Dubai hosted by Hollywood star Hugh Jackman.

"Every day in Africa we turn a new page and a new chapter... This prize does not recognize me but recognizes this great continent's young people. I am only here because of what my students have achieved," Tabichi said.

"This prize gives them a chance. It tells the world that they can do anything," he added after beating nine finalists from around the world to claim the award.

The Dubai-based Varkey Foundation, which organizes the event and handed out the prize for the fifth time, praised Tabichi's "dedication, hard work and passionate belief in his students' talent".

All this combined, it said in a statement, "has led his poorly-resource school in remote rural Kenya to emerge victorious after taking on the country's best schools in national science competitions".

Tabichi, 36, teaches at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani village, in a remote, semi-arid part of Kenya's Rift Valley, where drought and famine are frequent.

Around 95 percent of the school's pupils "hail from poor families, almost a third are orphans or have only one parent, and many go without food at home," the statement added.

"Drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, dropping out early from school, young marriages and suicide are common."

To get to school, some students have to walk 7 kilometers (4 miles) along roads that become impassable during the rainy season.

The school, with a student-teacher ration of 58 to 1, has only one desktop computer for the pupils and poor internet, but despite that Tabichi "uses ICT in 80 percent of his lessons to engage students", the foundation said.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated Tabichi in a video message, saying "your story is the story of Africa, a young continent bursting with talent".

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Screen superheroes lead tributes to Stan Lee

LOS ANGELES - Comic book superhero creator Stan Lee, who died on Monday, got a superstar send off from Hollywood, where he was celebrated for creations like Spider-Man, Black Panther and the Hulk that made the careers of actors and directors alike.

Following is a list of reactions on social media and by statement:

"I owe it all to you," "Iron Man" actor Robert Downey Jr.

"No one has had more of an impact on my career and everything we do at Marvel Studios than Stan Lee. Stan leaves an extraordinary legacy that will outlive us all," Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios.

"Damn... RIP Stan. Thanks for everything," "Deadpool" actor Ryan Reynolds.

"For decades he provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy. He exuded love and kindness and will leave an indelible mark on so, so, so many lives. Excelsior!!," "Captain America" actor Chris Evans.

"I'm proud to have been a small part of his legacy and .... to have helped bring one of his characters to life," "Wolverine" actor Hugh Jackman.

"Thank you for making my childhood, teen years and adulthood so fun, especially during darker days," singer Josh Groban.

"Thank you Stan Lee for making people who feel different realize they are special," actor Seth Rogen.

"Rest In Peace, Mr. Lee. Thanks for everything," "Supergirl" actress Nicole Maines.

"Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created. A superhero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain, and to connect. The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart," Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company.

"Original and genius are two very overused words in the world today, but Stan was both. Add irrepressible and irreplaceable, and you begin to describe the man. We have all lost a true superhero," Tim Rothman, chairman of Sony Pictures.

"The legacy of Stan Lee, through his creative genius and his universes of characters, will continue to reach the world of true believers for generations to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the fans of not only his work, but of him, as a friend who made the world a better place," Shane Duffy, chief executive of Lee's POW! Entertainment.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Review: Robot melodrama in 'Chappie'

In Johannesburg in a future time, robots called Scouts have replaced the human police force. These efficient Scouts were developed by the young genius Deon Wilson. His rival in the company is war-freak ex-soldier Vincent Moore who is trying to push his own creation, the big, mean fighting machine he calls Moose. Moore wanted nothing more than to discredit Wilson by fair means or by foul.

One day, Wilson and a damaged Scout #22 (which Deon had enhanced with his experimental human-like artificial intelligence) were abducted by drug-dealers who desperately needed to pay off a $20-million debt. Much to Wilson's annoyance, the low-lifes call #22 the undistinguished name Chappie. Worse, they train him in the violent ways of the 'hood in order to help them pull off a major heist.

Like director Neill Blomkamp's previous film "District 9," his latest film once again highlights his home country of South Africa. Aside from the Johannesburg setting, his favorite actor Sharlto Copley is again in the cast. This time Copley is playing the titular Scout Chappie via motion capture. Copley tended to exaggerate the child-like demeanor and the innocent voice by which he communicates his thoughts. Some of his scenes were cringe-worthy in their over-sentimentality, too cutesy for comfort. That scene where Chappie was left to fend for himself in the "real world" for the first time was disturbing yet heart-rending.

Moreover, for the key roles of the husband-and-wife gangsters whom Chappie learned to call his Daddy and Mommy, Blomkamp casts members of the local hip hop group Die Antwoord, even using their real names Ninja and Yolandi. I felt this was a major misstep as these two neophyte actors obviously were not up to the challenge their roles demanded. The way these two were delivering their dialogues were clearly and distractingly amateurish.

Hollywood actors Dev Patel (as Wilson) and Hugh Jackman (as Moore) were given pretty one-dimensional characters. Patel was at home playing a character we have seen him play before, an idealistic good guy. The way Wilson was written can be nonsensical for many of his decisions and actions. Jackman on the other hand, was clearly enjoying his rare chance to play bad guy, and was overacting to the hilt with evil relish.

Sigourney Weaver was hardly even seen as Michelle Bradley, the CEO of the weapons company these two guys worked for, so casting her was inconsequential.

The story draws from several other artificial intelligence films we have seen before, especially those where the robot actually becomes human-like. The storytelling here was rather messy, riddled with improbable coincidences, and weighed down by its tendency for melodrama, which became mawkish many times. The Scouts, including Chappie, looked rather undistinguished, only marked by red "ear"-like flaps (of uncertain purpose) on both sides of the head. The Moose felt like a cross of the "Real Steel" and "Pacific Rim" robots, derivative design and concept.

Though the science was not convincing and it seemed impossible for them to get away with what they had done, the ending was OK with me. The importance of adult influence and proper education in the development of children's behavior are also underlying lessons, and I liked that as well. 6/10

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

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: What did Hugh Jackman ask Gretchen Fullido

MANILA – Tables were turned and ABS-CBN entertainment reporter Gretchen Fullido got the shock of her life when Hollywood star Hugh Jackman asked her a question during their recent interview.

Fullido was talking to Jackman via Skype about his upcoming movie “Chappie” when the Hollywood actor asked her about her marital status.



“You’re in the Philippines right now, Gretchen? You’re in Manila? I have to ask you a question first. Can I ask you a question? I’m not going to say who but there’s a member of our cast who wants to know what your marital status is,” Jackman said.

The ABS-CBN entertainment reporter then replied: “I’m single.”

Responding to Fullido, Jackman said: “You’re single? Thank you very much. I’ll tell Sigourney. I’m kidding. It’s not Sigourney.”

Jackman was referring to Sigourney Weaver, who is also part of “Chappie.”

The upcoming science fiction film directed by Neill Blomkamp will be shown in Philippine cinemas starting Thursday, March 5.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Hugh Jackman treated for skin cancer, again

LOS ANGELES - Oscar-nominated Australian actor Hugh Jackman has been treated for skin cancer for a third time in a year, a spokesman said Tuesday.

The 46-year-old first had a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) removed last November, when he posted a picture on Twitter of himself with a plaster on his nose. He did the same in May.

His spokesman Alan Nierob confirmed to AFP that Jackman had been treated for a third time. He declined to give any other details, but E! News cited a representative as saying that the star is now "all good."

BCC is the most common form of skin cancer, with over 2 million cases diagnosed in the United States every year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

It usually develops on exposed skin such as the head, neck and back of hands, but is especially common on the face and nose. People who use tanning beds have a much higher risk of getting it.

Jackman, known for his roles in the "X-Men" blockbusters, was also nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for 2012's musical adaptation of "Les Miserables."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com