Johnny Depp surprise patients at pediatric hospital, came as Captain Jack Sparrow

On July 7, the Oscar-nominated and award winning actor Johnny Depp visited the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane, Australia. Dressed as his character in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, Depp arrived as Captain Jack Sparrow and was accompanied by fellow actor Stephen Graham who was also in his costume as Scrum.

Juiced TV, a weekly program made by the hospital’s young patients, covered the event. In the video footage posted on Youtube, Depp not only entertained the children but also gave away gold coins and took the time to take pictures and converse with them. During the duration of his visit, Depp was in full Jack Sparrow mode, much to the delight of the patients.

In an interview with Australia’s ABC News, Rachel Bennet, mother of 7-year-old Max, said they were having dinner when they were told that Jack Sparrow was in the hospital. The mother and son immediately went to where the actor was and waited outside of the room. It was Depp who came to them and had a chat with Max, deliberately misspelling the child’s name.

According to the Facebook page of the Children Hospital Foundation, the pirates’ surprise three-hour visit made a significant difference for the sick kids confined at the hospital as well as to their families that accompanied them.

The hospital visit was done during a break in the filming of the next installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Men Tell No Tales in Queensland, Australia. The film is scheduled to be released on July 2017.

In the past, Depp has visited other hospitals, also dressed as the beloved pirate captain. Two years after his daughter, Lily Rose, suffered kidney failure in 2007 due to E.coli food poisoning, Depp visited the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and donated £1 million.

According to an E Online report made in 2013, Depp carries his Jack Sparrow costume all the time because there might be kiddie hospitals that he can visit.

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Sam Smith makes great come back at Montreux jazz festival

The much-awaited recovery of award-winning British soul singer, Sam Smith, took place at the recent jazz festival at the famous Montreux stage as he delivered a magical performance.

After recovering from the surgery on his vocal cords, Smith opened with his bestselling song, “I’m Not The Only” and followed with his other chart-topping hits from 2014 including “Leave Your Lover,” Restart” and “Not In That Way.” All hits came from his debut studio album, “In The Lonely Hour.”

“Wow, this is amazing to me for many reasons, I get to play a jazz festival which is historic. I saw Claude Nobs’ house yesterday and got to see all the history that has happened over more than 40 years, all of my idols,” the 23-year-old said in an interview with Reuters.

The Swiss Nobs founded the popular festival in 1966. The event brought together musical legends like Miles Davis, Prince and Aretha Franklin to the shores of Lake Geneva.

Smith made a name for himself from his heartbreaking songs. Even as a newcomer, he already bagged four Grammy awards in February including the much coveted record of the year and song of the year award for his song “Stay With Me.” He was also awarded best new artist.

“The most painful kind of love is unrequited love, it only felt natural to write about it,” he said before he performed “Lay Me Down” and “My Funny Valentine.”

Smith had to cancel the remainder of his Australia tour due to a hemorrhage on his vocal cords. He apologized profusely to fans but said he had to choose to follow the doctor’s orders.

“Three months ago I had surgery on my vocal cords. To be able to do a gig in a tiny venue is incredible, I prefer this to anything,” he told the crowd at the Montreux Jazz Lab. Fans paid 92 Swiss francs ($97) to stand for the sold-out concert.

“I’ll be back next year,” he promised.

Smith performed high notes in songs like “Nirvana” with five musicians and three vocalists.

Before he sang his single, “Money On My Mind,”he explained: “This is the only song not on the album about love. A lot of people are making music for the wrong reason. Believe me there are people out there who only make music for money. This one person pissed me off so much I wrote the song.”

“I find him very likeable. It hasn’t gone to his head. You could tell that after his operation a few months ago he had great pleasure being on the stage,” Alessandra Ruggiero, a 26-year-old Swiss, said.

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Old Boston house filled with memories for PNoy

President Benigno Aquino visits his family's old house in Boston where they once lived in exile. Photo by Ariel Fulgado

BOSTON (UPDATED) - President Aquino on Monday completed his trip down memory lane with a visit to his family's old house in the suburbs. Accompanied by three of his best friends since childhood -- Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, PAGCOR chair Cristino Naguiat, and businessman Romy Mercado -- the President was seen showing some areas in the front lawn and the yard. Aquino earlier described himself as the "dog-handler, plumber, carpenter, mechanic, and baggage-handler" during the family's exile in the US. This was his first return to Boston since leaving in 1983, after his father Senator Ninoy Aquino was assassinated The President also paid a private call on the current owners of the old Aquino house, sisters Ione and Patricia Malloy. In yet another coincidence, some former neighbors of the Aquinos were driving by while PNoy was visiting. Jean-Paul and Rebecca Valette lived just behind the former Aquino residence. "We are acquainted with Benigno Aquino and also with Mrs. Aquino who was more homebound," Jean-Paul told newsmen as Rebecca approached the President to shake hands. "Three of the girls were going to school here, including Krissy who is an actress now," he added. "There was also the son who came after -- he did not start with the family -- and now he's your president." But the ones they had most contact with was Ninoy. The Valettes said they remember the Aquinos as "very very close knit, they kept essentially to themselves."

President Benigno Aquino visits his family's old house in Boston where they once lived in exile. Photo by Ariel Fulgado

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Gilas naturalized star Andray Blatche signs one-year deal to play in China – reports

Philippine national men’s basketball team naturalized star Andray Blatche is headed to China to continue his basketball career, according to multiple reports. Blatche, who is coming off a memorable FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign with Gilas Pilipinas, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball League, NBA.com’s Adam Zagoria reported. According to Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, Blatche’s deal is worth $2.5 million and includes an opt-out clause that would allow the big man to return to the NBA in March. Blatche, 27, played with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA last season, averaging 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. He decided not to exercise the remaining year of his contract to test free agency. Blatche reportedly got feelers from the Miami Heat and the Toronto Raptors, but a deal wasn’t reached. In his first stint with Gilas Pilipinas, Blatche posted impressive numbers after averaging 21.2 points and 13.8 rebounds to anchor the Filipinos in their return to the world stage after 36 years.

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