Top of the Morning: Athena Mori Turns 1, Parents Alwyn Uytingco and Jennica Garcia Hold Dedication Ceremony

1. Alwyn Uytingco and Jennica Garcia celebrate daughter's first birthday!

The oh-so-cute baby Mori just turned one last July 17, and it's also the same date of her dedication. The special party was held at the restaurant Jean's Manila in Quezon City, which her grandmother, veteran actress Jean Garcia, owns. Alwyn took to Instagram to thank all those who celebrated with his family. "Maraming salamat po sa mga dumalo sa 'dedication' at unang pagdiriwang ng kaarawan ni Athena Mori. Sa aming extended family at mga kaibigan. Mga ninong at mga ninang, maraming salamat sa inyo!!! May 1 year old na kami! WOW. Thank you LORD!" he wrote as caption for a family photo taken during the event. Her doting lola also posted a greeting on Instagram. "You are just one but you have no idea about the large amount of happiness you have brought in our lives. Your Nanay and Tatay are blessed to have such an adorable one year old as their child, and you are blessed to have such loving and dedicated parents" Jean wrote. (pep.ph) 


2. Oyo Sotto Shares another peek of baby number 4

Oyo Sotto is one excited dad-to-be. Yesterday, he shared a photo of his wife Kristine Hermosa's ultrasound taken last June during a doctor's checkup at St. Luke's Medical Center Global City. It will be remembered that it was also through Instagram that Oyo announced Kristine's third pregnancy on April Fool's Day this year. The Hay Bahay stars found out last month that they are expecting another baby boy, and hinted that they might just try for another baby soon after, which they hope will be a girl. Oyo and Kristine are already parents to son Quiel, daughter Ondrea, and son Kaleb.


3. Richard Gutierrez wants another baby
In a press conference for the new season of the reality show "It Takes Gutz To Be A Gutierrez," Richard said he wants to have another baby with partner Sarah Lahbati. However, they still have to settle their other priorities. "This year, we are focused on work at gusto naming timbangin ang priorities namin. Pero, of course, gusto namin for our family to grow pero at the right time," he said. Richard also shared how their three-year-old son's personality is already showing and that he's very talkative. "We are just blessed to have Zion right now at kahit busy kaming dalawa ni Sarah, we are thankful na nandiyan ang parents ko to always take care of him at parents ni Sarah, 'yung mommy ni Sarah, so time management lang," he added. (abs-cbn.com)  


4. Nickelodeon introduces first gay couple on kids' channel

Time to make history indeed! First married gay couple on a Nickelodeon cartoon!https://t.co/CI5NPmd7JU

— ã…¤ (@Ieodavinci) July 16, 2016

Animated series Loud House is going to be the first show on the kids' channel to feature a same-sex couple. The series follows an 11-year-old boy Lincoln's life with his 10 sisters. His best friend Clyde has two dads who are married, and they are voiced by Wayne Brady and Michael McDonald. LGBT characters are relatively rare in shows targeted for children, and if they are indeed queer, it's only often hinted at and not directly addressed. Nickelodeon is indeed "making history" by introducing same-sex marriage to young kids. The said episode will air first in the U.S. on July 20.  (eonline.com)


5. Filipino still included in college's GE curriculum
In compliance to the Supreme Court ruling on a temporary restraining order (TRO), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) required all colleges, public or private, to still have Filipino units in the general education (GE) program. The CHED issued a memorandum that orders all higher education institutions to retain nine units for Language and Literature and six units of Filipino for Humanities, and failure to comply could warrant possible sanctions by the Supreme Court. Although the new GE curriculum in colleges are to be implemented in school year 2018-2019, advocates of the Filipino language are already condemning the proposed exclusion of Filipino and Panitikan subject units just because they will be added to the senior year curriculum of the K to 12. (rappler.com)