9/11 memorial in New York City (Getty Images)Family members who lost loved ones attend the memorial during tenth anniversary ceremonies of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center site September 11, 2011 in New York City. (Getty Images)Close to 3,000 people died in the 9/11 terrorist attack in the United States. That number looks miniscule compared to the more than 20,000 dead and missing in the tsunami that hit Japan March 11 this year and the 230,000 plus who perished in the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

What makes the 9/11 massacre contemptible is that the deaths were perpetrated by human monsters while the tsunami deaths were caused by natural phenomena.  Some are comparing 9/11 to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor which had a death toll of approximately 2,400 and led to America's involvement in World War II. The difference, however, is that Pearl was a naval base while the World Trade Center was a non-military  structure and all the casualties were civilians, as far as we know.

These were some of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I started switching channels last Sunday to view the TV programs on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 carnage. There was an overload of such shows as Talk TV, GMA-News TV, The

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Jaya mentors in "Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break." (Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images)Jaya mentors in Protégé (Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images)ABS-CBN's "Pilipinas Got Talent," "Pinoy Dream Academy," "Star Factor" and "Showtime," TV5's "Talentadong Pinoy," GMA's "Star Search"—these are past and ongoing talent search shows on local TV designed to discover the next big musical superstar.

On Sunday, September 4, GMA launched "Protégé: The Battle for the Big Break," with, in the words of its publicist, "its game-changing formula of finding the ultimate protégé from a broader search range for would-be-stars." In short, the show aims to be bigger than similar shows, past and present. The nationwide auditions were held in 10 cities and attended by 10 veteran singers who will act as mentors to the contestants. The 10 went to Dagupan (Side A's Joey Generoso); Cabanatuan (Jay R); Pampanga (Rey Valera); Batangas (Claire de la Fuente); Naga (Imelda Papin), Cebu (Rachelle Ann Go); Iloilo (Janno Gibbs); Davao (Jaya); Cagayan de Oro (Aiza Seguerra); and Metro Manila (Gloc 9). They were assisted by audition masters Arsi Baltazar and Jojie

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Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition logo (Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images)Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition (Jerome Ascano, NPPA Images)In June, there were 14 obese contestants aspiring to be the first "Pinoy Biggest Loser" and the winner of one million pesos, a fully furnished condominium and other valuable prizes. After grueling physical challenges that sometimes resulted in bodily injuries, intense workout sessions at the gym and emotional upheavals, that number was cut down to six at the weigh-in last Monday. Their combined total weight loss: 444 pounds. That's the equivalent of the approximate weight of Manny Pacquiaos times three and doesn't include the figures for the eight who were eliminated.

The six who are still in the running are: Larry Martin, 36, an ex-cop; Art Mendoza, 36, a former US resident and a bar owner; Angela Lupango, 26, SM employee; Raffy Tan, 22, a purchasing dept. employee; Ryan Razon, 31, (his family owns Razon's restaurant); and Leigh Villegas, 24.

When I checked the second piece I wrote about this show on June 21, I was surprised to see that I mentioned three of the six finalists: "Art

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Miriam Quiambao, Rufa Mae Quinto and Pinky Amador (NPPA Images)Mirriam Quiambao, Rufa Mae Quinto and Pinky Amador (NPPA Images)"All men beware! 'Relationship Status: SINGLE' bares the truth that more and more single women are now realizing: happiness can be found even without men." This is how GMA News TV hyped the aforementioned program so when I tuned in to the show last night, I expected a lot of male bashing from hosts Miriam Quiambao and Rufa Mae Quinto. Miriam got a divorce from Italian businessman Claudio Rondinelli after a marriage that lasted for only two years. She admitted in an interview two years ago that Rondinelli was unfaithful to her. Rufa Mae, on the other hand, was reportedly planning to get married this year but if press reports were to be believed, she cancelled her plan for still undisclosed reasons.

I also didn't hear any unsavory remarks about the men in her life from another single lady, Pinky Amador, who still has not found Mr. Right after seven to eight serious relationships. She cited not living in the same country as one of the causes of the breakups but preferred to play safe by

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Judy Ann Santos (Voltaire Domingo, NPPA Images)I still can't get used to the idea that Judy Ann Santos is already a parent, a mother of two children at that. I still cannot separate her from the world of fantasy that she belongs to, a world where movie and TV queens remain young forever and motherhood is usually hidden from public view. I only accepted Juday as a mama when I saw her come out in commercials with her seven-year-old daughter Yohan.

At the launch of her new product endorsement, I had a chance to do a one on one with her. In previous press cons, we had always discussed her movie and TV projects and the latest show biz intrigue about her. Interviewing her about motherhood was a new thing to me.

The most logical first question was, of course. "How has motherhood affected your personal life as well as your show biz career?" Personally, she says has learned to be a selfless individual. "Totoo pala ang sabi sa akin ng friends ko who are moms. You are not allowed to get tired. You really have to be a giving person," she says.

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Michael V and Ogie Alcasid (GMA Network and NPPA Images)It all started with "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" back in the 1960s. The show deviated from the usual sitcoms with its cast of regular characters and a continuing storyline. They were called sitcoms because the regular characters are placed in a funny situation each week. "I Love Lucy" was a prime example where Lucille Ball would always get entangled in difficult but rib-tickling situations. "Laugh-In" tried something new by coming up with a series of unrelated mini-gags where the actors usually portrayed different zany characters each week.

On the local scene, ABS-CBN's "Super Laff-in" adopted the same format back in the 70s and clicked with the audience. Now on its 15th year, "Bubble Gang" carries on with the "Laugh-In" tradition with its mini-gags, spoofs of TV shows, commercials and pop tunes and other crazy antics. Some of the gags may fall flat but its batting average is quite high, more hits than misses. Fifteen years is an enviable record because comedies are harder to sustain

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President Aquino drinks water after coughing in the middle of his SONA. (Voltaire Domingo, NPPA Images)The adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words," was clearly illustrated in the television coverage of President Noynoy Aquino's State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 25, at the Batasan Pambansa. The following are some of the images that caught my attention:

Noynoy had to say "pasensya na po" as he started coughing in the middle of a sentence. Viewers were probably thinking it's time the President stopped smoking. For trivia buffs, ABS-CBN reported that the president used the word "wang wang" 20 times and was applauded 48 times.

A huge Philippine flag was fastened to the wall right behind Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Speaker Sonny Belmonte and Noynoy on the elevated platform so when the National Anthem was sung, the three turned around and had their backs to the audience. Not a pretty sight. The TV director was alert enough to focus his cameras on the choir and the SONA guests.

The Senate President was more interested in leafing through several sheets of paper on his

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Manny Pacquiao (Mike Alquinto, NPPA Images)Manny Pacquiao: winner of 10 world boxing titles; Sarangani representative; movie (remember "Wapakman"?) and TV star (e.g. "Show Me Da Manny"); recording artist (his CD of Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch" ranked No. 19 in the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart). Now add to that long list of achievements, game show host.

Last Saturday, Pacman presided at the live premiere telecast on GMA-7 of his so-called game show, "Manny Many Prizes," at a jampacked AFP Auditorium in Quezon City. Game show is a misnomer because very few games were played. It was more of a Christmas party where Manny played Santa Claus or "ninong"  to more than a thousand lucky "inaanaks." That evening, he gave away more than a million pesos in cash and prizes. Take that, Willie Revillame!

To start with, each member of the audience did not go home empty-handed. "Walang uuwing luhaan." promised Santa Manny. No amount was mentioned however. The lucky ones chosen via a raffle earned as much as P30,000 each.

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