It has been proven that fruit salad has antioxidants to slow down the aging process, prevent and even reverse cancer and heart disease and strengthen the immune system. Plus, eating assorted fresh fruits is very delicious and fun too.

For me, it is best to prepare the salad ahead of time. You may cover and place it to the refrigerator first to hold the freshness of your fruit salad. And also, it allows the topping to gradually seep into all the fruit which not only looks pretty but distributes the taste.

Ingredients:

•    2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
•    1/2 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
•    2 (15.25 ounce) cans fruit cocktail
•    3 tablespoons maraschino cherries, halved
•    1 banana, sliced
•    2 mangoes
•    2 apples
•    strawberries (optional)

Directions:

Blend together the cream cheese and condensed milk until smooth. Drain the juice from 1 can of the fruit cocktail and add to cream cheese mixture. Add the other can with all its juice, mangoes, apples, cherries, and banana. Mix together. Add extra condensed milk to sweeten if desired. Cover with saran wrap and chill. Mix before serving.

During today’s weigh-in, “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire Jr., of the Philippines weighs in at 115 lb while his opponent Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion of Panama came in over weight at 119.5 lb. The extra 4 lbs makes this fight a non-title bout that the WBA interim world Super Flyweight is not likely at stake.

Despite of their weigh-in controversies, Donaire still wants this fight to prove each one of us that he can bring his speed and power in heavier weight class. Nonito said he is definitely going for a knockout but if the complexion of the fight leans toward a war of attrition, a win by decision will be just as fulfilling. The Filipino warrior revealed that the fight against Concepcion is not an easy task because he (Concepcion) is a great body puncher and has a heart too but Nonito is very confident to dethrone the Panamanian tomorrow.

“I feel good,” said Donaire on the eve of the weigh-in for the bout. “My weight’s good and I’ve trained really hard. With my new training, I feel I’ve gained more muscle mass so it feels like I’m still going down to 112. I do feel a lot better at 115. Definitely, the extra three pounds are a big help. I’m really confident. I’m out to use my speed and power to take care of business.”

Meanwhile, fellow Filipino boxer’s Bernabe Concepcion and Mark Jason Melligen will also take an action as an undercard on Pinoy Power 2 against their respective opponents. Bernabe Concepcion tries to upset the WBO Featherweight champion Steven Luevano while Mark Jason Melligen will do battle against Ernesto Zepeda in a 10-round welterweight war.

On February 28, 2009, the group had their first international tour in Bangkok, Tailand. Then, they together with mentor JYP held concerts in the United States visiting several states such as Los Angeles, La Mirada, and New York City. The Wonder Girls joined the concert of Jonas Brothers on the North American leg of the Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009. Due to demands, the group also released an English version of their single “Nobody”. The girls’ US debut album is up for release next year.

The Wonder Girls has already released a mini-album (“The Wonder Begins”), three full-length albums (“The Wonder Years”, “So Hot” and “The Wonder Years Trilogy”) and they have earned two Daesangs (their equivalent to the Grammy’s). They have three consecutive Number Ones under their belts: “Tell Me”, “So Hot” and “Nobody”.

Aiko is a member of the ASF dancers which was discovered by Anna Santos Feliciano. ASF is an acronym of Anna Santos Feliciano, a talent scout and staff of Wowowwee. Among of the ASF dancers, you can easily distinguish Aiko from them because of her charming looks and sexiness. Although the other members of ASF are beautiful, Aiko is more way better than anyone of them. Its simplicity and extraordinary talent makes her really unique.

The group has been regularly performing in Wowowwee, a top rated noon-time show of ABS-CBN. It is very rare for regular dancers with the height of a miss universe-type beauty to still maintain her poise while performing extraordinary steps in dancing. Lately, this pretty lass from Wowowwee is gaining momentum on the number of fans especially males.

In fact, Aiko’s fan base on the internet is now getting bigger and bigger that many of them considered her as darling of the crowd in Wowowwee. They are obsessed of her beauty. In fairness to her, Aiko has all the looks and potentials in becoming a super stardom someday.

They later stretched the lead to 27 points at halftime 44-17 score. RP coach Yeng Guiao told his players not to put their game on a show but to play basic basketball game for them to win against powerhouse team China.

In the 2nd half, Powerade Team Pilipinas played their game seriously which they scored a thunderous 42 points in the 3rd quarter alone. Give credit to Arwind Santos as he hit several three point shots as the game continues.

Meanwhile, Jared Dillinger led RP with 21 points, Arwind Santos had 16 and Asi Taulava, Aguilar and Cyrus Baguio each had 15 in the win which coach Yeng Guiao described as a “good way to prepare against Japan and Korea.”

Coach Yeng Guiao was very impressed on his player’s performance. “The real test for us is Japan and Korea. We’re looking forward to playing against them in the next two days,” said Guiao.

The Nationals schedule to clash with the Japanese tomorrow (Friday) at 9 p.m PST.

The scores:

Team Pilipinas 115 – Dillinger 21, Santos 16, Taulava 15, Aguilar 15, Baguio 15, Thoss 11, Norwood 8, Helterbrand 5, Miller 5, Raymundo 4, Pennisi 0.

Sri Lanka 31 – Rajapakshe 8, Fernando 8, Danawansa 7, Senanayake 4, De Silva 2, Perera 2.

Quarterscores: 28-9; 44-17; 86-26; 115-31.

Despite of heavy rains brought by tropical storm “Kiko” that affects several areas of Metro Manila right now, it doesn’t stop the people to witness the funeral cortege of the late President Aquino. The crowds chanted Cory’s name and flashed the “L” sign as Aquino’s hearse passed enroute to Manila Memorial Park.

The “L” sign or known as laban was the trademark for late President Cory Aquino when she battled for presidency against Marcos regime. The former president became a democratic icon for us Filipinos.

The funeral Mass for Aquino started at exactly 9 a.m. with Balanga Auxiliary Bishop Socrates Villegas, a close friend of the Aquinos, as the main celebrant.

Among those politicians who attended the mass were Vice-President Noli de Castro, East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta, former presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Rodolfo Biazon, Alan Peter Cayetano and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

At exactly 11:30 a.m., the funeral cortege of former president left the Manila Cathedral where thousands of people lined the streets where the procession is going to pass. The route is going along Roxas Boulevard toward the south, after which it will turn left at Quirino Avenue, cross Taft Avenue, and then turn right at the South Expressway onward to Paranaque.

Although the Splash Island here was patterned after the famous water theme park in the United States, there are also extra features added to assure everyone’s enjoyment and satisfaction. The Splash Island has multiple slides, pools, and other water attraction for guest of all ages. Add to these the assurance of security, the management has set up height and capability restriction for some attraction.

Several interesting stops you may find there are Magellan’s Drop (mat-race ride; downhill slide with you on your belly), Rio Montanosa (also called family raft, the starting point is higher than the Magellan’s Drop, with bigger rafts enough to accommodate the entire family). If you want to warm up your butt and slide, take the Dos Supremos and the King Pilipit (both with no mat or rubber; just you and the slide). If you want to slide but prefer a rubber raft between the surface and you’re behind, take the Big Bam Boo and the Twisted Palms. If you just want to sit around and imagine that you’re at the beach, try the Agos Grandes, a swimming pool with waves.

Entrance fee in Splash Island is different in weekdays and weekends. Recently, the entrance fee on weekdays is P250 for adults and P200 for children/senior citizens. On weekends, admission fee is P325 for adults and P250 for children/senior citizens. Children under 36? are free of charge.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday where the former President will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. at the Manila Memorial Park.

Lorelei Fajardo, a deputy presidential spokesperson said that the declaration of Wednesday as a special non-working holiday will allow the whole nation to witness the moments before Cory is brought to her final resting place, radio dzMM reported.

A mass will be held at 9 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral before the burial.

He also said that the current President Gloria Arroyo has to cut short her United States trip just to attend Aquino’s funeral service on August 5. She expected to leave New York for Manila on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines).

The president declared a 10-day period of national mourning (Aug. 1 to Aug. 10) to pay tribute for the death of Aquino through Proclamation No. 1850.

At the age of 76, Corazon Aquino died for a colon cancer last Saturday at 3:18 a.m. Her body lies at the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) gymnasium in Mandaluyong City.

The schedule for public viewing began at 5 p.m. of Saturday and will continue until Monday. The daily viewing schedule will be until 4 a.m., and will resume at 7 a.m.

President Arroyo is the first Southeast Asian leader who was received by Obama in the White House, arrived at around 3 p.m. at the executive mansion, where pro and anti-Arroyo groups held protests outside the White House gates.

The meeting lasted at about 45 minutes which Arroyo accompanied by some of her political constituents such as Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

US President Obama hailed the relationship of the two allies, and mentioned the contributions of Filipinos to America.

“We are proud to have 4 million persons of Filipino ancestry contributing to our country each and every day in all walks of life. The fact that we have Filipino veterans who have walked side by side with American soldiers on behalf of freedom, all those things that have strengthened the relations of our two countries,” he said.

He also said that they primarily discussed the fight against terrorism during their meeting.

“I am very pleased that President Arroyo has made such good progress on dealing with counterterrorism issues. She has initiated a peace process in Mindanao that we think has the potential to bring peace and stability to a part of the Philippines that has been wracked by unrest for too long,” Obama said.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo thanked President Obama for inviting her to the White House, and restated the Philippines’ support to issues America is pursuing in the region.

“The Philippines will stand behind the US in two crucial issues in the region: Burma and North Korea,” she added.

The President also thanked the US’s help in facing climate change, and the granting of benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.

In college, before he went to the United States, he played for the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2004. However, his first season stint was cut short due to appendicitis.

Japeth bounced back from a disappointing first season on his sophomore year as he averaged 5.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots per contest to help lead the Blue Eagles to an 11-5 finish in 2005. He got a high 55.4 percent shot from the field for the season and he was credited with multiple blocks in 12 of the Blue Eagles’ 16 games that included a career high of seven as well as two other contest with five or more.

On his junior year, Japeth transferred to Western Kentucky University, where he is currently seeing action with the Hilltoppers in the NCAA. He was able to post eight points, eight rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists and two steals in just 32 minutes of action in 2 games, before being sidelined by injury.

Recently, Aguilar is a member of the Philippine National Team, the Powerade Team Pilipinas campaigning for the FIBA Asia as it, the team attempts to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.