He's a merman! No, he's Michael Phelps!

His secret is out! Michael Phelps is a merman.

Dubbed as the "Greatest Olympian of All Time," having broken world records and won an outstanding 8 gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, US tanker Michael Phelps has been captured by the lens of renowned American portrait photographer Anna-Lou "Annie" Leibovitz as a merman. Phelps appeared with award-winning actress Julianne Moore as they live out their 'Fantasea' from the "Little Mermaid" for the “Disney Dream Portrait Series." The photo was published in the June 2008 issue of Vanity Fair magazine

From John Frost's report on the Disney Blog:

Fitted in his silvery fishtail, Phelps was lowered into a backlot tank in Los Angeles used for underwater movie scenes. Leibovitz was on the outside, snapping away, communicating her instructions to Phelps via members of her crew.

“One of the most complicated shots I have ever done,” said Leibovitz. “I didn’t know if it was going to work, what to expect. I have to tell you, he was beautiful. Michael put on that tail and … he just became like a modern dancer. He just took to it and enjoyed himself and swam through this tank. I was blown away.”

For the four time “World Swimmer of the Year” (as designated by Swimming World Magazine), donning flippers was worlds away from the swimming competitions he’s used to.

“It was kind of weird to be able to put on a tail and swim around in a tank,” Phelps admitted. “To work with Annie and try these crazy sorts of ideas is really an honor and something I won’t forget.”

A host of US swimming stars, past and present, joined Phelps in the water and final image: Janet Evans, Rowdy Gaines, Brendan Hansen and Cullen Jones.

The 23-year old Phelps has won the hearts around the world with his amazing discipline and hard work. Even US Olympic swimming legend, Mark Spitz (who won 7 gold medals in the 1972 Munich Olympics) praises Phelps to epic heights, "It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he's maybe the greatest athlete of all time. He's the greatest racer who ever walked the planet."

With a total of 16 Olympic medals, this Maryland-born swimmer is no merman. He didn't come out of the sea to be an Olympic swimmer. He is Michael Fred Phelps.

Michael Phelps poses exclusively for the August 25, 2008 edition of Sports Illustrated magazine in this photograph taken by Simon Bruty in Beijing, China on August 17, 2008.

"Jose Pidal" Bill bars registered professionals to leave country

RANT: Arrogance does run in the family

The Philippines' First Family is at it again. One of their family members, Congressman Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo has filed House Bill 4580 which mandates registered Filipino professionals to render at least two (2) years domestic service before seeking foreign employment. Arroyo seeks to address the exodus of health workers abroad which he said could lead to a "possible paralysis" of the country's health system.

Under the proposed measure, medical professionals are required to render a two-year compulsory service in the country prior to working overseas.

Covered by HB 4580 are doctors, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, medical technologists, physical therapists, engineers, teachers, sailors, accountants, interior designers, nutritionists and criminologists and even librarians, guidance counselors and master plumbers.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Secretary-General Ernesto Herrera has spoken on behalf of registered professionals that this bill is "unfair' and "discriminatory" He questioned the wisdom of Rep. Arroyo's proposal, considering the large surplus of professionals in many sectors of the labor market.

"We have a huge glut of professionals in many sectors. In the case of nurses, the main reason they are leaving the country is because wages here are grossly inadequate. And the pay is meager precisely because of the massive surplus of nurses. This is the law of supply and demand at work," the former senator noted.

Annually, around 21,000 nurses leave the country to seek employment in the United States and Europe, which are considered the highest paying market for nurses globally.

To recall, the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) earlier reported that the country has over supply of nurses because of the dwindling demand in the nurses abroad. The Philippines has been producing more than 132,000 nurses every year.

It is but apt that this news came out when 64,459 new nurses will take their oath as registered professionals before the Board of Nursing (BON) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) today.

I AM A REGISTERED NURSE and it has raised so many questions in my mind that I'd like to address to the Honorable Congressman from Negros Occidental who publicly admitted to be "Jose Pidal":

Is "Jose Pidal" aware of the sacrifices that we, registered nurses and families, have gone through in order to finish our nursing degrees and pass local and international licensure examinations?

Is "Jose Pidal" aware of the costs of nursing education and training?

Is "Jose Pidal" aware how difficult it is to seek nursing jobs in hospitals today?

Is "Jose Pidal" aware that nurses have to pay a fee for some hospitals in order to render "volunteer" work?

Is "Jose Pidal" aware of the stress that nurses face everyday because of greater workloads?

Is "Jose Pidal" aware of how poorly motivated nurses are due to low pay?

Is "Jose Pidal" aware that it is a human right for every man to earn his keep and, if he sees it necessary, seek greener pastures in a foreign land for his family because he cannot secure his future in this God-forsaken country?

Does "Jose Pidal" know what he is talking about?

Indeed, arrogance does run in the family.

"Veni Vidi Vici"

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

I tried the Lakbayan: How much of the Philippines have you visited? quiz through the suggestion of my friend Gina. She thought I could get an A with the places I've been to around the Philippines but I only got a C+. As a "lakwatsero", I have yet to visit many places in the Philippines like Palawan, Camarines Sur, Leyte and Samar, the Bicol Region, the rest of Mindanao (hope it will still be part of the Philippines), and THE place to see, the picturesque islands of Batanes.

Traveling around the Philippines before I leave this country has always been my goal. I have always wanted to see the beautiful places of my country before I live in a foreign country in the next couple of years.

I just learned through this quiz that there is so much in the Philippines to conquer with so little time. But I don't easily give up, I know I will be able to visit those places someday. I just don't know when but I know I can and I will.

The Tale of the Happy and Sad Red Horse

Last Wednesday night, had an overnight, sleepless drinking session with my friends from Marangers. (Huh? Marangers? I'll tell you more about this exclusive group next time.) Anyway, at the Mini Stop convenience store, I told my friends about the tale of the "Happy and Sad Red Horse" beer and how the 'kick" differs from each other. Urban legend says that the "Happy Red Horse" has an added more kick than the "Sad Red Horse" and in a case of Red Horse beer, you can find a bottle of the "Happy" one. We kept on looking for the "Happy" horse among the bottles in the fridge but failed. So there goes for the uber kick that we wanted. But boy, that Red Horse Grande that we had never fail to give us the "amats" that we've always looked for in Red Horse.

And the search continues for the "Happy Red Horse Beer"!!!

-- The "Happy Red Horse" (right) and "Sad Red Horse" (left). Photo by jovienaval.

Sorry, Harry Potter fans

The release date for the sixth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince, has been pushed back to July 17, 2009 from its original slot in November 21, 2008.

The eight-month change in the opening date is expected to disappoint millions of Harry Potter fans around the world who have already been waiting more than a year to watch the next big screen installment in the international literary and film phenomenon.

Trailers for Half-Blood Prince began running last week in advance of the expected November movie release worldwide.

Warner Brothers says it had decided to make the change to bolster its release schedule for the lucrative mid-year moviegoing season - a period that can account for as much as 40 per cent of Hollywood's annual box office receipts.

Warner Brothers president Alan Horn says the studio is also still feeling repercussions from the three-month Hollywood screenwriters strike that ended in February but has "impacted the readiness of scripts for other films."

"We know the summer season is an ideal window for a family ... release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise - behind only the first instalment," Mr Horn said.

The studio says the change of date will not alter production plans for the final, two-part Potter movie adventure, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The release date for part one is tentatively set for November 2010.

Methink, we just have to push our countdowns for the movie release a little more further. Whew!!!

Wanted: Madame K's "Ensaymada"

Last night, my housemate Mark who works with the Kapamilya network, brought a big box filled with ensyamada which was given to him by his former big boss, Madam K. This sumptuous ensaymada is like no-other. It is sprinkled with Parmesan cheese on top and its innermost layer is sandwiched with cheddar cheese. Delicious would be an understatement. Too bad, Madam K refuses to divulge the creator of this gastronomical masterpiece.

Olympics - "Faked" in China

Just as the world is in a trance over the spectacular Opening Ceremonies at the Beijing Olympics, news reports revealed that some parts of the "most watched show on the planet" was FAKED!!!

According to reports by Agence France-Presse, the cute little girl who starred at the Olympics was just "miming and only put on stage because the real singer was not considered attractive enough." The nine-year old girl Lin Miaoke who performed a patriotic song was "forced" to lip synch because the organizers "banned" the seven-year old girl Yang Peiyi because she had crooked teeth. What can you expect, the little girl is in her school age and she's been devouring a lot of sweets. Besides, her deciduous teeth are bound to fall off. I just hope Peiyi won't have to struggle inferiority because of what the organizers have done to her.

Another highlight of the opening ceremonies which was also faked was the "burning footprints". It was such a spectacle as 29 "footprints" illuminated the Beijing sky as it made it through "The Bird's Nest." The gigantic, burning footprints symbolized the arrival of the XXIX Olympiad in the Chinese capital. Reports revealed that some of the "burning footprints" were not created by fireworks but partly CGI (Computer-Generated Images) or pre-recorded. Their excuse was the pollution that hovered over Beijing.

I would have considered the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics as THE one that could put the Athens' Opening Ceremonies to shame but we were duped, BIG TIME by the organizers. Nonetheless, they really put on a great "show" and sure, if it's made from China, it must be "FAKE".