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Christmas ( Old English : Crīstesmæsse , meaning " Christ 's Mass ") is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday , celebrated generally on December 25 by millions of people around the world . A feast central to the Christian liturgical year , it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide . Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations , is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season .

Janine Mari Raymundo Tugonon (born 19 October 1989 in Balanga , Bataan ) is a Filipina beauty queen who holds the title Miss Universe-Philippines 2012 and placed first runner-up in the Miss Universe 2012 pageant. She also placed first runner-up in Binibining Pilipinas 2011 , where her roommate, Shamcey Supsup , won. Miss Universe 2012 On 19 December 2012, Tugonon fiinshed first runner-up to Miss Universe 2012 , Olivia Culpo of Rhode Island , USA , at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas . [ 1 ] Tugonon's feat is reminiscent of Miriam Quiambao 's in 1999 ; both ladies attended the University of Santo Tomas and garnered the same prize in the competition. Tugonon is regarded to have given one of the best answers in Miss Universe history when she gave here reply to judge Nigel Barker 's question: "As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English should be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe? Why or why not?" Her

Nonito Donaire, Jr. (born November 16, 1982) is a Filipino American [ 1 ] professional boxer . Known as "The Filipino Flash," Donaire is a four-division world champion and the reigning WBO , The Ring and WBC Diamond Super Bantamweight Champion . He is also the former IBF Super Bantamweight , WBC and WBO Bantamweight , Interim WBA Super Flyweight and IBF Flyweight Champion. He is a known switch-hitter with the ability to fight either southpaw or orthodox. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] His surname is often mispronounced as do-nayr but it is properly pronounced as do-nigh-reh . Donaire is currently rated by The Ring as the number six pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Titles in boxing Amateur career National: 1998 National Silver Gloves Champion 1999 National Jr. Olympics Champion 2000 National USA Tournament Champion International: 1999 International Jr. Olympics Champion Professional career Major World Titles: IBF Flyweight Champion (112 lbs)

The canonical gospels of Luke and Matthew describe Jesus being born in Bethlehem , in Judea, to a virgin mother. Luke features the Christmas story, in which Joseph and Mary, as part of a census, travel to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born and laid in a manger . Angels proclaim him a savior for all people, and shepherds come to adore him. In Matthew, wise men follow a star to Bethlehem to bring gifts to Jesus, born the King of the Jews . King Herod massacres all the toddler boys in Bethlehem to kill Jesus, but the holy family flees to Egypt and later settles in Nazareth. Scholars debate whether these two accounts can be reconciled or not, and some view the narratives as non-historical. Some scholars view the discussion of historicity as secondary, given that gospels were primarily written as theological documents rather than chronological timelines. Other traditional Christian scholars maintain that the two accounts do not contradict each other, pointing to the similari

The system made landfall early this morning, near Cateel and Baganga in Davao Oriental as a Category 5 Super Typhoon–the strongest cyclone to hit Mindanao in over two decades. Bopha significantly as it moved across Agusan, Bukidnon, and Misamis Oriental. It dumped heavy rains in many areas causing flooding, landslides, and swollen rivers. Storm surge also caused significant damage along the eastern coast. IR Image from NRLMRY Bopha is now moving across the southern tip of Negros Island and will emerge over to the Sulu Sea by tonight. It will probably intensify just a little bit tomorrow as it passes south of Panay Island. Heavy rains will spread northward impacting Bohol, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, Panay and other islands in Visayas. By Thursday, Bopha is forecast to make landfall in Northern Palawan and then exit into the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea by Friday and Saturday.

Hurricane Sandy was a hurricane that devastated portions of the Caribbean and the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States , with lesser impacts in the Southeastern and Midwestern states and Eastern Canada , in late October 2012. Sandy, the eighteenth named storm and tenth hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season , was a Category 2 storm at its peak intensity. While it was a Category 1 storm off the coast of the Northeastern United States, the storm became the largest Atlantic hurricane on record (as measured by diameter with winds spanning 1,100 miles (1,800 km)). Sandy is estimated in early calculations to have caused damage of at least $20 billion (2012 USD). Preliminary estimates of losses that include business interruption surpass $50 billion (2012 USD), which would make it the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane behind only Hurricane Katrina . At least 253 people were killed along the path of the storm in seven countries.

Bieber, who was not in attendance but made plenty of headlines over the weekend due to his reported breakup with Selena Gomez, won Best Male, Best Pop and Best World Stage. Bieber's pal Carly Rae Jepson, who was the first artist signed to his Schoolboy Records, took home two trophies: Best Song for her hit "Call Me Maybe" and Best PUSH. She celebrated by crowd-surfing during her electrifying performance. No Doubt, PSY, Pitbull, the Killers and Swift each graced the Frankfurt stage with performances of their hits. The late Whitney Houston, who passed away last February, was honored as a Global Icon and is the third artist to receive the honor after Bon Jovi and Queen. Full list of winners from MTV EMA 2012: Best Female Taylor Swift Best Male Justin Bieber Best New Act One Direction Best Song "Call Me Maybe," Carly Rae Jepsen Best World Stage Justin Bieber Best Video "Gangnam Style," PSY Best Rock Linkin Park Be

All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints, or The Feast of All Saints) is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. All Saints' Day is the second day of Hallowmas, and begins at sundown on the 31st of October (celebrated as Halloween) and finishes at sundown on the 1st of November. It is the day before All Soul's Day.

  In Western Christianity, All Souls' Day, also known as the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed, is observed principally in the Catholic Church, although some churches of Anglican  and the Old Catholic Churches also celebrate it ; the observance is the third day of Hallowmas and annually occurs on November 2. The Eastern Orthodox Church observes several All Souls' Days during the year. The Roman Catholic celebration is associated with the doctrine that the souls of the faithful who at death have not been cleansed from the temporal punishment due to venial sins and from attachment to mortal sins cannot immediately attain the beatific vision in heaven, and that they may be helped to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass.

  B lessed Pedro Calungsod (c. 1654 – April 2, 1672) was a young Roman Catholic Filipino sacristan and missionary catechist, who along with Spanish Jesuit missionary Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, suffered religious persecution and martyrdom on Guam for their missionary work in 1672. Calungsod was beatified on March 5, 2000 by Blessed Pope John Paul II. On February 18, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially announced at  Saint Peter’s Basilica that Calungsod will be canonized on October 21, 2012.

Karmin is an American pop duo consisting of engaged couple Amy Heidemann (born April 29, 1986) and Nick (Louis) Noonan (born April 27, 1986). They are best known for their song "Brokenhearted", which reached the top 20 in their native United States, and the top 10 of the charts in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. They had been known previously for their covers, including Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" and Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass". Their original song "Take It Away" was used in promos for the 2011 NBA Finals.   Watch and Listen to This Songs   "Brokenhearted" and "Hello".  

  6 LOYALTY ROCKS 

A pple is preparing to add yet another product whose name will of course begin with that signature lowercase "i."  The newest venture: a hybrid car.  Italian auto designer, Liviu Tudoran, has released his design for the Apple iMove concept car for the year 2020.  Not forgetting the company's computer roots, the entire dashboard features a touchscreen interface and an exterior clearly reminiscent of Apple's signature computer mouse.

Zac—Most Slam Dunks by a Parrot in One Minute This Macaw is one cool parrot. He holds the record for hitting 22 slam dunks in one minute. Look out Lebron James—this bird’s got skills. Zeus — Tallest Dog Living This big guy’s been grabbing a lot of headlines lately. Resembling more the height of a horse, the Great Dane Zeus hits the 1.118 m mark. He lives with Denise Doorlag and her family in Otsego, Michigan. Sam—Tallest Donkey Measuring in at 15.3 hands, Oklahoma Sam is a 4-year-old American Mammoth Jackstock, who lives with owner Linda Davis in Watsonville, California.                                                                 Archie—Smallest Bull (height) This 16-month guy should get an award for also being the cutest little bull! Hailing from Northern Ireland, Archie is the shortest bull in the world with a measurement of 76.2 from hoof to withers.                                                                           

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies                                              Ingredients : 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 cup packed light-brown sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips Directions : Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixe

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" Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today".                                   -Mark Twain                                                                           The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.                                                                                                                     -Buddha   The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.                                      -Helen Keller The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.                                                            -Eleanor Roosevelt Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.                                  -Mother Teresa   The best road to progress is freedom's road.                   -John F. Kennedy