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Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's full till her regal voice and regal image had been ravaged by drug abuse, erratic behavior plus a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.

Beverly Slopes police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outdoors the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. inside their space across the 4th floor within the hotel. Her body ongoing becoming there and Beverly Slopes detectives had been considering.

"There's been no apparent signs and signs and signs and signs and symptoms connected having a criminal intent," Rosen pointed out.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Promote, pointed out the explanation for dying was unknown.

Rosen pointed out police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at three:43 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics who had been currently inside the hotel due to a Grammy party unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate the singer, he pointed out.

Houston's finish came across the eve of music's finest evening - the Grammy Honours. It truly is a showcase exactly where she when ruled, and her dying was specified to cast enormous pall on Sunday's ceremony.

Her longtime mentor Clive Davis ended up getting to assist preserve his annual concert and dinner Saturday, plus a connected even though utilizing show pointed out it may well proceed.

Producer Jimmy Jam, who had labored with Houston, pointed out he anticipated the evening can be a tribute to her, that they expected there getting one particular inch the Grammys too.

Houston is made within the future within the gala, and Davis had told The Connected Press they could carry out: "It's her favored evening in the year ... (so) you by no means know working with the finish at night,Inch he pointed out.

Houston are basically at rehearsals for the show Thursday, instruction artists Brandy and Monica, in accordance with an individual who had previously been just in case but wasn't approved to talk freely relevant for this. The individual pointed out Houston looked disheveled, was sweating abundantly and liquor and cigarettes may be smelled on her behalf account account breath.

On friday, she completed in the pre-Grammy party with singer Kelly Cost.

"I basically can't discuss it now," Houston's godmother, Aretha Franklin, pointed out within the short statement. "It is so beautiful and unbelievable. I actually could not believe a few a couple of issues i was reading through by way of by way of discovering the tv screen."

The Rev. Al Sharpton pointed out he'd require a national prayer Sunday morning all through a thing at Second Baptist Chapel in La.

"The morning within the Grammys, our planet should cease and pray for the memory in the gifted songbird," Sharpton pointed out inside the written statement.

Within the statement, Recording Academy Leader and Boss Neil Portnow pointed out Houston "was among the world's finest pop artists ever who creates a robust musical soundtrack spanning yesteryear thirty years.Inch

"Her helpful voice adorned a lot of memorable and award-winning tunes," Portnow pointed out. "An effortless remains decreased within our music community today, which we extend our finest condolences to her family, pals, fans and who was merely touched by her wonderful voice."

At her peak, Houston was the golden girl within the music small business. Within the center eighties for that late the 19 nineties, she was amongst the world's best-selling artists. She impressed audiences with quick, successful, and peerless vocals which happen to be rooted inside the black chapel but made palatable for that public obtaining a pop sheen.

Her accomplishment moved her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale."

She'd an excellent voice in addition to an ideal image: an sophisticated singer who had attractiveness but wasn't ever overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise.

She affected a time frame youthful artists, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first turned up in this region made an appearance comparable to Houston that lots of believe that it can be Houston.

Nevertheless using the conclusion of her profession, Houston elevated getting sensational cautionary tale within the toll of drug abuse. Her album sales dropped along with the hits stopped coming her once peaceful image was shattered gaining an outrageous attitude and bizarre public looks. She confessed to mistreating cocaine, marijuana and tablets, and her when pristine voice elevated getting raspy and hoarse, not able punching the top notes as she'd throughout her prime.

"The finest demon is me. I am either my nearest buddy or my worst enemy," Houston told ABC's Diane Sawyer in a infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

It had been a tragic be attracted having a celebrity who had previously been amongst the top-selling artists in pop music history, exceeding 55 million records provided inside the u . s . states . States alone.

She came out getting born into greatness. Furthermore to getting Franklin's goddaughter, she was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston along with the cousin of sixties pop diva Dionne Warwick.

Houston 1st began singing within the chapel maturing. Extremely young, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson whilst some, in addition to modeling. It had been around that point when music mogul Clive Davis 1st heard Houston perform.

"Time that people initially saw her singing within their mother's act that the gym has ... it had been this sort of gorgeous impact," Davis told "Hello America."

"To listen to this youthful girl breathe such fire into this song. I am talking about, it sent the proverbial tingles up my spine," he added.

Just before extended, enhanced comfort from the u . s . states would really feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with "Whitney Houston," which offered millions and created hit soon after hit. "Saving My Desire for You" introduced her her 1st Grammy, to get the ideal female pop vocal. "Generate An Earnings Have an understanding of,Inch ''You Give Excellent Love" and "The Really Ideal Want for All" also elevated becoming hit singles.

The Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC) of the Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation Inc. (RAFI) is organizing Sustainable City Dialogues 2012, a five-day learning event
featuring two internationally renowned speakers, Archt. Senen A. Antonio, an urban design
and planning expert based in the United States, and Dr. AbdouMaliq Simone, an urbanist and
professor of sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London, on Feb. 6-10, 2012.

With a theme, “Creating Future Cities: Where Do We Begin”, the event aims to
provide avenues for dialogue among local stakeholders, where experiences are shared; new
approaches are discussed; and capacities are strengthened in the area of urban development,
planning and design.

It will bring together government officials, planners, architects, engineers, educators,
business people, non-government leaders, community members, and students to engage in
a constructive dialogue and strengthen the capacity of local planners on the possibilities of
creating a smart and sustainable Metro Cebu.

Highlights of the event includes one-day training-seminar on “Sprawl Repair & Smart
Growth 101” and “Charrette Methodology & Scenario Planning” on Feb. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at College of Architecture and Fine Arts Theater, University of San Carlos (USC)-Talamban
Campus; roundtables on “Infrastructure Planning” and “New Urbanism” on Feb. 9, 8:30-11
a.m. at CAP Art Center and Pres. Osmeña Memorabilia, Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City and
on Feb. 10, 9-11:30 a.m., Tandang Sora Hall at Cebu Normal University, respectively; and
Understanding Choices Forum “Creating Future Cities: People and Place-Making” on Feb. 9, 1-
5 p.m. at CAP Theater, Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City.

The Understanding Choices Forum is open to the public.

To cap the week-long event, Architect Senen Antonio will present his observations and
initial recommendations to the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) on Feb.
10, 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the New Conference Room, Capitol Building.

Sustainable City Dialogues 2012 is organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
(RAFI) under the MCDCB-Research, Program, and Organizational Development (MCDCB-
RPOD) in partnership with USC-CAFA, Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC), and other Cebu-
based organizations.,

To know more about the upcoming event, or to pre-register, please contact 418-7234
local 112 and look for Dindin or Trixie. You can also email dindin.bollozos@rafi.org.ph or
trixie.ylaya@rafi.org.ph.

All roads lead to the Queen City of the South as Cebu becomes the official home of this
year’s Globe Run4Home, one of the biggest and most awaited running events in the country
with the many innovations it pioneered in Philippine marathon history.

The Globe Run4Home 2012 races to the Cebu International Convention Center on
March 25, 2012 gathering not only the running community of Cebu, but also its legion of running
aficionados in Manila and key cities nationwide to celebrate a common cause: help provide
sustainable shelter to those in need, especially victims of Typhoon Sendong.

Globe taps previous Run4Home beneficiaries Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity
Philippines to help raise funds for their housing development projects for the typhoon victims
in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro respectively. Completing the roster of partner-beneficiaries
are Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, a Cebu-based organization that aims to
transform communities in key biodiversity areas into becoming more effective stewards of the
environment, and the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization that
spearheads a massive campaign to save the Philippine Tarsier and preserve its habitat.

Registration fees per category are P300 for 3K, P400 for 5K, P500 for 10K, P600 for
15K and P700 for 21K, the most affordable registration rate ever in Globe Run4Home history,
making the running event more accessible to the growing running community, especially in
Cebu. The registration fee entitles runners to their race shirts available in various sizes, race
bib number, timing chip, and finisher’s medal for the 21K category. A portion of the runners’
registration fees will be donated to their beneficiary of choice to support their respective
advocacies and programs.

In order to attract more participants, group runners are also encouraged to join—with a
special treat. For groups of four running in the same category, they will be allowed to bring in a
fifth member for free.

Join the Globe Run4Home 2012 and be part of a nationwide revolution towards inspiring
hope for the less privileged families, communities, endangered species, and key biodiversity
areas. Registration starts on February 1, 2012 via www.globe.com.ph/run or at the Paseo de
Ciudad, 1st level, Ayala Center, Cebu City. Globe Run4Home 2012 is supported by Alaska,
Gatorade, Summit Natural Drinking Water, and Timex. Media partners are the Philippine Daily
Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Cebu Daily News and Newsbytes.

For queries, please contact:

Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom
Tel. No. 730-2627
Fax No. 739-3075
Email Address: globe.corpcomm@gmail.com

The “NY LOVE TOUR” package includes:

• Two (2) roundtrip Manila-New York tickets on Mabuhay Class
• 3D/2N executive suite accommodations at the Peninsula New York
• Two (2) Phantom of the Opera show tickets
• Two (2) Wicked show tickets

The “ASIA LOVE TOUR” package includes:

• Two (2) roundtrip Manila-Hong Kong tickets on Mabuhay Class

To qualify for the raffle, the passenger must register via EMAIL by sending the ticket and passenger details, as follows:

To: promo@pal.com.ph
Subject: LOVENYC for international
LOVEASIA for domestic
Body:

General Mechanics

1. Every PAL domestic and regional/international electronic ticket (e-ticket) on Mabuhay (Business) Class availing of the "LET YOUR LOVE FLY FREE" promo purchased in the Philippines or through the PAL Internet Booking Engine within the period 17 January 2012 and 13 February 2012 on qualified PAL-operated sectors and with flight dates 23 January 2012 to 31 March 2012 are qualified to join the raffle.
2. Other Airline (OAL) tickets on PR operated codeshare flights or PR tickets on codeshare flights are not eligible for the raffle.
3. To qualify for raffle, passengers must register via email:
   

   To: promo@pal.com.ph
   Subject: LOVENYC for international
   LOVEASIA for domestic
   Body:

4. The cut-off date for sending the email entry is on 13 February 2012 at 11:59pm.
5. The winning e-ticket number shall be drawn electronically and the passenger named in the e-ticket shall be declared the winner.
6. Once an e-ticket number is drawn and wins a prize it will automatically be excluded in succeeding draws.
7. A passenger, however, shall have as many chances of winning as the number of e-tickets purchased within the qualifying period but may only win once in his/her favor.
8. A passenger can only claim the prize upon presentation of the winning itinerary receipt and proper documentation.

Prizes

1. Passengers who purchased regional/international business class tickets may win the LOVE NYC TOUR that includes:
   
   Two (2) roundtrip Manila-New York tickets on business class
   3D/2N executive suite accommodation at The Peninsula New York
   Two (2) Phantom of the Opera show tickets
   Two (2) Wicked show tickets

2. Passengers who purchased domestic business class tickets may win one (1) of the five (5) LOVE ASIA TOUR that includes two (2) roundtrip Manila-Hong Kong tickets on business class

Terms and Conditions of the Prizes

1. All ticket prizes not redeemed within the specific redemption date shall be forfeited.
2. Only the passenger named in the winning e-ticket shall be entitled to use the prize.
3. All tickets issued to the winner shall be non-transferable, non-endorsable to other airlines, non-rebookable, non-reroutable, non-convertible to cash, non-refundable, and non-upgradeable to higher class of service
4. The ticket shall not earn Mabuhay Miles mileage
5. PAL shall shoulder the applicable taxes and surcharges except for the teminal fees and other incidental and travel-related expenses not included in the prize or fees that shall be for the account of the winner. The winner shall also be responsible for all required travel documentation.
6. The ticket for the "LOVE NYC TOUR" shall be arranged by PAL on a PAL flight and/or other airlines with suitable connection from Manila or PAL regional/international destination. The travel must commence 16 March 2012 for the passenger to make to the Phantom of the Opera and Wicked show dates. The winner shall be responsible for hotel arrangement after the 3D2N accommodations provided for at The Peninsula New York.
7. The ticket for the "LOVE ASIA TOUR" shall be valid for one year for maximum stay of eight (8) days. The Booking class code of the "LOVE ASIA TOUR" ticket shall be R for Business Class with booking priority of NAJ. The ticket shall be booked subject to the availability of space for R BCC in a flight
8. If a winning ticket is only entitled to a prize consisting of one way international ticket, the same shall be subject to the condition that if the winner is a tourist or visitor to the country of destination, the prize can only be accepted for travel upon presentation of an onward or return ticket
9. The ticket and carriage shall be subject to the General Conditions of Carriage of PAL

Raffle Draw
The Raffle Draw is on February 14, 2012 at the PAL Corporate Communications Office, 3F Mezzanine, PNB Financial Center, President Diosdado Macapagal Ave., CCP Complex, Pasay City Winners shall be announced through the newspapers and shall be posted at the PAL website www.philippineairlines.com. (PAL shall not send notification via text messages and any text messages proclaiming any winner shall not be honored by PAL.)

Drawing of Winners

1. A CAB representative will be asked to be present during the raffle draws.
2. The raffle draw shall be held at PAL Corporate Communications Office, 3F Mezzanine, PNB Financial Center, President Diosdado Macapagal Ave., CCP Complex, Pasay City. The winning e-ticket shall be drawn electronically from among the entire data of e-ticket numbers that qualified for the raffle promo.
3. Once an e-ticket number is drawn it will no longer be included in the succeeding draw. However, all other entries that did not win shall still qualify for the succeeding draw/s.

Claiming of Prizes

1. All winners shall be notified via newspaper publication and by posting at the PAL website.
2. The prize may be claimed only at the Advertising and Promotions Department, 3F Mezzanine, PNB Financial Center, President Diosdado Macapagal Ave., CCP Complex, Pasay City
3. The prize shall be issued only upon payment of all applicable taxes, fees and surcharges.
4. Prizes not claimed within the specified redemption period shall be deemed forfeited. Prizes not used within the prescribed travel period shall also be deemed forfeited.
5. A Winner must present the following when claiming the prize any PAL Ticket Office:
   i. Winner’s government issued valid ID with photo;
   ii. Itinerary Receipt of the winning e-ticket
   iii. An Authorized Representative of the winner may redeem the prize upon presentation of the following:
   • Itinerary Receipt of the winning e-ticket;
   • Authorization Letter;
   • Authorized Representative’s government issued valid ID with photo;
   • Photocopy of winner’s government issued valid ID with photo and signature.
6. If the winner is a minor, his/her parents or guardian may claim the prize upon presentation of a Birth Certificate and ID in addition to the requirements under Item No. 5.

Disqualification

1. Employees and relatives to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity of Philippine Airlines shall not be eligible to join the raffle.
2. Only revenue e-tickets sold in the Philippines and though the PAL website are qualified to join the raffle. Tickets that are considered non-revenue shall not be qualified to join the raffle. The non-revenue tickets are as follows: zero fare tickets, tickets using award points, ID/AD tickets and infant’s tickets.

Governing Law and Venue
This promotion and the Mechanics and all terms and conditions reflected herein shall be construed and governed by the laws of the Republic of the Philippines and all or any actions or proceedings concerning disputes, claims, issues, complaints, or demands arising from or in any way connected to this promotion must be filed in the appropriate courts of Makati City, Philippines to the exclusion of all other venues.

Since most native trees grow from seeds, a non-government organization called on the
public to collect seeds and propagate them to contribute to the creation of native tree forests.

Rowena Bandola-Alensonorin, executive director of the Integrated Development unit of
the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) pointed out the urgent need to replace trees cut down
for construction purposes after some parts of the country experienced the tragic effects of
flashfloods and landslides.

“The primary importance of trees in the ecosystem is to reduce carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, and prevent soil erosion. For many people, they see trees as beneficial for building
houses, furniture, tools, and for firewood; hence, these demands have significantly reduced the
number of trees in the forests,” she noted.

One way to address this is to collect and propagate seeds, which are considered “the
next generation of forests.”

Alensonorin said that it is equally important for the people to know not only the names of
the native trees but also how to collect the seeds and germinate them.

“The scarcity of this knowledge might have led to the proliferation of exotic tree species,
such as mahogany, gmelina, and ipil-ipil that are now growing in our forests. If this will continue,
we will not only lose these animals, but also our highly valued trees such as narra, lauan,
and mangkono that have been valued here and abroad for their toughness and strength. Our
forests should be mainly composed of indigenous trees to provide food and habitat to our native
animals,” she explained.

Producing quality trees starts from the quality of seeds germinated. These seeds
must only come from healthy mother trees or those trees that bear fruits and produce seeds.
Germinated seeds should be nurtured in a well-managed tree nursery that provides a suitable
area for these seeds to grow into plantable seedlings for use in reforestation initiatives.

The RAFI Native Trees Nursery collects seeds and wildlings (seeds that germinated
underneath or near the mother tree) all over the Visayas region. The nursery is also willing to receive seeds and seedlings from people who would like to donate. The nursery has an existing
150,000 seedlings of 212 native tree species and is located in Barangay Busay, Cebu City.

The RAFI Native Trees Nursery is a mechanism of the GREENIN Philippines Program of
RAFI to create forests composed of native trees.

Following the launching of the sixth season of Young Minds Academy (YMA) last Jan.
21, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) is now accepting applications for the program.

YMA is a youth leadership and citizenship development program of the Eduardo Aboitiz
Development Studies Center (EADSC) of RAFI aimed at developing young people to become
responsible and accountable leaders and proactive citizens ready to serve the public and its
interests. This is done through awareness raising, experiential education, immersion, and open
discourse, among others.

It is open to young people aged 12 to 20 years old.

YMA was launched in October 2006 and already ran for five seasons, including a special
summer edition held in 2009 for Region 8.

“Through this program, I have discovered what kind of leader I want to be. The change
has started in me already. Now it’s my time to be a role model to others,” said 15-year old
Jessica Therese Vestil, a scholar of last season’s YMA.

For Sean Timothy Salvador, 18, another YMA season 5 scholar, he said that YMA taught
him to use his life as a daily opportunity to become a blessing to every person he meets and
help change their lives for the better.

To join the sixth season of YMA, interested applicants must form a team of five members
under one of the following categories: Generation A (17-20 years old) and Generation B (12-16
years old). List of team and individual requirements and application forms may be obtained from
the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, or downloaded at www.rafi.org.ph.

Deadline for the submission of applications is on February 20, 2012.

YMA is sponsored by UnionBank of the Philippines.

It is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area, which
gathers and nurtures future leaders and influencers ready to effect change. Its other focus
areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and
Education.

For more information about YMA, please call 418-7234 loc 110 and look for Mel Yan, or
email mel.yan@rafi.org.ph, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.

Forty-two youth government leaders from the different barangays of Mandaue City re-learned
the values of teamwork, coordination, and trust in a comprehensive three-day experiential
leadership camp facilitated by the Kool Adventure Camp of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
In the photo, the young campers posed before the Climbing Wall, one of the “dragons” at the
camp that tested their leadership abilities and confidence.

Forty-two Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation officers of Mandaue City sharpened
their leadership competence through a recent three-day leadership camp at the Girl Scout of the
Philippines Camp in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

These officers come from Barangays Alang-alang, Bakilid, Banilad, Basak, Cabancalan,
Casili, Casuntingan, Centro, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao, Jagobiao, Looc, Mantuyong, Pakna-an,
Pagsabungan, Subangdaku, Tingub, Tipolo, and Umapad.

The Kool Adventure Camp (KAC), an adventure-based education program of the Ramon
Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), conducted the leadership program.

This is the second year that the Mandaue City Government through the office of Mayor
Jonas Cortes sent its young leaders to KAC for training.

The leadership program taught the participants self-awareness, self-confidence, “playing
to win”, teamwork, balance, coordination, concentration, and trust, among others.

“Playing to win is about playing to win not only for our group but for all of us, even for
others who are not part of our group. It does not matter who our groupmates are. As long as we
have one goal, we should help each other. I learned through the KAC facilitators that if we want
to run faster, we run alone, but if we want to run far, we run together,” Sheila Mae Ceniza, SK
councilor of Barangay Mantuyong, said.

The program also featured KAC’s Challenge Ropes Course where participants
conquered the high elements—Climbing Wall, High Y, and Pamper Pole—at a height of twelve
feet above ground level or higher. All high elements, which require a safety mechanism called
a "belay" system, produce powerful memories and provoke deep thoughts and emotions, while
challenging physical abilities.

Alyssa Tenchavez, SK chairman of Barangay Basak, noted that being a negative thinker
is something she wants to change after going through the three high elements, or the so-
called “dragons”.

She added that to conquer the challenges, one should have trust and self-confidence
and works well with his or her team. When asked about her dragons in real life, Tenchavez

identified among them her being the SK chairman in her barangay since she is a newly-elected
officer from the opposition party.

Integration activities, goal setting, and recognition of accomplishments were done on the
third day of the leadership camp wherein participants put together a goal for their community
and recognized their individual responsibility in ensuring that these goals are met.

KAC is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area, one of
the five focus areas of RAFI where future leaders are nurtured to prepare them to effect change.
Its other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture &
Heritage, and Education.

Since 1999, KAC has organized more than 240 camps for corporate/adult programs,
public high schools and other youth programs. It is currently building the Philippines’ first
Outdoor Experiential Center at Barangay Cansumoroy, Balamban, Cebu, which is set to open
later this year.

KAC is an organizational member of the Association for Challenge Course Technology-
USA and Association for Experiential Education-USA.

For more information about KAC and its programs, please call 418-7234 local 407 and
look for Althea May Santillan, or email at althea.santillan@rafi.org.ph, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or
www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.