The world’s most favorite mouse celebrated its 80th birthday. And no, I’m not talking about Dodeng Daga, it’s Mickey Mouse, the black and white rodent that was created by Walt Disney in 1928.

Mickey Mouse first appeared in “Steamboat Willie” film at the Colony Theater in New York. Since then, the little Mickey made history.

There are a lot of things going on for Mickey Mouse’s birthday. You can check out Walt Disney’s official site for more.

Three Filipino elementary students grabbed second place at the recently concluded World Robot Olympiad (WRO) held in Yokohama, Japan.

Joseph Aldrin Chua and Grade 5 pupils Edrich Hans Chua and Dominique Hannah Sy of the Grace Christian Elementary School in Quezon City won in the competition participated by young robot makers all over Asia.

Titled “Green Whiz Community and the G-Tech Robot Engineering a Better World,” the pupils’ entry featured 12 robots doing various tasks in saving the environment.

The featured robots include Next Gen Car, a lightweight hydrogen powered car for the next generation which consumes less energy; H2O Treatment Robot designed to filter waste water from a factory for safe disposal; E-Sorter, a robot that sorts biodegradable and non-biodegradable garbage using color-coded containers; Paper Recycling Area (PRA), a factory robot that recycles used paper into something usable; Iced Sub-Zero Robot, a robot that makes melted ice in the polar region back into ice form; and Forest Surveillance Robot, a robot with a built-in camera that guards forests and waterfalls from illegal loggers and hunters.

Via GNP

Gail Nicolas is the fist Pinoy Fear Factor participante to be eliminated.

Gail is the Mossimo Bikini Summit 2007 and regular FHM cover girl.

Gail was eliminated after she failed to perform Stunt 3 of “Una Ronda De Eliminacion.”

Rivermaya, the name of one of the most popular bands in the country is on a trademark dispute.

The manager Lizza Nakpil is in contest with the band members as to who owns name Rivermaya.
Lizza Nakpit, Rivermaya drummer Mark Edward Escueta, among others both has pending appications to the Intellectual Property Office or IPO.

The band consisting of vocalist Jayson Fernandez, bassist Japs Sergio, guitarist Mike Elgar, and Escueta, has parted ways with their manager Nakpil for unknown reasons.

Nakpil and film director Chito Roño created in the band Rivermaya in 1993. It’s roster of members are quite irregular, it had former members like Bamboo Mañalac, Rico Blanco and Perf de Castro.

Miguel Syjuco’s Illustrado was awarded the second annual Man Asian Literary Prize.

Illustrado is a novel that touches on 150 years of often turbulent Philippines history.

“Ilustrado seems to us to possess formal ambition, linguistic inventiveness and socio-political insight in the most satisfying measure,” according to the judges.
Miguel Syjuco took home $10,000 cash prize.

Syjuco beat off competition from fellow Filipino Alfred A. Yuson for “The Music Child,” Indian writers Kavery Nambisan for “The Story that Must Not be Told” and Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi for “The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay.”

Chinese writer Yu Hua was also shortlisted for “Brothers.”

Via PDI

I did say that Himala Could Get CNN’s Viewers Choice Award 3 weeks ago and it did!

Himala was voted as the best Asian film in history. Congrats to the late Ishmael Bernal who directed it and my mentor Ricky Lee wrote it.

Himala defeated famous films such as Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” and Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Here’s the complete list of competitors:
1. Himala from Philippines
2. Mou Gaan Dou (Infernal Affairs) from Hong Kon
3. Old Boy from South Korea
4. Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away) from Japan
5. Pather Panchali from India
6. Gallipoli from Australia
7. Chung Hing Sam Lam (Chungking Express) from China
8. Gabbeh from Iran

Antonio’s Fine Dining in Tagaytay City made it into the top 10 list of The Miele Guide, a list of Asia’s top restaurants in Asia.

The list was made by 350 chefs, food critics and enthusiasts.

Here is the complete list of Asia’s Top Ten Restaurants:
1. Iggy’s (Singapore)
2. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon (Hong Kong)
3. Les Amis (Singapore)
4. Gunther’s (Singapore)
5. Mozaic (Indonesia)
6. Robuchon a Galera (Macau)
7. Garibaldi (Singapore)
8. Yung Kee (Hong Kong)
9. Hutong (Hong Kong)
10. Antonio’s Fine Dining (Tagaytay, Philippines)

The red book, a more comprehensive (and longer) list of good restaurants was served to guests of the event. Among the Philippine restaurants that made it into the list are:
1. Margarita Fores’ Pepato in Greenbelt
2. Jessie Sincioco’s Le Soufflé in Rockwell
3. Ariel Manuel’s Lolo Dad’s in Manila
4. Rolando Laudico’s Bistro Filipino at the Fort
5. La Cocina de Tita Moning near Malacañang

Restaurants from hotels such as Prince Albert at the Intercon; Heat and Shang Palace in Shangri-La, Makati; and The Fireplace and Li Li at the Hyatt in Malate, were also included.

There was also a good showing of mall restaurants: from Greenbelt are Sugi, People’s Palace, M Cafe, Via Mare, Italiannis and The Chateau Group’s Sentro 1771 and Chateau 1771; from Serendra there’s Larry Cruz’ Abe; and at the Podium, Casa Armas.

ISCAHM’s Aubergine at the Fort also made it, as well as Old Swiss, near the Manila Pen. Pasay Road favorites El Cirkulo and Tsukiji were also on the list; as well as Salcedo Village’s favorites, Elbert’s Steak Room and Apartment 1B. Three restaurants from Tagaytay (or near Tagaytay) were also included: Sonya’s Garden, Kanin Club and Antonio’s Fine Dining.

Via PDI