Typhoon Ondoy left Metro Manila ravaged with floods all over the metropolis. Relief efforts have been on the way since Saturday and until now volunteers have been busy helping out create online maps for Manila’s flooded areas:

View Ondoy situation map for Metro Manila in a larger map

Here’s a video of part of Makati City when the rains started to pour early Saturday morning:

Over 410 cm of rain poured into the Luzon region in a matter of 9 hours, according to PAGASA.

Nikki Valdez reprises her showbiz career as she will took part in the upcoming Star Cinema movie, In My Life. She will play the role of Rafael Rosell’s wife who will help Vilma in the film. She also admits that she really misses show business and hopes for some more projects to come while she’s in the country to promote the movie. Nikki also denied rumors that she and her husband Chris Lina end up their relationship because it was her decision to come back for a while after staying in Canada for years. See more of Nikki’s acting stint as Star Cinema’s “In My Life ” premieres September 16.

Legality of the automation of next year’s elections was upheld yesterday by the Supreme Court as they ruled that the automation deal was properly documented and that the petition of the Concerned Citizens Movement had no factual basis. SC said, COMELEC and Smartmatic Corp.-Total Information Management Inc. did not violate Republic Act 9369, commonly known as the Poll Automation Law. They also added that the law’s requirement for the Comelec to automate in at least 12 areas was not a prerequisite for the automation of next year’s elections. Chief Justice Reynato Puno concurred with the majority decision together with 9 other justices Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Renato Corona, Minita Chico-Nazario, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, and Roberto Abad.

Meryll Soriano recently admits that she’s in a relationship with Cosmo Hunk Joem Bascon. The two started seeing each other as they became part of the cast of I Love Betty la Fea series. She also revealed that she’s happy with her lovelife now but she wants to keep it private because of her past relationships that has been publicized before. This time, she wants to keep it on due respect to her son BJ. Her father, Willie Revillame already knew about the relationship and gave her some pieces of advice. Meryll was behind the voice Ciara, a Taiwanese lead actress in Miss No Good that airs every afternoon on ABS-CBN Hapontastic.

Christmas is a time of giving and for the inmates of the New Bilibid Prisons, freedom would be the best gift they were about to receive. Yesterday, a total of 193 inmates were released as their pardon were granted. According to Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, the inmates who already served their minimum required sentences were granted conditional pardon because of their good behavior while inside the national penitentiary.Devanadera also appealed to the public to give the newly released inmates a chance to adapt to life outside prison. Most of the inmates were convicted of homicide and murder, and now they were looking forward to start a new life and not to commit crimes again.

It is confirmed that the 3rd season of Pinoy Big Brother will open its doors to fresh new housemates this coming October 4. For now, ABS_CBN team were still busy to choose who will be the potential housemates as they have already revealed that they had a shortlist of aspiring contestants who passed the auditions held all over the country. The first Big winner of is 1st Season,Nene Tamayo, is now a proud mother and a good dancer too, while the 2nd Season winner Bea Saw, is now doing her acting stints in different Star Cinema movies. This season also marks a new twist and turns to the show as they were putting up some changes within its previous seasons. Let’s see who will emerged as the new Pinoy Big Brother Season 3 Double Up Grand Winner, October 4, on ABS-CBN.

Singing Bee Host and Actor Cesar Montano was recently launched for the latest TV Commercial of Mega Sardines. Cesar elevates into a new healthy platform, ” Tatak Puso, Para sa Puso ” that endorses the benefits of Omega 3 for a healthy heart. Directed by Lee Meily and Mark Meily, the TV Ad will also be assuring moms who want a delicious meal which is good for the heart as well. Catch more of Cesar Montano’s latest TV Commercial on your screens right after your favorite shows.

The APO Hiking Society will conquer the concert stage once again as they made a music comeback entitled, “APO Kayang-Kaya Pa” to be held at the SM North Edsa Skydome this coming September 25 & 26. The three-male group continues to bring us timeless classics and hits that most of the artist of today chose to add to their list of repertoire. Compose of Buboy Garovillo, Jim Paredes and Danny Javier, music lovers will surely love their latest offering. See them as they perform live this September,produced by Viva Concerts & Events. For tickets, you may call SM Ticketnet outlets at 911-5555 or Viva Concerts at 687-6181 loc. 627/620.

Award-winning talk show host of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will be the 4th judge of the upcoming Season 9 of the American Idol replacing Paula Abdul who resigned from the reality singing competition in the U.S. The confirmation was made by the Fox television executives and the producers as the American Idol Season 9 opens this coming January 2010. DeGeneres will take her seat at the judge’s table after the audition rounds starts. Let’s all wait as Ellen conquers the Idol seat and mold the newest American Idol next year.

Boots Cadsawan, chairman of the FPJPM ( Filipinos for Freedom Justice and Progress Movement ) confirmed yesterday that FPJ’s daughter Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, will run for a Senatorial slate in the upcoming 2010 elections. According to Cadsawan,the confirmation was made yesterday at the Fernandina Media Forum at Club Filipino in San Juan, Greenhills. Mary Grace is a graduate of Assumption College who actively took part in the campaign of his father in 2004. But as of now, she has yet to decide as to what political party she will join to launch her campaign for her senatorial bid. FPJPM, On the other hand, has yet to announce their choice of presidential timber for next year’s election since they are still in the process of consultation with their officials from the different regions of the country.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to have her state visit again after she went to Libya a week ago. The President is scheduled to leave again next week for London, Saudi Arabia and New York this coming Sept. 17 to 26. She will be in London for a speaking engagement upon the invitation of the weekly news publication, The Economist. She is also set to have a state visit in Saudi Arabia and New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Meanwhile, the President defended her foreign visits amid persistent allegations of extravagant spending, saying the benefits far outweigh the cost as she wants to ensure the stability of the economy through her state visit.

A limited edition stamps bearing the pictures of the late President Cory Aquino was launched at the EDSA Shrine yesterday as it coincides with the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birthday. PhilPost would be releasing only 70,000 pieces of the Se-tenant stamps, or two pieces of stamps that are joined together but bearing different designs. According to Postmaster General Hector R.R. Villanueva, the stamps would serve as a permanent reminder to current and future generations of Filipinos as to the invaluable contributions Aquino made to the country. Pinky Aquino-Abellada, second daughter of President Cory led the ceremonial unveiling of the stamps in a simple ceremony at the Edsa Shrine where she also received 400 pieces of the stamps from the PhilPost Officials.

Philippine Air Force rescued Lita Casumlum of Ilo-ilo City last Monday being the last of the 926 passengers and crew of SuperFerry 9 who sank off in Zamboanga del Norte last Sunday. Aling Lita was floating in the shark-infested area for almost 30 hours when spotted by the 505th Search and Rescue Squadron of the Philippine Air Force. The tragedy left 10 casualties and rescued most of the passengers and crew of the said ship.

Unang Hirit TV Host and Entrepreneur Regine Tolentino was sued by the Social Security System ( SSS ) for allegedly not remitting her employees’ contributions to the pension fund. SSS accused Regine Tolentino, Regine Vera Perez in real life, of violating provisions of the Social Security Act of 1997. Regine is the owner of Regine’s Children’s Wear, a clothing store for kids located at 47 Victoria St. in the village of Damayang Lagi, Quezon City. According to SSS Legal Unit Accounts Officer Marilyn Gonzales, SSS records showed that Tolentino did not remit her employees’ SSS contributions from August 2007 to January 2008 totaling P20,950.80. Gonzales added that she paid the actress a visit to remind her and to give her copies of the pension fund’s records of her company’s SSS remittances but Regine failed to comply with the request for her to settle the said obligations. She also said that her duties included inspecting employers’ records to determine whether or not they were remitting their workers’ contributions to the agency.

Judge Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale of Quezon City RTC Branch 106 issued a gag order during a closed-door hearing on Che Tiongson’s petition for a temporary protection order against Chavit Singson. The order will barred the camps of both parties from givng interviews to media regarding the civil case they involved with. Petition for a protection order under Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Act filed by Che Tiongson was docketed last week as Q-09-65532 and raffled to Sale’s court last Thursday. Reporters tried to ask Tiongson questions about the case, but unlike previous interviews, she was quiet and left all the talking to her lawyer. Next hearing is set for both parties this coming Sept. 30.