Manila

The Ninoy Aquino Stadium is one of two indoor sporting arenas located in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines, the other being... the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The arena is named after former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., commonly called as Ninoy Aquino. The Ninoy Aquino Stadium was formerly an open air stadium before being converted into a covered indoor arena. The arena hosted the volleyball tournament of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games and the table tennis competitions of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. It has also hosted mostly college basketball games such as the UAAP, NCAA, NCRAA and the NAASCU. Currently, it is also known for hosting taekwondo tournaments, the two editions of the BSCP National Pool Championships and as one of the alternate venues of PBA basketball games it also played Manila Metrostars in the Metropolitan Basketball Association. The venue's capacity is around 5,000-6,000.
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The Rizal Memorial Coliseum is one of two indoor sporting arenas located inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines, the other... being the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The capacity of the coliseum is 8,000. The arena and the surrounding sports complex are named after Philippine national hero José Rizal. It was one of the main venues of several basketball games and other indoor sports during the 1950s up until the 1970s. The now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association played a number of games in the venue. The Philippine Basketball Association also hosted a number of playing dates in the venue during the early-1980s. The basketball competitions of the 1981 Southeast Asian Games was held at RMC that saw a fight-marred gold medal game between the host Philippines and Malaysia. With the construction and use of the more popular Araneta Coliseum, as well as the use of the PhilSports Arena, the arena suffered terribly as the arena lack an air-conditioning system and adequate lighting. However, in the past few years it has hosted a number of UAAP, NCAA and Shakey's V-League tournaments, as well as the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
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The Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium, simply known as the Rizal Memorial Stadium since it is the main stadium within the Rizal Memorial... Sports Complex, is the national stadium of the Philippines. It served as the main stadium of the 1954 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games on three occasions. Prior to its renovation on 2011, the stadium was badly deteriorated and was unfit for international matches. The stadium is also officially the home of the Philippines national football team. Since the 1930's, it has hosted all major local football tournaments and some international matches. When a new tartan track was laid out at the oval for the country’s initial hosting of the 1981 Southeast Asian Games, the venue became a hub for athletics and the football field’s condition slowly deteriorated. It eventually became unsuitable for international matches which meant the Philippine national team would have to play their home games at an alternate venue. In early 2009, as the Philippine Sports Commission announced plans to renovate the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, restoration of the football field and stadium was also planned.
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The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the... Philippines. It is located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila. The house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every Philippine head since Rafael de Echague y Berminghan. During the American period, Governors-General Francis Burton Harrison and Dwight F. Davis built an executive building, the Kalayaan Hall, which was later transformed into a museum. Originally a summer house by Spanish aristocrat Don Luis Rocha, the house was sold to Colonel Jose Miguel Formente, and was later purchased by the state in 1825. Since 1825, Malacañan Palace became the temporary residence of every Governor-General. During the Spanish–American War, Malacañan Palace became the residence of the American Civil Governors, with William Howard Taft being the first American Governor resident. During the American period, many administrative buildings were constructed and Malacañan Palace was refurbished.
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Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipina politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political... power, she held various positions to the government until 1986. She is the first politician elected as member of the Philippine legislature in three geographical locations . In 2010, she was elected to become a member of the House of Representatives to represent Ilocos Norte's second district. She is sometimes referred to as the Steel Butterfly or the Iron Butterfly. She is often remembered for symbols of the extravagance of her husband's political reign, including her collection of 2700 pairs of shoes. Her paternal ancestors, the Lopezes of Leyte, were wealthy, landed and prominent and claimed to have founded the town of Tolosa, Leyte. Spanish mestizos, the Lopezes were descended from the Spanish friar and silversmith Don Francisco Lopez, originally from Granada in the Andalusian region of Spain.
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Lea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss... Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards. She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and Fantine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway. She also provided the singing voice of two official Disney Princesses: Jasmine in Aladdin , and Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan II . Salonga was named a Disney Legend in 2011 for her work at the company. Salonga made her professional debut in 1978 at the age of seven in the musical The King and I by Repertory Philippines. She became the lead star of Annie and joined other productions such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rose Tattoo, The Sound of Music, The Goodbye Girl, Paper Moon and The Fantasticks. She began her recording career at the age of ten with her first album, Small Voice, which received a gold certification.
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Ronald Allan Poe y Kelley , better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and cultural icon. From... the 1950s, Poe played steadfast film heroes who fight for the common man, which won him respect and admiration. He did not complete high school but went on to win numerous awards and prizes as an actor and film director. During the latter part of his career, he ran an unsuccessful bid for President of the Philippines in the 2004 presidential election against the former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2011, witnesses revealed in a Senate inquiry that Poe would have won the 2004 elections had there been no cheating. He was honored on May 24, 2006 as Philippine National Artist through Philippine Proclamation No. 1065. Poe dropped out of high school to work in the Filipino film industry as a messenger boy, and was given acting roles in subsequent years. Starting as a stuntman for Everlasting Pictures, he was given a break and landed his first starring role in the movie Anak ni Palaris at the age of 14. The movie was not a big hit.
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Loren Legarda is a Filipino broadcast journalist, environmentalist, and politician of Visayan ancestry, notable as the only female to top two... senatorial elections . During the 2004 Philippine general election, she ran for the position of Vice-President as an Independent with Fernando Poe, Jr. as running mate and again during the 2010 Philippine presidential election, for the same position as a member of the NPC with Manny Villar. She is considered as one of the five most influential women in the Philippines. Legarda is a notable advocate of Climate Change Awareness and has numerous achievements in the fields of social development and human rights advocacy along with her work in journalism. As a journalist, she has received many awards. In 2008, she was chosen as "United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Asia Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation". She was a member of the Philippine delegation during the 2009 Copenhagen Summit.
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Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar , better known as Freddie Aguilar, is a folk musician from the Philippines. He is best known for his rendition of "Bayan... Ko", which became the anthem for the opposition to the Marcos regime during the 1986 People Power Revolution, and for his song "Anak", the best-selling Philippine music record of all time. He is heavily associated with Pinoy rock. He is well known internationally, and within the Philippines and Asia-Pacific region, claiming fame as one of the best musician-songwriters of the Philippines. Freddie studied Electrical Engineering at De Guzman Institute of Technology but did not finish the degree program. Instead he pursued music, became a street musician, and then a folk club and bar musician. In 1973, he married Josephine Quiepo. Freddie Aguilar left family and school unfinished at the age of 18. Realizing and regretting his mistakes five years later, Freddie composed "Anak" , a remorseful song expressing apology to his parents.
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Westdon Martin Abay , popularly known as Dong Abay, is a poet and a Pinoy rock musician. He was the founding member, songwriter and lead vocalist of... the bands Yano, Pan, and dongabay, which are now all defunct. As of January 2008, he is pursuing a career as an independent artist. Born on April 5, 1971 in Manila, Philippines, he shares his birthday with the former Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the date of Abay's birth was also the day when American rockstar Kurt Cobain of Nirvana killed himself in 1994. He is married to Ninj Botor Reyes. They have a son named Awit , born on May 15, 2002. In 1992, Dong Abay, Eric Gancio and Larry Mapolon met in Patatag, a progressive vocal ensemble. After a year, they decided to form a band called NG with percussionist Renmin Nadela. Abay and Gancio remained and recruited musical arranger and bassist, Onie Badiang to the group. Eventually, the band's name was renamed to Yano. They recorded their demo at the home studio of alternative artist Joey Ayala in June 1993.
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Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipina politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political... power, she held various positions to the government until 1986. She is the first politician elected as member of the Philippine legislature in three geographical locations . In 2010, she was elected to become a member of the House of Representatives to represent Ilocos Norte's second district. She is sometimes referred to as the Steel Butterfly or the Iron Butterfly. She is often remembered for symbols of the extravagance of her husband's political reign, including her collection of 2700 pairs of shoes. Her paternal ancestors, the Lopezes of Leyte, were wealthy, landed and prominent and claimed to have founded the town of Tolosa, Leyte. Spanish mestizos, the Lopezes were descended from the Spanish friar and silversmith Don Francisco Lopez, originally from Granada in the Andalusian region of Spain.
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Joey Santiago is a Filipino-American guitarist and composer. Active since 1986, Santiago is best known as the lead guitarist for the American... alternative rock band Pixies. After the band's breakup in 1993, Santiago produced musical scores for film and television documentaries, and he formed The Martinis with his wife, Linda Mallari. He also contributed to albums by Charles Douglas and former Pixies fellow bandsman Frank Black. Santiago resumed his role as the Pixies' lead guitarist when they reunited in 2004. Santiago has described his guitar technique as "angular and bent," and he cites Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Joe Pass and Jimi Hendrix as major influences on his style. His guitar playing, as part of the Pixies' sound, was held in high regard by critics: MTV's Laurel Bowman commented that Santiago's "sonic plow was the key element in the Pixies' monstrous presence." Santiago was born in Manila, Philippines, on June 10, 1965, the third of six sons of an anesthesiologist. In 1972, however, when President Marcos declared martial law, the family emigrated to the United States.
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Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino , commonly known as Kris Aquino, is a Filipino television and movie personality who gained prominence from her... talk shows, game shows, and numerous endorsements. Known as the Queen of All Media and Philippines' Queen of Talk, she is the youngest daughter of former Philippine senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, who served as the 11th President of the Philippines, and sister of Benigno Aquino, III, the current President of the Philippines. Her first movie was Pido Dida, Sabay Tayo, which earned her a a Box-office Queen title. Her 2004 films such as Feng Shui and So Happy Together also gave her the Box-office Queen title again. In 2006, she regained the same Box Office title for her movie Sukob, which is the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. She is also the Executive Editor of her own bi-monthly magazine called K! The Kris Aquino Magazine. In December 2009, Aquino showcased her own Home Collection called K Everyday. In partnership with ABS-CBN Licensing, K Everyday features cooking collection, kitchen collection, plastic collection, and stationery collection.
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Ronald Allan Poe y Kelley , better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and cultural icon. From... the 1950s, Poe played steadfast film heroes who fight for the common man, which won him respect and admiration. He did not complete high school but went on to win numerous awards and prizes as an actor and film director. During the latter part of his career, he ran an unsuccessful bid for President of the Philippines in the 2004 presidential election against the former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In 2011, witnesses revealed in a Senate inquiry that Poe would have won the 2004 elections had there been no cheating. He was honored on May 24, 2006 as Philippine National Artist through Philippine Proclamation No. 1065. Poe dropped out of high school to work in the Filipino film industry as a messenger boy, and was given acting roles in subsequent years. Starting as a stuntman for Everlasting Pictures, he was given a break and landed his first starring role in the movie Anak ni Palaris at the age of 14. The movie was not a big hit.
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Loren Legarda is a Filipino broadcast journalist, environmentalist, and politician of Visayan ancestry, notable as the only female to top two... senatorial elections . During the 2004 Philippine general election, she ran for the position of Vice-President as an Independent with Fernando Poe, Jr. as running mate and again during the 2010 Philippine presidential election, for the same position as a member of the NPC with Manny Villar. She is considered as one of the five most influential women in the Philippines. Legarda is a notable advocate of Climate Change Awareness and has numerous achievements in the fields of social development and human rights advocacy along with her work in journalism. As a journalist, she has received many awards. In 2008, she was chosen as "United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Asia Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation". She was a member of the Philippine delegation during the 2009 Copenhagen Summit.
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Augusto Valdez Pangan, Sr. , better known as Chiquito, was a popular Filipino actor appearing mainly in comedy films. Chiquito was born Augusto... Valdez Pangan, Sr. in Manila. His entertainment career began at the age of 13, when he appeared in a major musical production at the Manila Grand Opera House. In the next several years, he was a fixture in the Manila bodabil circuit, popular for his skill in dancing the boogie-woogie. Chiquito was befriended by Fernando Poe, Sr., and with Poe's assistance, started a film career. He broke into films with Sanggano from Palaris Pictures. He would star in over a hundred films, mostly comedies, in the next 5 decades. He brought to life on film several memorable comic characters, such as the Larry Alcala creation Asiong Aksaya, the caveman Barok, Charley the mute in Bamboo Gods And Iron Men and the quack doctor Mang Kepweng. He established his own production company, Sotang Bastos Productions, named after his favorite film role from the 1950s. He would ride on the crest of ever popular comedy spoofs of Hollywood genres such as the gangster film and the western.
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