Get a 'Headstart' with Karen Davila on ANC

MANILA, Philippines - Television and radio broadcaster Karen Davila is now on ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

The award-winning broadcast journalist will anchor the morning news program “Headstart with Karen Davila” on ANC (Skycable Channel 27) starting March 1 at 8 a.m.

In her new assignment, Davila will set the news agenda for the day by breaking the most significant stories and issues unfolding in the country early in the morning.

“Having an experienced news anchor and investigative journalist like Davila in our fold furthers our goal to bring premium content to Filipinos here and abroad,” ANC chief operating officer Glenda Gloria said.

“Headstart” marks Davila’s first foray in the 24/7 English news channel of ABS-CBN.

Davila has won numerous awards locally and internationally in her 16-year career, including 2 from the prestigious New York Festivals and the 2008 Ten Outstanding Young Men Award for Broadcast Journalism.

She also anchors “TV Patrol World” and “The Correspondents” on ABS-CBN and “Pasada Sais Trenta” on DZMM Radyo Patrol 630.

“Headstart with Karen Davila” will air from Mondays to Fridays on ANC at 8 a.m.

Also debuting on ANC on March 1 is “The Rundown” with Ces Drilon and Ricky Carandang at 8 p.m.

Comelec is ‘stupid,’ says Boy Abunda

MANILA – Television host Boy Abunda has branded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as “stupid” after the latter turned down the accreditation of “Ang Ladlad” due to "moral grounds."

"Ang Ladlad" is an organization of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT).

Reports said Comelec rejected “Ang Ladlad” for party-list accreditation on the grounds that it advocates "sexual immorality" and "immoral doctrines."

Abunda did not take this statement sitting down. Abunda lambasted the poll body for reportedly calling the group a “source of immorality.”

He said in his show "SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon:" "'Yong sinabi ng Comelec na ‘Ang Ladlad’ is parang the source of immorality, sabi ni Mayor [Rodrigo] Duterte (of Davao City) ngayong araw (Tuesday) sa mga front page, it is bigotry of the highest order. Para sa akin, 'yan ay isang katangahan."

"Para sa akin, isang malinaw talaga na walang pang-unawa na tama [ang Comelec]. And you are a government agency, 'yon lamang," Abunda added.

Abunda’s co-host and close friend Kris Aquino also defended her gay friend.

“You are mean. And the gay people naman are taxpayers. So, what's the problem?" Aquino said.

On November 11, the Comelec said although the party presented proper documents and evidence for their accreditation, its petition was "dismissable on moral grounds."

Page 5 of its ruling states that “Ang Ladlad's” definition of the LGBT as a marginalized sector "makes it crystal clear that the petitioner tolerates immorality which offends religious beliefs."

The document quotes passages from both the Bible and the Koran that describe homosexuality as "unseemly" or "transgressive."

The Comelec also went on to state that accrediting “Ang Ladlad” would pose risks for Filipino youths.

"Ang Ladlad" also applied for party-list accreditation in 2007, but was denied due to the lack of regional membership in the Philippines.

In a previous phone interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak, “Ang Ladlad,” through its head Danton Remoto, said the group would contest the Comelec ruling before the Supreme Court.

Remoto, who taught literature at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University for over 20 years, criticized the Comelec's allegation that older homosexuals are threats to the youth.

He also took issue against the Comelec ruling's frequent citation of Internet-sourced reports, saying that a legal document should at least use primary sourcing. Remoto said this spoke of "intellectual bankruptcy" among Comelec officials.

Remoto said the Comelec ruling is offensive to the LGBT community and an insult to their human rights.

Coco Martin recuperating from wounds

Coco Martin recuperating from wounds

Actor Coco Martin gets hurt while shooting an action scene for "Tayong Dalawa.

MANILA – Coco Martin is in good condition and now taking a rest following an accident in the “Tayong Dalawa” set.

In his statement sent to “SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon,” the young actor said he is taking antibiotics every six hours. His doctor also gave him medicine for his wounds.

“Medyo okay na naman po ako. Mahapdi lang iyong mga sugat ko sa mukha at malabo pa iyong paningin ko sa kaliwang mata,” he said.

Early Tuesday, tension gripped the set of “Tayong Dalawa” when Martin, one of the cast of the hit television series, was hurt while shooting an action scene.

Martin, who plays the young thug, Ramon, was shooting a “firing” scene when the accident occurred.

A behind-the-scene footage showed Martin shooting at his enemies. A blank round had been fired back but the smoke powder inadvertently hit his eyes. The footage showed the actor dropping to the floor as he writhed in pain.

One of the crew could be heard asking for water apparently to douse his eyes with it.

The crew and co-actors Jake Cuenca and Gerald Anderson rushed Martin to the University of Santo Tomas Hospital where he underwent a series of medical tests. He was later discharged from the hospital.

Two "Tayong Dalawa" crew rush to aid Coco Martin.

Martin said: “Magpapagaling ako agad nang makapag-trabaho ng muli. Salamat sa lahat ng tumawag, nag-text at nagdasal. Salamat sa ‘Tayong Dalawa’ cast at staff; at sa lahat ng taga-UST Hospital at sa pamilya ko sa Star Magic at sa management ng ABS-CBN.”

Meanwhile, a concerned Maja Salvador said she called the young actor when she heard the accident.

“Check-up niya ngayon. Mamaya po malalaman ang resulta kung makakapag-taping ba siya o hindi. Siyempre, titignan natin kung kakayanin ba ng artistang mag-trabaho," she said.

Martin is Salvador's leading man in their upcoming television show "Nagsimula Sa Puso."