Angelica Jones is a movie actress dubbed as possessing a “flawless beauty.” Then she disappeared for a while, accepting only live performances. Then she decided to run and win as board member of Laguna.

How did she make it? She started province-wide civic activities, like organizing women to undertake livelihood projects. Many were benefitted by her projects which included free medical missions.

Angelica won in the May 10, 2010 election as board member for the 3rd district of Laguna which includes San Pablo City.

Outside her job as provincial legislator, Angelica launched recently the construction of eight school rooms in Barangay San Jose, San Pablo City. The schools are expected to be finished by January 2011. The first completed school room was inaugurated recently.

But what is so distinct about the school rooms?

They are all made of recycled plastic bottles and empty bottles of wine. They are all recycled materials, hence, nothing is wasted.

The bottle school rooms are the first of its kind in the Philippines and probably in Asia.

“I hope this will help solve the inadequacy of school rooms in our country,” Angelica said. “Especially when every school district will adopt it. Besides, it is also good for the environment, it lessens ground pollution!”

It takes about P16 million to construct a school, while the bottle school costs only about a million plus pesos. The bottles are donated, labor is provided by volunteers. “We are actually promoting a very important Filipino value, bayanihan,” Angelica added.

The idea of a bottle school originated from Illac Diaz, president of My Shelter Foundation. Angelica saw the merits of it, and together, they pushed for its realization.

The San Pablo City government donated the lot, Gov. ER Ejercito endorsed it and also provided financial assistance, and some organizations like Pepsi Ayos Na Ang Pinoy Movement, De La Salle students/volunteers, among others.

Board Member Angelica is also the chairperson of several committees related to women, children, and social welfare developments in the provincial board of Laguna.

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Lea gives thanks thru ‘Your Songs’

Ms. Lea Salonga, our country’s pride in the international music scene, wanted to express her gratitude and give something back to her fans and supporters through her latest album “Lea Salonga…Your Songs.”

Lea wants to dedicate this audio-video recording of her special concert held in December 2009 at the PICC to the wonderful people who have supported her throughout her career that spans three decades. The huge success of her PICC concert and insistent public demand, prompted Sony Music, Ambient Media, Bounty Fresh-Asia’s Best Chicken and The Peninsula Manila to bring the music and the magic right through our own music and DVD players with the release of “Lea Salonga…Your Songs.”

Under the musical direction of her own brother, Gerard Salonga, and the most in-demand orchestra in the Philippines today, the FilharmoniKA, Lea performed a repertoire chosen by her fans.

Included in the album are modern hits such as Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” Beyoncé’s “Halo,” and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab;” power ballads like “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” and “Open Arms;” OPM love songs such as “Kahit Isang Saglit” and “Sana Maulit Muli,” musical theatre numbers from “Les Miserables” and “Wicked” and many more.

In the album, Lea is joined by Comedy Concert Queen and now Best Actress Ai Ai de las Alas, Pinoy rock icon Jeff Pangan, premier balladeer Richard Poon and the award-winning dance group The Philippine All Stars.

“Lea Salonga…Your Songs” is now available at record stores nationwide and is presented in cooperation with Bounty Fresh-Asia’s Best Chicken and The Peninsula Manila.

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Kithara releases single on iTunes

Fresh from their successful performance at the Riverbanks Activity Center in Marikina, acoustic trio Kithara announces the release of their first single via the digital media player application iTunes. This digital single also serves as a surprise present of sorts for those people who have shown their support for Kithara during all their bar tours and mall performances. Available primarily on iTunes, it is available as well on other paid download music sites worldwide like MySpace Music, Napster, Nokia, MP3, eMusic and more.

An acoustic track with an R&B flavor, Kithara’s single “To Move On” is a heart-wrenching song about letting go and moving forward despite the turmoil and pun brought on by love. Kithara has performed live for local radio stations like Magic 89.9 and Mellow 94.7.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Jan. 5, go to Sen. Joker Arroyo, former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, Ms. Bella Dimayuga, Labor Attaché Danny Cruz, Nonoy Manalo, Mila S. Bravo, Fariush Benito, Elvie S. Matias, Louie Baluran, Bryan Valdecanas, Luis Angelo Chavez, Eduardo E. Cuello, and Kyla (Melanie Calumpad in real life)… Happy wedding anniversary to Jun and Yolly Mendoza; and Salvador and Cielo Rivera…