Kingdom of Maynila

The Kingdom of Seludong or Maynila, which after colonization became Manila, capital of the Philippines, was one of three major Kingdoms that dominated the area around the upper portion of the Pasig River before the arrival of Spanish colonizers in the 1500s.

The early inhabitants of the present-day Manila engaged in trade relations with its Asian neighbors as well as with the Hindu empires of Java and Sumatra as confirmed by archaeological findings. Trade ties between China became extensive by the 10th century, while contacts with Arabs reached its peak in the 12th century.

During the reign of Sultan Bolkiah (1485-1521) the Kingdom of Brunei decided to break the Tondo's monopoly in the China trade by attacking Tondo and establishing the city state of Seludong as a Bruneian satellite. This is narrated through Tausug and Malay royal histories, where the names Seludong, Saludong or Selurong are used to denote Manila prior to colonization.

Because of the presence of plants called "nila" (Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea), this new city was eventually named "May-nila," which transliterates as "There is nila (here)". Maynila is also sometimes called Maynilad because nila is popularly referred to as nilad by people unfamiliar with the plant, a correction asserted by historians Ambeth Ocampo and Carmen Guerrero Nakpil.

Manny Villar

Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr. (born December 13, 1949) is a Filipino businessman and politician. He is the President of the Nacionalista Party and a member of the Senate of the Philippines. Villar was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2000—in which capacity he presided over the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada—as well as President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008.

He assumed the Senate presidency at the beginning of the Third Regular Session of the 13th Congress, as part of a power-sharing agreement with his predecessor Sen. Franklin Drilon. On November 17, 2008, Villar was forced to resign due to lack of support in the Senate.

With an initial capital of P10,000 in 1975, Villar purchased two reconditioned trucks and started his sand-and-gravel business in Las Piñas.

He started a sand and gravel business and then went on to establish one of the largest development firms in the Southeast Asian region, the Camella & Palmera Homes. Originally low end developers, the Company has recently started selling more high end homes under the Crown Asia brand name, although criticism have been voiced in the press of many such developments in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. His C&P Homes business has also been featured in international publications such as the Far Eastern Economic Review, Asiaweek, Asiamoney, and the Asian Business Review.

He earned citations such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1986, the Agora Award for Marketing Management in 1989, Most Outstanding CPA by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 1990, and Most Outstanding Alumnus in 1991.

Christmas carol

A Christmas carol (also called a noël) is a carol (song or hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Traditionally, carols have often been based on medieval chord patterns, and it is this that gives them their uniquely characteristic musical sound. Some carols like "Personent hodie" and "Angels from the Realms of Glory" can be traced directly back to the Middle Ages, and are among the oldest musical compositions still regularly sung.

Though many Christmas carols were written prior to the 20th century, several modern compositions have been written in more recent times. Many of the carols written by Alfred Burt are sung regularly in both sacred and secular settings, and are among the more well-known modern Christmas carols.

Kapuso sa Pasko

Kapuso sa Pasko (A GMA Christmas Album) is a Christmas music album released under GMA Records.

Track Listing:

Kapuso Sa Pasko
Merry Christmas, Darling - Jolina Magdangal
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Janno Gibbs
Magandang Balita - Gary Granada
It's Christmas All Over The World - Jennylyn Mercado
Someday At Christmas - Sipol
It's Just Another New Year's Eve - Yasmien Kurdi
Mga Anghel Ni Gloria - Ghost 13
Silent Night / O Holy Night - Dimsum
O Come All Ye Faithful - 604
Pasko Ng Kapuso - Jolina Magdangal

Best Christmas Recording (18th Awit Awards)