Every good deed has its measure.  On Sunday, CNN readers awarded  FilAm Robin Lim as ’2011 Hero of the Year.’

Lim, "Mother Robin" or "Ibu Robin" as she is called by the locals, is the founder of Evry Mother counts and  has delivered more than 4,000 babies for free in Indonesia.

Apart from the recognition was a $250,000 grand prize for her work with Yayasan Bumi Sehat (Healthy Mother Earth Foundation). The foundation gives free prenatal care, birthing services and medical aid in Indonesia. There,  mothers face a high mortality rate because they often can’t afford proper care, CNN reports.

"Today, on our earth, 981 mothers in the prime of their life will die," Lim said after receiving her award. "All of us can help change that. We can save lives together, mothers and babies. Every mother counts and healthcare is a human right."
"I do believe we can build world peace — one baby, one mother at a time," Lim said during the ceremony. "I found my life’s purpose really is love. If I wasn’t living for love, every minute of every day, what is the point?"

t

The 85th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York Nov. 24, 2011 was a sure treat for the spectators. The Thanksgiving Turkey float threaded through Times Square.   The parade has been considered traditional since 1924.

People joyfully cheered and sang  as  friends enjoyed feasts with strangers  reminding each other that there is much to be grateful for amid  the country’s hard economic times.

The  crowds were high spirited as they gathered Thursday for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the streets of Manhattan under the sun.

The parade consists of variety of Enormous Balloon Characters and  floats like Santa Claus, Pikachu balloon,Sponge Bob  Square Pants, Snoopy, Smurf, Spiderman, Sonic the Hedgehog", and a lot more.

Bands and cheerleaders from different places added to the lively and festive celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Despite the down times, there are still many reasons to hold your head high and be proud of your race.

In Canada,  Filipino entrepreneur and a Filipino-Canadian nurse were amongst  the 6 awardees of the 2nd Asian Heroes award.

Felicisimo Gorospe, chairman emeritus of the VGent Group of Companies, was named as the Asian Hero from the Philippines.
 
Coming from  a poor family in Ilocos Sur, Gorospe was able to make it  as an entrepreneur.
 
He assists in sending  hundreds of poor children to school with the help of his company, VGent Foundation.
 
In  2009, the foundation assists  at least 100 scholars yearly and promises  to do so for the next 100 years
 
“I’m preparing the trust fund so that even if we will no longer be around, the earnings from the trust fund will be sufficient to continue the project,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, Phoebe Carantes,a Canadian with Filipino roots, is a  registered nurse with the Fraser Health Institute BC, Carantes gives up  a lucrative career  opted to be a volunteer for healthcare services to war-torn Afghanistan where is she being recognized as an Asian Hero.
 
“If I would have the opportunity to give back to this country and also to serve our men and women in uniform in Afghanistan, I will do it anytime,” she said.

Once again, thank you for making Filipinos proud.

Behind the beautiful smile is a 25-year-old  from General Santos City. Shamcey finished her studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman where she graduated magna cum laude  and topped the architecture licensure examinations in 2010.

Binibining Pilipinas was her first beauty pageant contest, and despite her lack of  modeling experiences she was able to nail it.

After months of training shaped  Supsup turning into  a formidable international contestant.  2010 Miss Universe fourth runner up Venus Raj, lauded  Supsup’s “dramatic” improvement during the course of her preparations.

Supsup also took  a week-long training in Bogota, Colombia, before going to Sao Paulo.

Shamcey’s  batchmates in this year’s Binibining Pilipinas pageant couldn’t help but admire   her presentation last Thursday.

“Her performance was breathtaking. It’s just her second pageant, but who would ever guess that? I have high hopes for her. I know she will deliver (on pageant day),” second runner up Mary Jean Lastimosa told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.

“All the training and hard work that we shared together paid off. I am praying for her. The Filipinos are praying for her. She’s been a sister to me. I will always be willing to help her,” added Lastimosa, one of Supsup’s closest friends who had been very vocal about her support for her fellow Mindanaoan.

Before    leaving the country last month, Supsup vowed that  she would not fail them. “One of my greatest traits is discipline. I have shown this throughout my education. I have shown that given a responsibility, I will do everything, whatever I can, to be the best.”

If you want to catch the  2011 Miss Universe pageant, it can be watched  on Asian cable channel Star World at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, for Philippines, ABS-CBN will air the pageant  at 9:30 a.m. Another treat to catch is the  Tony Award-winning Filipino singer Lea Salonga who was reported to be  one of the pageant’s judges.

Break a leg Miss Shamcey Supsup, make Filipinos proud.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) calls on children of Overseas Filipinos (OF) to join the country’s biggest yet search for Expat Pinoy Children, the 2011 Search for the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children. This year, BPI brings a bigger and wider search for exemplary OF children as it celebrates its 160th anniversary celebration.

 Now on its 5th year, the Search for Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy children will award students with exceptional achievements in academic and non-academic fields for the Ibang Klaseng Talino, Ibang Klaseng Community Leader, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur, and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete categories.

 “BPI’s annual search for outstanding Expat Pinoy children reflects our continued thrust to support and help the country build a stronger nation through the empowerment of  our country’s modern day heroes, our overseas Filipino workers, ,” says Teresita B. Tan, Executive Vice President and Group Head of Overseas Banking and Channel Services Group of BPI.

 First introduced in 2007, BPI’s Search for the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children empowers the youth and their OFW parents by recognizing their significant contributions in the country as model families and modern day heroes of today’s generation.

 This nationwide Search is open to college students not more than 21 years old, with no failing grade and with a parent holding a current work contract abroad. To join, applicants must submit an essay titled “What is the strongest characteristic that you have which you think is unique to an OF Son/Daughter that you believe is beneficial to change the community around you?” or alternatively “Ano sa  palagay mo ang natatangi mong katangian bilang anak ng isang Overseas Filipino Worker na makatutulong sa pagpapaunlad ng iyong pamayanan?” in either English or Filipino with at least 1,500 to maximum of 2,000 words. The applicants are judged by a screening committee based on their academic excellence, community contribution, and other non-academic talents or skills such as sports, music, or arts. Seven (7) students will be awarded with the Ibang Klaseng Talino award and three (3) students will be given the Ibang Klaseng Community Leader, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur, and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete awards. Application period is until August 15, 2011.

 
Promo details and application forms are available at www.bpiexpressonline.com.

As Father’s Day fast approaches, it’s only given to spend some time to appreciate all of the wonderful things our dads have done for us over the years, such as in our homemework help, advices tht com in handy, your partner in keeping  a secret from mom.

However, as part of Father’s day celebration, we would like you  to remember our TV fathers. For they also have became our inspiration and model when it comes to paternal care..

Here is the video, Happy Father’s day!!!

As part of the celebration of legendary musician Les Paul, who would have turned 96 today, Google created its homepage transforming it into an interactive guitar.

 The doodle shows  a  designed guitar that allows you mouse over the strings to create your own music, and can even make a record your song. Recordings can be up to 30 seconds long. Afterward,  the site gives a URL for the recording so rocker-wannabe’s can flaunt it to their friends.

To get a feel of ‘father of the electric guitar,’ just  click on the doodle itself and a web search of Les Paul opens up.

Rock on!

Are you excited to watch the much awaited, much anticipated wedding of the century? The royal couple are gracious enough to allow the live stream of their wedding via Youtube.

Curiosity continues to rise since the wedding gown, the guest list were not revealed from the start. Now, just few hours away, the world will be delighted to witness  the Royal Wedding.

Prince William and Kate invited 1,900 people to witness their union at Buckingham Palace.

To watch the live stream click here.  To read more about their wedding preparations, visit the official site of " The Royal Wedding."

You may also access the Live blog at guardian.co.uk
 

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has prepared the capacity of its Visita Iglesia Online to accommodate a growing  flock of techy individuals.
 
 According to Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP media director,  the Church hierarchy’s official news service had expanded the website to avoid  crashing like what happened last year when 43,000 visitors logged on to it.
 
 Additional features were also installed to the website.
 
 It now features 14 historical shrines and pilgrimage churches in Metro Manila and close  provinces to match up with the 14 Stations of the Cross with reflections given by priests.

The multimedia presentation of the traditional Visita Iglesia included the Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila; Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene; Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan, and the Agoo Church in La Union.

An audio recording of the 21 chapters of the “Pasyon,” the poetical narration of the life and sufferings of Christ, is also accessible.

There are also  available homilies given by some priests during the entire Lenten season this year and catechesis on Lent, Holy Thursday, Palm Sunday and the Kissing of the Cross, together with the other liturgical practices observed during the Holy Week.

Click here for the Visita Iglesia online.

The Japan and Middle East tragedies brought significant impact to the lives of many Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Most of them, forced to return to the Philippines, are now struggling for employment and financial security. The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), dedicated to empower OFW families through its BPInoy program, shows its support for these Filipinos as it joins the BaliKaBayani benefit concert organized by the EDSA People Power Commission (EPPC) to be held on April 14 at the Araneta Coliseum. 

Spearheaded by Original Pilipino Music (OPM) president Ogie Alcasid, together with EPPC and premier OFW government organizations Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), distinguished performers Gary Valenciano, Noel Cabangon, Lea Salonga, Christian Bautista and Filipino groups such as Spongecola and 6Cyclemind will grace the concert. 

Close to the goals of BPInoy, BaliKaBayani aims to help OFWs by pooling funds for the benefit of the people we consider our “new heroes”, particularly those sent back home from Japan and Middle East. The proceeds will go to an OFW fund managed by a specific committee composed of the different government and business organizations responsible for developing and implementing livelihood and employment opportunities for OFWs.

By supporting BaliKaBayani, an OFW-centered event, BPI stays true to its commitment of nurturing overseas Filipinos and their families.

BaliKaBayani tickets range from Php 100 to Php 5,000 available at www.ticketnet.com.ph.

To know more about BPI and BPInoy services, log on to www.bpiexpressonline.com.