Francine's Blog

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...