WHEN I learned from GMA-7 news of Max Soliven’s passing away on November 24, 2006, just three days before Ninoy Aquino’s birthday, I was very sad and tried to control my tears. My personal encounter with Max began on August 2, 1990, the day Kuwait was invaded by Iraq.
He told me to join him first in a morning breakfast at the lobby of Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City before I interviewed him about his fond memories of Ninoy Aquino for the Philippine Daily Globe’s August 21, 1990 special focus feature entitled “…Ninoy, the Men Who Remember Aquino”. (I actually got Max’s residence phone number through Mela Soliven-Pascual who I met during the birthday of Mother Socorro Reyes, former directress of St. Paul College of Manila, sometime in September 1989 at the house of Romy Reyes on breezy Acacia Street in Valle Verde, Pasig.)
Later Max brought me to the hotel’s La Bodega (now Nielsen) coffee shop where we saw then Trade Assistant Secretary Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was taking a cup of coffee. Max right away introduced me to Gloria. As I shook her hand, I candidly said to her that she would be the country’s leader in the next millennium as Max smiled to what I was predicting. Gloria just smiled at me for she had no ambition to be president someday. But I was very sure that it would come true. Meanwhile, I bade her goodbye for I had to interview Max Soliven, a multi-awarded journalist who recalled how Ninoy used to chide him for having started Ninoy’s career by firing Ninoy from The Guidon, the official weekly college organ of the Ateneo de Manila. Max was then the managing editor while Ninoy was a cub reporter who later joined The Manila Times.
Ninoy had a keen eye and his guts were terrific, and he had what it took to be a successful newspaperman, the ability to detect what was newsworthy and to analyze the news. “The editor of The Manila Times was so impressed with Ninoy that he would translate Ninoy’s dispatches into English,” said Max, adding that it was only Ninoy’s copy that was edited by the editor-in-chief. At 17, Ninoy Aquino became Manila Times’ youngest war correspondent in Korea, a feat that had certainly made him famous.
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump will make a dramatic comeback to the White House as the 47th president of the United States of America. Among the celebrities who supported him are as follows: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Joe Rogan, John Schneider, Rob Schneider, Elon Musk, Hulk Hogan, Megyn Kelly, Caitlyn Jenner, boxer Jake Paul, astonaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Drae de Matteo, Dr. Phil, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, adult film actress Richelle Ryan, modelAmber Rose, Paula Deen, Brett Favre, Victoria Jackson, Joe Exotic, sportsman Harrison Butker, Britanny Mahomes, John Daly, Kelsey Grammer, Tucker Carlson, Jim Caviezel, Zachary Levi, Danica Patrick, Taryn Manning, Kanye, Dennis Quaid, Randy Quaid, Jason Aldean, Savannah Chrisley, Kodak Black, Dana White, Russel Brand, Roseanne Barr, Kid Rock, Lil Pump, Kevin Sorbo, Chris Janson, James Woods, rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Lil Wayne, rapper Sexyy Red, Trace Adkins, DaBaby, Jon Voight, Scott Baio, Steve Mnuchin, Dean Cain, Rod Blagojevich, and Vinny Guadagnino.
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A new cooking and talk show will satisfy viewers’ curiosity and taste buds every afternoon with GMA Public Affairs’ newest talk magazine program, “Lutong Bahay,” which intersects sumptuous yet easy-to-make recipes with feel-good and life-changing memories, bringing together people in the comfort of their homes.
It is hosted by Mikee Quintos with our new kapitbahays Hazel Cheffy Anonuevo, Chef Ylyt Manaig, and Kuya Dudut. “Lutong Bahay” airs Mondays to Fridays, 5:45 p.m. on GTV. Global Pinoys can catch it via international channel, GMA Life TV.
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of Denmark.
Current Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo, a dark-skinned beauty from Bulacan, extended her utmost gratitude to fellow Filipinos from all over the world for the whole-out support to her candidacy in the recently-concluded 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico. She was declared 1st Miss Universe Asia 2024.
In preparing for the international stage, she sees to it that “whatever it is, I voice it out and act upon it with some pieces of advice and suggestions I get from those close to me. I make sure that I keep up with the current events and I show up to my family.”
Family, the very basic unit of a society, is a vital part of her life. Her parents are very supportive of her dream. “I have always been telling them that I love them and that I am so glad that they have become
my parents who are supportive of my dreams.” During weekend, she has been with her parents and friends going to Mass and dining out. She has also been supportive of charity work that deals with the youth and indigenous people. She believes that “everything happens for a reason.” As a child, she experienced bullying: “Yes, bullying doesn’t stop and still happens to anyone… I keep focusing on what I am more passionate about and on what I can only control.”
She elucidates: “I ignore them. I have always believed that bashing comes from people who are only hurt and negative.”
Trials and hardships motivate her to be a better person. Through this means, she has learned to excel in whatever pursuit she does and uses this to do the right thing. “I live up to the principles of goodness, greatness and godliness and these are what help me in pursuing whatever I want to achieve in life,” says Chelsea, a B. S. Tourism alumna of De La Salle Araneta University. “Experiences in life have molded me to look at life more beautiful than being too negative. It made me more stronger.”She reiterates that there is “no label on who I am,” but she has always been kind to other people. Hardships and trials have motivated her to be a better person for “it only makes me better and through it I learn on and apply it in my life.”
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Thanks to 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award recipients Usec. Robert Rivera and Lady Elyza Rivera for guesting Jamin C. Lim and me on their show, “Pilipinas Ngayon Na!” on DWIZ. We enjoyed the discussion on photography and journalism.
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Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
I saw young artists, including Winnie Wong (partner of Patrick, the brother of Paul Soriano who’s First Lady Liza Marcos’ nephew) at Ronan Art Center in San Juan City attending a Christmas showcase that features art pieces. I also saw writers Peps Bernardo, Carlos Abalos, Queenie Ostulano, Andre Dantis, Nuel Manaligod, and Pia Lorraine Yater-Dalmazo.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the
opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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