Games since our childhood days have been part of our leisure time and these helped us grow physically, mentally and socially but as we grew up, it seems to be difficult for us to find time and go outside for games or be with people to play cards with. But still, from time to time, we need to take some short rest and amuse ourselves amidst the pressure and stress our work gives us.

Playing cards is something that anyone can experience fun and excitement at the same time can be a good lee-way from a very busy and pressed schedule at work it is but time to try Video Poker. This is a computerized online game which is commonly played using five cards and because of the internet’s innovation, you will be playing against the machine or the computer itself. The game is so much similar with playing in slot machines.

As a player, your aim is to get hold of the winning combinations and this can only be done easily if you have known some Video Poker Tips. Winning in such games though you are just sitting in your own office space, would be a great stress reliever and it brings a different feeling of amusement despite the fact that you are facing great ordeals.

It is also good to take a short break from work so that when you get back to the things you are doing, you will have that fresher outlook and renewed mind.

The concert title is inspired by her recent movie hit and is called: “Annebisyosa No Other Concert World Tour.” Her album turned platinum in a span of less than three months after release. The “Showtime” host was overwhelmed by the support given by the “madlang pipol” – as they fondly called the audience of this Kapamilya noontime show.

Anne developed her confidence to sing on stage because of the daily sample segments held in “Showtime.” It was her dream to have an album and also to have a concert, and it seems that all things are slowly unfolding.

She said in a recent press release that people must expect the best with regards to the production. She then reveals that she has her brains on with the concept of all the production numbers and the designs for her costumes.

“Basta ginagamitan ko na talaga ng bongga yung imagination ko dito just to give the best kasi kung ano nga yung kakulangan ng boses ko, ibibigay ko na lang sa lahat ng production number at outfits ko. Kaya abangan nyo yan!” This was Anne’s statement as she admits the limitations on her voice but she promises to make it up with her vivacious numbers and her grandiose costume changes.

The people who would be behind her concert will be Rico Gutierrez as the Director with Marvin Querido as musical director; and is produced by Viva Concerts as Anne is under the management of Viva.

Georcelle Dapat, the ASAP Rocks choreographer will also work for her concert. Georcelle said in that TV Patrol interview that she knew this time would come that Anne would soon be given the chance to do her solo concert in Araneta. She also said that Anne is no longer just a goddess on TV but she is now also a concert goddess.

Anne Curtis will be joined on stage by “Showtime” co-host and real life close friend, Vice Ganda with ASAP colleague and Popstar princess, Sarah Geronimo. Anne assures the concert goers that the show will cause them to smile and be entertained through the best she can do. She then adds: “ngayon ay handa na raw siyang lumipad, tumiwarik, magsayaw, at siyempre kumanta.”

But with all these success that she has now gained, she still looks back to the “madlang pipol” who made her step up to the best she can be.

Former ABS-CBN talent, RJ Rosales died at the age of 37 in Sydney, Australia last Sunday, December 4, 2011. Born in the Philippines to a Filipino and Australian parents, Roseo Jose Rosales (aka RJ Rosales) was successful in his career here in the Philippines, Australia and in Singapore. His family migrated to Sydney when he was thirteen.

He was part of the Australian production of Miss Saigon in 1996 and from there; he then made a decision to go for higher grounds in Singapore, where he gained success as he pursued his theater career and added to it, was a new venture as a television personality. “Chang and Eng,” “The Student Prince,” “Man of Letter” and “Cabaret” are just a few of the musicals he did in Singapore.

But before coming to the Philippines to enter the show business, he graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a degree in BS Mathematics and later, worked as a banker.

It can be remembered that he once made the Filipino TV screens and radio stations enamored by his unique and smooth voice. He did some duets with Carol Banawa and for several years, he was seen performing in ASAP, the Kapamilya Network’s Sunday Variety Show. He also did some acting stints in some TV shows such as defunct “Attagirl” and “Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka.” He also did some movies and one of which was “Blue Moon” in 2006 which earned him a Best Supporting Actor Nomination.

It was in 2007 when he came back to Australia for the remake of the Australian production of Miss Saigon taking the role of Thuy. With that, he got to be nominated as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

RJ was a Star Magic talent so the talent management entity then issued a statement regarding his untimely and young death which states: “We sympathize with RJ’s family on his untimely demise. We ask everyone to pray for his eternal repose.”

As with the exact details of his death and the immediate cause, the family asked the public the public to understand that they too, have the right to keep it only for themselves.

Another milestone for Original Pilipino Music (OPM) is the American production of an album containing twelve hits of the timeless singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan. The album is called The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan.

It can be remembered that Chan’s hits were revived locally through the years and the most recent of which is that of Christian Bautista. The album earned quadruple platinum award in a span of few months after the release and that only means Filipinos really love the voice and the melody of no less than Jose Mari Chan.

The eternal hits like “Beautiful Girl,” “Constant Change,” “Can We Just Stop and Talk a While” and “Please Be Careful With My Heart” would always remind us of his mellow and soothing voice that he considers a gift from God. He even confessed in a recent interview that since the beginning of his career, he did not have a voice coach.

His passion for his art catapulted him into this stature at present that after so many decades, his songs would always be remembered especially as the yuletide season hastens. “Christmas in our Hearts” and”Perfect Christmas” would always make us sing to it whenever we hear of it being played over the radio.

But who could have known that after so many years, an American producer would take some interest in his compositions and make it into an album, released in a musically liberated nation that of America. It only means Filipino music is captivating for the foreigners and with that Chan was so thankful to Janis Siegel, current member of the Manhattan Transfer, an American vocal group, for producing the album.

All of the twelve songs will be performed by budding American singers of this age and this comes out like a tribute album to a non-American artist- a rare happening as they call it.

Chan said during the album press launch:”I was pleasantly surprised with the result of the album. I felt honored and challenged,” and he added that this is an achievement for the Philippine Music Industry.

The story behind album production began a few years ago when Renen De Guia of Ovation Productions met with Siegel, the solo-Grammy Music Award recipient, and introduced him to Jose Mari Chan. Siegel soon found interest in Chan’s compositions upon hearing some of it which resulted to this tribute album.

Chan’s album only proves that OPM can cross cultural boundaries and is a big achievement for the music industry which would serve as an inspiration for Filipino musicians to keep on playing and creating songs from the heart. I think this is the edge of Filipino artists: the heart for music, the heart which is inside every OPM song, the message that it brings into our sub-conscious which seem to remain there forever and are even be part of our own lives.

Kristina Cassandra Cuneta Concepcion aka KC Concepcion finally broke her silence about her break up with Piolo Pascual on national television, over a taped interview, last Sunday, November 27, 2011.

KC was seen crying almost at the whole duration of the interview with The Buzz co-host Boy Abunda. She confessed that she did everything and that she played a fool in her efforts just to save her relationship with Piolo, whom she calls as PJ.

KC admits that it was her first serious relationship; she reveals the countless sacrifices not only as a girlfriend but all the more as a woman.

During the talk with Abunda, she needed to break her silence for her own comfort and that she has been fed up with questions concerning on their status. She also stated the fact that she and Piolo were giving to the people, all these months, the benefit of the doubt.

But when asked the reason why they broke-up, KC just dropped a few statements to give us a hint over the real score. I would leave these lines for you to interpret. All I can say is, the answer is just between the lines.

“May mga hinahanap ako na napaka-basic lang na hanapin sa isang boyfriend, sa isang lalaki. Ayoko na sigurong pumunta sa details Tito Boy kasi parang ayokong siraan siya.”

“Hindi ako ‘yung kailangan niya sa buhay niya,or hindi ako yung hinahanap niya sa buhay niya and hindi ko mabigay sa kanya ang kailangan niya, sa buhay niya.”

Lastly, the pain turned into hate for Piolo: KC strongly said and that she does not like the way Piolo answers the questions about their relationship status during some recent interviews. It can be recalled that for so many times, Piolo would answer in sarcasm and through jokes and it caused so much hurt for KC.

All these time, KC never said anything to her mom and to her lola, who loves Piolo so much. Instead, she has turned to God for strength that she could endure the pain that she feels right now. The only prayer she pursues in her heart at present is to find that true love she has been longing for.

Diether Ocampo, Bugoy Drilon and comedian Ate Gay brought joy to homesick OFWs in Hong Kong and Taiwan in early Christmas salu-salos presented by Globe Telecom, in partnership with Hong Kong’s CSL and Taiwan Mobile.

There are an estimated 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Hong Kong and about 96,000 in Taiwan. Many of them have missed spending Christmas with their families in the Philippines in past years.

“Christmas in the Philippines is touted to be the longest and most colorful yuletide celebration in the world, and we want to bring a piece of that to our kababayans abroad to help ease their homesickness and loneliness,” said Ailene Averion, Head of Marketing and Business Development of Globe Telecom’s International Business Group, “Through these simple gatherings, we hope that our kababayans in Hong Kong and Taiwan get a feel of Christmas though they’re far away from home.”

Diether, who’s invested time and resources to charity work, primarity through the Kabataang Inyong Dapat Suportahan (K.I.D.S.) Foundation and the annual Diether Ocampo Cup golf event, said he was deeply touched by the warmth and excitement shown by OFWs who attended the show. Diether headlined the Kababayan Jam of Globe and Taiwan Mobile held last October 23 near the Won Won Mall in Taiwan’s Chungshan District.

“It was really a simple show and simple party of sorts, but it felt good to have brought a piece of the Philippines to OFWs,” shared Diether.

Meanwhile, Ate Gay hosted games and brought gifts during the Globe-CSL Kababayan Jam at the Caritas Center in Central Hong Kong last October 9. Bugoy Drilon, on the other hand, rocked the house for Pinoys last October 23 at the Mariners Club in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

With its worldwidest coverage, Globe brings OFWs closer to home with the most affordable IDD rates to the Philippines. In Hong Kong, the Globe-CSL Kamusta Kababayan SIM card has a special IDD rate of just HK$0.95 per minutes for calls to any Globe or TM number in the Philippines and HK$1.25 per minute for International Video Calls. In Taiwan, the Globe-Taiwan Mobile OK Kababayan SIM card gives a special IDD rate of NT$3.60 per minute for calls to any Globe or TM number in the Philippines while the Globe-Taiwan Mobile Yes IDD call card, priced at NT$200 each, gives 65 minutes worth of calls to any Globe or TM number in the Philippines.

Watch out for more Pinoy yuletide cheer as Globe Kababayan Jam runs until December 2011!

From the dark streets of New York, Shawn Corey Carte aka Jay-Z rose from the independent music rap music industry to the main stream back in 1996. The street rapper turned professional recording artist was never discouraged to pursue his dream despite the fact that he was raised only by his mother soon after his father left. He started his career in the alleys of the Big Apple together with his friends, but before that, he was involved in drug-peddling and street gang activities.

He treated each of his projects in a different manner and said that the best style is not really a style. Jay-zjust went on by saying that he takes the form of water; in short, he takes any shape, takes any style as long as it suits his genre. This explains why his albums hit the billboard several times.

Gloria, Jay-Z’s mom revealed that her son’s interest on rap came out when she bought a boom-box as a birthday present. Clark Kent, a producer, helped launch Jay-Z’s career into the mainstream industry as a member of the Roca-A-Fella in 1996 together with Dame and Kareem “Biggs” Burke.

Reasonable Doubt, the debut album with an independent sound made it to the 23rd spot in the Billboard charts, was acknowledged as one of the undeniably best of the hip-hop works. On his live performances, Jay-z was excellent in his free flow of ideas paired with a witty wordplay.

No doubt, perseverance and great talent made a New York street born rapper into a star. Jay-z then decided to retire after spending 13 fruitful years in the industry and after producing 16 record labels.

In line with this, Allan wrote a song entitled “We Can Be Anything” and it expresses his support to empower today’s Filipino young people, and encourage them to fulfill their dreams. He wants to share the word that any young person can achieve even the most impossible of their dreams and one sure way to attain a dream is to acquire a formal education. The song’s MTV is already shown on MYX.

Proof to this, the Pampanga-grown artist confesses his genuine love for the Filipino youth as he made mention of donating a music room and a computer room in his hometown’s public high school. Allan also advocates on raising the academic prowess of students in the Philippines. With regards to the high dropout rates in the most schools as of the present, most especially for the Aeta children in his home province, he also has in mind several project ideas to be materialized in order to address the problems.

He also stressed on his willing support to any project that would help uplift the educational system and the Filipino youth, as a whole. Allan does not tire to look back where he came from and he is eager to extend a hand, as he shares his talent and time.

Aside from these, the Grammy Award winning band member also has his own projects such as scholarship programs for the poor but deserving students.

Mini-concerts will soon be held by the international artist to help generate funds to be used in building public school classrooms and learning centers. The education-oriented campaign is a joint project of the Apl.de.Ap Foundation and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation.

Allan Pineda Lindo Jr. indeed loves his home, the Philippines though America gave him all: the fame, the money and the luxury. In spite of his great success, he does not forget to take a look back where he came from. He has a big heart for the Filipino youth and he believes in the power of the “Noypi” youngsters being as one of those proofs of it.

Ex-policeman Larry Martin’s motivation in joining Pinoy Biggest Loser reality show was mainly to get back to the service. But he acquired more than what he had expected. He wins the vie for the title by losing 101 lbs. from his weight of 255 pounds. Aside from that, he has gained self-confidence, got hold of new ways to live a healthier life and above all, he sees life now in a different way- a more positive look.

The 125 days coupled with life-changing experiences inside the camp made him and his other companions view life in a better way- away from the hurting judgments of the society who used to name them as pigs, abnormal, jumbo, and the like. But more than the hurt that they once felt, they wanted to avail of a longer life as it is an open truth that obesity lessens the life span of a person. As they get through the challenges, it is as if the Filipino audience also journeyed with them.

Some even attested the show’s lasting impact as some overweight individuals were inspired to take the challenge of cutting down their weight. As with Larry, he was forced to leave the police profession when he did not comply the 34” waistline requirement by the Philippine National Police (PNP). He was truly determined on his stay at the camp and was one of those who succumbed the hardest of challenges. Larry Martin left the camp with 155 lbs.

The Camarines Sur grown Larry went home and continued an intense weight-loss training which contributed to his victory during the final night last Saturday, October 8, 2011 the Ynares Stadium, Pasig City. The self-training had no cameras, no more weigh-ins, no more deadlines and he was on his own and the temptation was all over. But after losing weight, Larry is now being offered by the police force to get back into the service.

It is not only Larry’s life was changed by the show but also the lives of the many who hopes to have a healthy lifestyle. He was joined by the Fab 5: successful businessman Art Mendoza, camp-grown love team Hazel Chua and Raffy Tan, and house wife Angela Lupangco for the weigh-in. Though they did not win the title, the individuals who joined the reality show, considered themselves as winners of a longer and healthier life.

After the waves of struggle and tribulation, Hayden Kho and celebrity doctor Vicky Belo finally announces some details of their wedding set next year in America.

In retrospect, Hayden had been confronted by his sex scandal issue last 2009 which put him in hot water when actress Katrina Halili filed a case against him. The scenario even went worst when his license as a doctor was revoked by the Professional Regulations Commission.

The most recent of problems encountered by the controversial couple was the Quark Henares, Vicky’s son from business ex-husband Atom Henares, uttered his disapproval on the engagement. He also posed a threat to Hayden if ever he causes hurt again to his mother and this attests his love for a mother. But gladly, before Quark left for further study to the States, all went well and fixed. Hayden also understood why Quark has said such statements.

But as they say, after the heavy storms like Pedring and Quiel, a rainbow appears. Finally, the couple reveals their wedding details. After Hayden proposed to Vicky last December 2010 and had it publicly exposed July 2011, plans have been cast and in fact Vicky with Hayden has already picked three gowns: one from Monique Lhuillier, another from Givenchy and the other from Valentino.

Hayden said that if Vicky would like to be wed using those three gowns on three separate ceremonies, he wants to be the only groom for the three weddings. On the other hand, it seems that the three gowns were still not yet the final choice, Hayden reveals that he would buy Vicky’s gown and on that same interview, Vicky said she would take charge of the entourage gowns.

On the details, the couple wants a more private and silent wedding ceremony with only the intimate few present who will become witnesses as they tie the knot. Hayden and Vicky wants the ceremony to take place preferably on a mountain or hilltop setting. As with the date, they are still undecided but promises to make the public know the details of the upcoming wedding.