Eugenio "Boy" Abunda, Jr. is a Filipino renowned actor, television presenter, journalist, and talent manager in the Philippines.

He was born in Borongan City, Eastern Samar. When his father died, he dropped out of school and tried odd jobs to survive.^[1]

He later found a job in Metropolitan Theater as an assistant stage manager and became an assistant to Conching Sunico, the administrator of Metropolitan Theater who taught him about public relations. After two years, he put up his own PR company called Backroom, Inc.

Boy Abunda was also one of the pillars behind the early years of Probe.

While doing PR consulting jobs for GMA Network, a network executive at the time, suggested that he try television. Soon, he became one of the hosts of Show and Tell, a late night variety talk show with Gretchen Barretto, and subsequently, Startalk, an entertainment talk show. In 1999, he subsequently moved to ABS-CBN where he currently hosts three shows: The Buzz, Private Conversations, SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon, and his latest TV reality talk show, The Bottomline.

Boy Abunda also produced an album titled "Melodic Conversations".^[2]

He graduated from Philippine Women's University in Quezon City with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts.

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao (pronounced /ˈpækjaʊ/; born December 17, 1978), known as Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao is a Filipino professional boxer, part-time actor and recording artist. He is the former WBC Lightweight world champion, WBC Super Featherweight world champion, IBF Super Bantamweight world champion, and WBC Flyweight world champion. He has also held the Ring Magazine titles for Featherweight, Super Featherweight, and Light Welterweight divisions. For his achievements, he became the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win five world titles in five different weight divisions. He is currently the IBO and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight champion and is rated by the Ring Magazine as the #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He is also the first boxer to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes.Manny Pacquiao started his professional boxing career at the age of 16 at 106 lbs (Light Flyweight). His early fights took place in small local venues and were shown on Vintage Sports' Blow by Blow, an evening boxing show. His professional debut was a 4-round bout against Edmund "Enting" Ignacio on January 22, 1995, which Pacquiao won via decision, becoming an instant star of the program. Close friend Mark Penaflorida's death in 1994 spurred the young Pacquiao to pursue a professional boxing career.

His weight increased from 106 to 113 lbs before losing in his 12th bout against Rustico Torrecampo via a third-round knockout (KO). Pacquiao had not made the weight. So he was forced to use heavier gloves than Torrecampo, thereby putting Pacquiao at a disadvantage.

Shortly after the Torrecampo fight, Pacquiao settled at 112 lbs, winning the WBC Flyweight title over Chatchai Sasakul in the eighth round only to lose it in his second defense against Medgoen Singsurat, also known as Medgoen 3K Battery, via a third-round knockout on a bout held at Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. Technically, Pacquiao lost the belt at the scales as he surpassed the weight limit of 112 lbs (51 kg).

Following his loss to Singsurat, Pacquiao gained weight anew. This time, Pacquiao went to the Super Bantamweight division of 122 lbs (55 kg), where he picked up the WBC International Super Bantamweight title. He defended the title five times before his chance for a world title fight came.

Pacquiao's big break came on June 23, 2001, against IBF Super Bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao stepped into the fight as a late replacement and won the fight by technical knockout to become the IBF Super Bantamweight champion on a bout held at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. He defended this title five times and fought to a sixth-round draw against Agapito Sánchez in a bout that was stopped early after Pacquiao received 2 headbutts.

Personal life
Pacquiao was born in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao and currently resides in his home town General Santos City, South Cotabato, Philippines. He is married to Jinkee Pacquiao and they have four children.

Francisco Domagoso is the current vice mayor of Manila, Philippines and a former three-term councilor of the city's first congressional district. He was also an actor, using the screen name Isko Moreno, who became known for his mature roles in the "Titillating Films" genre that was prevalent in the country during the 1990s.

Early life

Domagoso is the only child of Joaquin Domagoso (a stevedore at Manila's North Harbor) and Rosario Moreno (from Allen, Northern Samar).^[2] Being out of wedlock, he and his mother were often neglected financially. Because of their plight, his mother taught him to be resourceful and fend for themselves amidst the tough, lower-class Tondo neighborhood. He found alternative sources of income at the age of 10 by pushing a cart and go house-to-house to gather old newspapers and used bottles then reselling them at a local junk dealer. He also rummaged through restaurant garbage bins for leftover food, which his mother would recook for dinner.

[edit] Show business career

Domagoso caught the attention of talent scout Wowie Roxas in 1993 while attending a funeral in Tondo and was then convinced to join show business. He was part of That's Entertainment, a daily variety show featuring German Moreno's stable of aspiring teenage actors, under the screen name Isko Moreno.^[1] He got his major break in 1993 when he was cast in a cameo role in the romantic movie May Minamahal (Loving Someone) and eventually became a leading man to Claudine Barretto in Muntik na Kitang Minahal (I Almost Loved You) a year later.

He eventually ventured into mature movies, mostly as lead actor. Moreno's first "titillating film" as with Aya Medel in Siya'y Nagdadalaga (She's Reaching Puberty), and has appeared in similarly-themed movies such as Exploitation and Mga Babae sa Isla Azul (The Women of Azul Island). Moreno's last mature movie was in 1999 with Glydel Mercado in Misteryosa (Mysterious Woman).

In 2005, during his third term as a councilor of Manila, he returned to the spotlight as a kind-hearted priest in the television drama series Mga Anghel na Walang Langit (Angels Without a Heaven). He also had a brief appearance in 2007 in the television drama series Bakekang.The following year, Moreno has a supporting role in afternoon soap opera

Sarah Asher Geronimo was born on July 25, 1988 to Father Delfin Geronimo, a retired PLDT employee, and mother Divina, who used to run a beauty parlor in their house at Sta. Cruz, Manila. Sarah is the third of four children with siblings Johna Rizzie, Sunshine Grace, and Ezekiel Gabriel.

Sarah's first music lessons came from her father. He would have her practice everyday to develop her singing prowess. Sarah first sang on stage at age two at a mall show. Sarah sang "Pasko Na Naman" with Pinky Marquez and Richard Reynoso. At four years old, mother Divine would accompany her to auditions for different TV programs. Sarah became part of kiddie shows Pen-pen de Sarapen (4-6 years old), Ang TV (7-8 years old), and NEXT (8-9 years old). In between auditions, Sarah would perform at shopping malls and hotel lounges. She was one of the performers during the 1995 visit of Pope John Paul II. Sarah at an early age joined hosts of different singing contests the first of which was Tuklas Talino sponsored by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

Star For A Night hosted by Ms. Regine Velasquez was arguably the singing contest that catapulted Sarah to stardom. On March 1, 2003, at age fourteen Sarah emerged as the grand prize winner of the said singing competition with her rendition of the song "To Love You More." She won P 1 million and a managerial contract at Viva Artist Agency. The prize money was spent on tuition fees and the operation of her eldest sister.

After this turning point what followed are albums, concerts, her own soap opera, a mainstay at ASAP (a Sunday variety show), supporting roles in movies, endorsements, and legions of fans. She became a popstar, a teen princess, a role model.

Sarah paved the way for the next generation champion singers. They are Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Raymond Manalo, Erik Santos, Sheryn Regis, Christian Bautista, Frenchie Dy, Jerome Sala, and more still competing. At ASAP, champion singers show off their winning form at Champions Showdown.

When not busy being a popstar, Sarah spends time with her family, they go to Sunday mass. Sarah enjoys reading J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter, and plays video games.

Socorro Ramos, founder of the country’s largest bookshop empire started out as a simple saleslady in a bookstore whose red-and-white plastic bags have become the name that the Filipino people know today as National Bookstore.

Now, she lives true to the company’s nature, with the documentary featuring “Bukas Aklat” mobile library project for schools who cannot afford to put up the facility for their students.

The life of National Book Store founder Socorro C. Ramos should serve as an inspiration to the younger generation on how to hurdle the numerous challenges thrown our way. Her success, not just in business but in all aspects of life, stresses the importance of focus, dedication, hard work, education and other important values.

In an interview with BusinessMirror, Ramos, fondly called Nanay Coring, shares her thoughts and experiences on building National Book Store, her family and the important values that made her an entrepreneur and individual par excellence.

What is a typical day for Mrs. Socorro Ramos?

I am up by 7 in the morning. I take fruits and milk for breakfast. My whole morning is almost spent making and receiving calls to and from area managers, branch managers and my department staff. I go to work after lunch. Because I live with my older sister, the cook usually prepares a very lean lunch consisting of vegetables and fish. This is a very dry meal. That is why I enjoy every minute when I am eating outside the house.

My afternoon is mostly spent on meetings with publishers, dealers, customers and branch visits. In the evenings, once in a while, I attend social events like branch openings, book launchings and association meetings. I am not an early sleeper, I get to sleep around 2 am to 3 am so I read two to three newspapers at night and watch late-night TV.

Manuel Bamba Villar, Jr.

A Filipino businessman and politician. He was ranked as the fifth richest Filipino by Forbes Asia in their October 2007 issue. He is the President of Nacionalista Party and member of the Senate of the Philippines. He assumed the senate presidency at the start of the Third Regular Session of the 13th Congress along with Senator Franklin Drilon but was forced to resign from the post on 17 November 2008.

Background
Villar was born on December 13, 1949 in Tondo, Manila to Curita Bamba, a seafood dealer, and Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr., a government employee. He is the second of nine children. He started helping his mother sell seafood at the Divisoria market at a young age to support his siblings and himself for school. Villar finished his elementary schooling at the Holy Child Catholic School in 1962 and his secondary education at the Mapua Institute of Technology in 1966. He then entered the University of the Philippines and took up business administration. He worked as a fish and shrimp trader while he studied, putting in long hours to get fresh catch in the market. He finished his bachelor degree and went on to take up master’s in accountancy at the same university.

Villar started his professional career as an accountant and financial analyst for companies like the Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. and the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines. He was convinced he could make it on his own, so he quit his job and decided to try his hand on a business of his own. With a capital of P10,000 he got through a load, Villar bought two second-hand trucks and started his sand-and-gravel business in 1975.

It was during a delivery to a land developer when Villar came up with the idea of selling house and lot packages. In 1977, at age 28, the young entrepreneur made his first million after investing in a 160-house development project. After his success, he decided to specialize in low-cost housing, a field that major developers shunned. His strategy was to purchase small and irregular-shaped spaces that big developers couldn't sell, divide them into smaller lots, build a house, and then offer clients the whole package. The concept clicked and made Villar the country's housing industry leader having built more than 100,000 houses for middle class families. Because of his achievements in business and innovations in urban housing, he was made cover of an issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review. His life story was also featured in major publications like Asiaweek, Forbes, AsiaMoney and Asian Business Review.

Villar presently holds significant stocks in C&P Homes, Household Development Corporation, Palmera Homes, Britanny Corporation, Adelfa Properties, Fine Properties, M.B. Villar Company, and Macy’s, among others.