Singer Whitney Houston is dead at 48 Relatively young for such an impressive talent. A tragic loss, I must say and we condole with her family (specifically her only daughter, Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown) in this moment of grief. As of press time, the cause of her death in Ottawa, Canada is still unknown.

This is a short Whitney Houston biography via cnn.com :

Houston has sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos over her career.

That includes seven straight Billboard No. 1 hits in the 1980s, including “Saving All My Love for You,” “Greatest Love of All” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.” Billboard claimed that her soundtrack to the movie “The Bodyguard” is one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums of all time. (This film also had a hit song “I Will Always Love You.”)

The daughter of US Army serviceman John Houston and singer Cissy Houston, Whitney was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Famed music producer Clive Davis reportedly spotted Houston 20 years later in a New York nightclub, signing her on the spot, according to her website.

In May 2011, Houston got help for her much-publicized struggle with drugs and alcohol, her representative said at the time.

She was previously married to singer Bobby Brown, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship.

Some of the Whitney Houston songs we remember and she became famous for:

All at Once
You Give Good Love
Hold me (with Teddy Pendergrass)
Saving All My Love for You
How Will I Know
Greatest Love of All
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Didn’t We Almost Have it All
So Emotional
Where Do Broken Hearts Go
I’m Your Baby Tonight
All The Man That I Need
Miracle
I’m Every Woman

Suddenly, I felt the need to Google her and it looks like there’s a brewing issue with no less than the Philippines’ foremost celebrity doctor tweeting this. She sounded jealous.

It turns out there were reports of Castiglione and Belo’s controversial fiance Hayden Kho kissing in some establishment in the Fort.

*sigh. Hayden Kho again. Sometimes I think he wants to be in the news just so he can sell those perfumes.

Following the incident, Hayden had to make a public declaration of love to @vicky_belo. But I must say: your actions speak louder than words dude

It seems Cristalle Belo & the Azkals’ Jason Sabio are better off. They look so happy -

Art Samaniego, the tech editor of Manila Bulletin snapped this stolen shot of Grace Lee and President Aquino attending Manila Bulletin’s anniversary party today. This confirms what we’ve been reading in the headlines lately and the President’s admission the other day that yes, he’s seeing the Korean TV personality.

This time around, it seems the President doesn’t care what the public will say. (and the public is too glued to the Corona impeachment trial anyway). Maybe it’s also because Ms. Lee knows too well the workings of the media, being with GMA News TV and Magic 89.9.

No less than Kris Aquino said that Grace Lee (who belongs to the rival network) has been introduced to the older sisters of the family. Are we seeing something serious? Ironically, the Korean DJ and TV host was linked before to Kris’ ex-husband James Yap.

We have no complaints though. If she and the President get together, it can only bring about stronger Philippine-Korean relations!

Note: we were busy in the office and am sad to miss the Bulletin anniversary party, mostly because of the sumptuous buffet catered by Manila Hotel. I attended it at around this time last year

As we all know, Ruffa is now a single mom and her two children with Yilmaz Bektas – Lorin & Venice, now stay with her. The actress says she’s definitely less strict with her girls than her mom Annabelle Rama was while she was growing up. She’s allowing her two daughters to be their own person so that they can explore their full potential. But she says she remains alert as a parent, especially when it comes to monitoring her kids’ internet use and usage of modern digital devices.

It’s true that parents who belonged to the old school focused more on the strict disciplining of their kids and their achieving high academic grades. But child care experts are now saying focusing on IQ and high grades is not enough.

At the Progress Pre-School Gold forum, Dr. Marissa de Ocampo said it is also important to give emphasis on the development of a child’s memory.

“Intelligence is not just IQ but also memory which is not only remembering information but also applying information properly. Your memory affects your ability to easily retrieve and apply stored information, such as in problem-solving – and the ability to solve problems is often a factor in defining intelligence,” Dr. De Ocampo noted.

Meanwhile,child development expert Dr. Sabrina Tan revealed the triad of success when it comes to development. These are the child’s cognitive, social and emotional skills.

“All three skills are interdependent, interact and factor into each other’s success. A child who develops each of these aspects well has more chances of succeeding in school, in social environments and different endeavors,” Dr. Tan explained.

Progress Pre-School Gold boasts of the GOLD Biofactors System which was formulated based on the latest scientific research, supporting four development areas of a child: mental and visual, growth, immunity and digestion.

The reformulated Progress Pre-School Gold provides at least 100% of the RENI for Vitamin A, iron, Iodine and zinc of children four years and older. It also contains taurine, choline, selenium, oligofructose, nucleotides, vitamin K, inositol and manganese.

This nation is fascinated with all things Korean too much, and this now includes our President. I have to give it to Korean girls: their skin is flawless and they really make an effort in dressing up.There is no way they will be losyang and only a few of them are fat (*sigh)

So yes, all telltale signs point to the fact that Pnoy and Grace Lee are seeing each other –

Pnoy (to reporters): “Yes, we are seeing each other.” (your confirmation means we will talk about you more)

Grace Lee: “Wala pa akong nire-release na statement & I’ve never spoken of him publicly YET.” (aha!)

Talking about Pnoy’s never-ending love life is getting old, but it’s a much-welcome relief from the Corona impeachment trial.Besides, Grace Lee is a much better choice than Thailand PM Yingluck Shinawatra who is happily “married” …..

But in journalistic parlance, this could also mean we were “nakuryente” or given a wrong report because I couldn’t find a single copy in major bookstores and newsstands. This was true last Wednesday when I first looked for the mag in the gigantic Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street and also in Market! Market!

The people of Rogue Magazine are certainly being roguish for coming out of the cover announcement ahead of its distribution. How could a January-February issue be NOT ready by January 26 and beyond? Perhaps the circulation manager deserves a good spanking (with the python KC is holding on the cover, no less). I would like to buy more of Rogue but I’ve already intimated how I can’t really find this magazine in my favorite Ministop or 7-11. Duh.

Meanwhile,the Rogue page on Facebook came out the other day with another sensual photo of KC, titillating the guys more. I still think the cover photo is better, but then again, am not a man

One fan on Rogue’s Facebook page called it: “Breaking up with your ex….it’s more fun in the Philippines!”

I really would like to read the interview now (not see more of KC’s attention-grabbing butt) But with the pace this is going, the article is still being written by Jose Javier Reyes. LOL

all photos of KC: courtesy of Rogue Magazine Facebook page

She’s sporting shorter hair now. (because you know what they say, women do crazy things when they’re mending a broken heart). And the snake she is holding on the cover is real. It is her pet python Coco

Prior to this, the 27-year old KC also covered for Rogue. In February 2008, to be exact, even before she and Piolo became an item.

which one do you like better?

Kudos to the Rogue team for the latest issue.KC was photographed by Mark Nicdao, with styling by Pam Quinones and make up by Juan Sarte III. The interview was done by award-winning director/writer Jose Javier Reyes and am really curious to read what she says here as I just chanced upon the KC cover on the Rogue Magazine Facebook page.Rogue is not a magazine I get to browse often but in those few times, I find the writing and the topics discussed to be top caliber. No doubt, there will be a mad rush on my part to the bookstore tomorrow. Am not really seeing the magazine in the neighborhood Mini-Stop and 7-11

The tweet, sent to her 281,000++ followers and which she has since deleted, read: “Done w/ work.. Tnx for having me.. It was nice to see Pres. P-Noy laughing at my jokes & enjoying my performance..ü #Malacañang #PSGNight”

It could have been any other tweet except that a lot of netizens didn’t find it timely. More than 500 people had just died in the floods that swept Northern Mindanao.Valerie also knew that the tragedy occurred since she also sent this tweet before going to the Palace Christmas Party: “Nakakalungkot po tlga.. ? RT @Karen_DaviLa: Nakakalungkot…magpapasko, ang daming namatayan dahil sa bagyo.”

Maybe, Valerie was just overcome with excitement and forgot to be politically correct at a very opportune time. I follow Valerie on Twitter and I know for a fact that she she regularly tweets about the goings-on in her career, her business (Posh Nails @ Venice Piazza) and her daughter Fiona.

But ever since the Dec. 18 tweet which elicited violent reactions the following Monday, December 19, Valerie Concepcion’s Twitter has gone quiet. Her last tweet apologized to people whom she might have offended.

Maybe she’s just busy. Or maybe she did feel traumatized about the incident.

My friends and I had a heated discussion about the matter on Facebook. Honestly, I don’t see anything wrong with the President attending the party of the Presidential Security Group which protects his life and that of his family.

I am just suggesting that maybe it’s time that the Palace drafts confidentiality agreements with the celebrities they invite for private Palace functions. In this age of social media, anything is “twittable” and subject to lots of interpretation

So the beautiful Pauleen Luna is the latest girlfriend of happy bachelor Vic Sotto, more known in Eat Bulaga as Bossing. I’ve read this fresh from today’s column of Ricky Lo but it’s actually been something that’s feeding the gossip vine in the past few weeks. Prior to this, one of the reports said the two were seen at a resort in Rizal in a very lovey-dovey mode

I don’t know how I feel about this since the last time we checked, Pauleen at 23 years old, is at least 30 years younger than Vic Sotto. But I guess age doesn’t matter as long as Bossing’s matter doesn’t age, di ba? Pauleen used to be the girlfriend of Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian while Vic has romanced his every leading lady and co-host – from Dina Bonnevie to Coney Reyes to Christine Jacob and Pia Guanio. It’s pretty obvious that he can deftly combine work & play and everything else in between. The only problem is that Vic hasn’t married anybody ever since he got an annulment from Dina Bonnevie a long time ago. He’s not viewed as a marrying type, especially after hooking up with Pia for seven years (who probably got bored and married someone else recently).

In the meantime, we can’t help if Pauleen has stars in her eyes these days. Just take a look at her inspired musings (from Pauleen Luna’s Twitter @pauleenjluna)

“Thank you world for making me a happy girl. You gave me more than I asked for. I am blessed. I am grateful.

We all have the right to love and be loved.

Whatever choice we make in life, people will always say something. So why not follow what your heart desires?

What is more important? Your own happiness or what other people have to say? ”

YUN LANG!

Short as his life may be, Steve Jobs leaves behind a legacy of greatness in Apple and among millions of users around the world. (You may leave your online expressions of condolence here) The inevitable question now is: what happens to Apple now after Steve? I quite like the meaning of the image below.Apple will definitely not be the same without Steve Jobs.But since it’s a great company, it should continue to be what it is – still churning out one great product after another.

iMourn.

Steve may have gone but his spirit lives on. The spirit hopefully inspires another great innovator to follow in his footsteps.

And it goes without saying: the love for all things Apple will continue to shape our lives.

I will continue to blog using my Macbook which has helped me without fail for the last three years.

Even our baby Lucia is learning how it is to grow up in a Mac household as she watches her favorite nursery rhyme videos on our computers

And suddenly I remember the Mac theme of hubby and I’s prenup shoot:

Apple is love and Apple never fails Thank you Steve!

Fan boys may read his old Playboy interview (circa 1985) here