Maria Aragon performs before Prince William, Kate

MANILA, Philippines – Maria Aragon, the 10-year-old Filipino-Canadian singer who was discovered by Lady Gaga, performed before the British Royal Couple Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Aragon sang her own rendition of Canada’s national anthem “O Canada” in front of thousands of people as part of the Canada Day celebration.

The ceremony was held on Parliament Hill in the country’s capital city, Ottawa.

Aragon rose to fame after Lady Gaga posted in her official Twitter account a video link of the former’s own cover of the song “Born This Way.”

For only over a week, the video became viral in YouTube and it gained millions of views.

This paved the way for Aragon to reach her dreams.

After that, Aragon had a duet with Lady Gaga in the latter’s concert in Toronto.

She also appeared in popular American shows including “The Ellen Degeneres Show” and “Good Morning America.”

Even Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Aragon in her residence in Winnipeg only because he personally wanted to meet the young singer.

Floods hit Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Some parts of Metro Manila were flooded due to non-stop rains Thursday, causing heavy traffic.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported waist-deep floods in Quezon City, specifically along Maria Clara St., Araneta Avenue and N.S. Amoranto St. due to the overflowing of Talayan Creek.

Honorio Lopez Blvd., from Tondo Hospital to S. De Jesus St., was submerged in 12 inches of flood due to high tide and rainshowers.

Imelda Ave. in Pasig was submerged in 19 inches.

MMDA advised motorists to avoid Northbound EDSA as gutter-deep flooding at P. Tuazon tunnel caused traffic to come to a standstill.

Flood control units have been dispatched to the area, MMDA said.

Gutter-deep flooding was also seen in Maceda, España in Manila.

As of 6 p.m., no flooding was reported along C-5 road.

According to MMDA, traffic along EDSA-Roxas northbound is moderate, while southbound is moderate.

In EDSA-Orense, northbound (Ayala to Cubao) is having slow traffic, while southbound (Timog-Ortigas) is moderate.

In EDSA-Connecticut, both lanes are having moderate to heavy traffic, while Commonwealth-PHILCOA has clear roads. There are no reports of flooding along these areas.

Binay recommends military honors in Ilocos for Marcos

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay has recommended to President Aquino that the late former President Ferdinand Marcos be given military honors in his home province of Ilocos Norte, not in Libingan ng mga Bayani, 3 separate sources told ABS-CBN News.

After consulting various sectors and citizens, Binay has recommended that the late dictator be given full military honors as a former soldier and commander-in-chief.A survey conducted by the Office of the Vice-President revealed public opinion is split on the issue of giving Marcos a hero's burial.

The sources said Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his sister, Imee, have spoken to Binay about the burial. They said the Marcoses are satisfied with Binay's recommendation.

Marcos was elected president in 1965 and was re-elected for a second term in 1969.

But before the end of his second term, he imposed martial law in 1972 and stayed as president until 1986 when he was deposed by a bloodless People Power revolt led by President Aquino's mother, Corazon.

Marcos died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 but has yet to be buried. His remains are preserved in a refrigerated crypt in the family mausoleum in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

At least 216 members of the House of Representatives have signed House Resolution No. 1135, initiated by Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero, urging President Aquino to allow the burial of the remains of late strongman at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

President Aquino has refused to comment on the issue of giving Marcos a hero's burial. Aquino has maintained that Marcos ordered the murder of his father, the late Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., in 1983.

Instead, the President assigned Binay to study the issue of a hero's burial for Marcos.