Ten of thousands of votes were recently cast at (People’s Ethical Treatment of Animals) PETA AsiaPacific.com for celebrities who exude passion and compassion.

And the winner is Geneva Cruz, noted singer-actress who for the past several years has been US-based with long partner KC Montero and son Heaven Arespacochaga but who comes home every now and then to do some projects. She is now the Philippines’ Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity for 2009!

Geneva won the title after a month-long fierce battle that recently ended at PETA AsiaPacific.com, narrowly beating Delara frontwoman and “Eat Bulaga” host Lougee Basadas. Runners-up are actors Yasmien Kurdi, Chin-Chin Gutierrez, and Raymond Bagatsing who like Geneva is also now US-based; health guru and TV host Cory Quirino, and FHM cover girl Alicia Meyer.

Interestingly, Geneva received more votes than Hollywood stars Natalie Portman, Hayden Panettiere, Russel Brand, Leona Lewis and even Olivia Wilde, who recently took the top spot on Maxim’s Hot 100 list.

A favorite cover girl herself (she has appeared on the covers of several magazines including FHM, UNO and most recently Maxim), Geneva first gained fame when the album she recorded with the pop group Smokey Mountain went double-platinum. Not long after that, her first solo album entitled “I Like You” also went platinum. She also made a few movies (among them “Mutya ng Pasig”) and did many concerts here and abroad.

Geneva has been a vegetarian since she was 15 years old. She said she switched to a “compassionate diet” after she interacted with animals in their natural environment while filming a shampoo commercial. “We were in this location in Palawan where all the animals were just roaming free. All I had to do was feed one of them and say ‘Natural!’ We kept doing that, take after take.”

Not long after that, she became a staunch vegan and she added “for me, being vegan is not about the diet. It’s really about my love for all creatures.”

On his part, PETA AsiaPacific Director Jason Baker said: “There’s no easier way to put passion in your life than to put compassion in your diet. Geneva knows that going vegetarian is the best thing that you can do for animals, the earth, and your health. Plus, she’s living proof that being vegan keeps you slim and sexy.”

The complete list of vegetarian celebrities who were in the running in this year’s poll is available at PETA AsiaPacific.com.

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Judy Ann passes TESDA Commercial Cooking exam

Congratulations to actress Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo for passing the rigid Commercial Cooking Assessment administered by TESDA assessors last month. Juday, the leading lady of Ogie Alcasid in Regal Films’ anniversary offering “Oh My Girl! (OMG)” is now the proud holder of a TESDA National Certificate Level II. At the awarding, it is reported that a proud Ryan Agoncillo shouted with much pride “that’s my wife!” while clapping wildly.

TESDA Director General Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco, in simple rites, welcomed the 14 who passed the exam with flying colors. They are all graduates of the certificate program in cooking and baking at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies (CACS).

Syjuco extols the new TESDA passers for their hard work that is worthy of emulation especially by young Filipinos.

“Welcome to the world of manual labor,” Syjuco says. “You are setting a good example to many Filipinos who dream of holding key positions in the world of culinary arts whether here or abroad, by retooling and acquiring new knowledge and skills.”

Judy Ann, who gave the response on behalf of the other passers, says she is proud to have earned the TESDA certificate because it proves that she can do something else besides acting.

“This is a big thing for me because it means I am capable of doing something else other than acting. And it is not publicity or PR, but this is me and this is what I want to do. Second, this is huge for me because I never got to finish college but with this, I was able to continue learning and exploring more opportunities,” explains the newly-married actress.

Judy Ann describes how intensive the TESDA skills assessment was, which required them to prepare 11 dishes – from appetizer to dessert – in nine hours. An oral exam on the intricacies of cooking, food preparation and safety was also given.

Also among the 14 CACS graduates who passed earned TESDA accreditation are Judy Ann’s brother Jeffrey Santos and model/entrepreneur China Cojuangco.

Commercial Cooking NC II qualifications consists of competencies to clean kitchen areas, cook hot and cold meals, and prepare, portion and plate meat/food to guests in hotels, restaurants, resorts and cruise ships. Holders of this certification become competent.

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2009 WCOPA Team Philippines makes it to the grand finals

From the pigeonhole:

ABS-CBN “Little Big Star” alumni Mayumi Morales and Rhap Salazar, The Young Voices of Negros, GMA-7 “SOP Rules” and “Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman” singer/host Martha Joy, and singing nurse CJ Concepcion will move on to the grand finals of the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure last July 17, 7:30 p.m.

Morales and Salazar will compete against junior solo vocalists Cale Moon of the USA, Sofiya Dolganova of Russia, and Sarah Malloy of Ireland.

The Young Voices of Negros will be pitted against junior vocal group Celtic Fusion of Ireland.

On the other hand, Martha Joy and Concepcion will compete against Anna Zavtseva of Russia, Pearl Jarl of Sweden, Kimverle Molina of Saudi Arabia, and Siti Sarah Raissudin of Malaysia.

Team Philippines’ Maila Mitra, Evette Pabalan, Oreo Vamenta, Divo Bayer and Guy Lockwood made it to the semi-finals.

The WCOPA grand finals night spotlights a competition unrivaled in the history of performing arts to celebrate… “The Champions of the World”! Agents, producers, directors and others from the entertainment industry are invited to judge, and screen new faces and talent. Special emphasis is placed on entertainment value during judging. However, this in no way takes away from the technical aspect of the performances. Judges are looking for that special charisma and marketability that major entertainers have.

The top prizes at the WCOPA are the coveted “Grand Champion Performer of the World” titles. However, besides awarding gold, silver and bronze medals in the elimination rounds, Olympic-style awards are presented to overall and grand champion winners in various categories of competition, along with $50,000 in scholarships to the famed School For Film and Television in New York.

Since the Philippines joined the WCOPA in 2005, five Filipino performing artists have won the global competition’s top prizes: Jed Madela (2005 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World and Grand Champion Performer of the World), Cercado Sisters (2006 Grand Champion Group Vocalists of the World), Reymond Sajor (2007 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World), Aria Clemente (2007 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World and Grand Champion Performer of the World), and Catherine Loria (2008 Grand Champion Vocalist of the World and Grand Champion Performer of the World).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through the President’s Social Fund, STAGES, photographer Jason Tablante, Moomba Bar and Café, Trumpets Musicademy, and Le Froge support 2009 WCOPA Team Philippines.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on July 24 go to Atty. Romulo Makalintal, Arnold Vegafria, Cheska Garcia, Sr. Fidelis Arambulo, Ramon U. de Guzman, Yuri Fukunaga, Rufy Fajardo of LA, California, Julie Ann Lacra, Kirt Pineda, Francisco “Paran” Galvez, Anne Marie Espiritu, Janet Palma-Tuazon, Janilla Obispo, and Arnold Vegafria… Happy wedding anniversary to Ronaldo Victor and Antoieta Asuncion.