NORA AUNOR FINALLY A NATIONAL ARTIST? Deprived of the honor by an elitist president, but with a sitting populist president in power, Nora Aunor will finally receive the Order of National Artist. This shows how much the creative award is dictated by politics.
Nora doesn’t need to be re-nominated. She is automatically part of what is termed the “final deliberation,” according to Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) vice president and artistic director Chris Millado.
The final list of nominees are elected by the joint board of the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and CCP and then submitted for the approval and signature of the President, who, then, will confer the honors via a presidential proclamation.
Ramon Santos was dropped by then-President Gloria Arroyo in 2009 from the list of nominees yet was re-nominated and proclaimed by President Noynoy Aquino in 2014 as National Artist for Music.
Then, there was the notorious nominations of Celso Caparas, Jose “Pitoy” Moreno and Cecile Guidote-Alvarez that were eventually cancelled with the protests of National Artists led by Benedicto “Bencab” Cabrera.
There was also the buzzed bias for Mauro Malang Santos, who lost interest in the nomination that even upon his death, his family did not display an interest in pursuing it.
The country now has a total of 66 recognized National Artists to date, with the most number in the fields of Visual Arts, Literature and Music.
Submission of nominations for National Artists 2018 is up until September 30, 2017. Nominations are open in Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film and Broadcast Arts, Design and Architecture and Allied Arts categories. Announcement of awardees set on June 11, 2018.
The mechanics of the award must be revised to remove the Filipino citizen criteria that disqualified Anita Magsaysay-Ho, the only female member of The Thirteen Moderns, who pushed the introduction of modern art in the country; and David Medalla whose bubble machines introduced conceptual art in the Philippines.

ARIANA GRANDE’S ‘DANGEROUS WOMAN.’ Smart Music Live brings Ariana’s “Dangerous Woman” tour finally to Manila this Monday, August 21, at the Mall of Asia Arena, and fans can only expect a grown-up Queen Ari music and character-wise.
Track the hashtags #SmartMusicLive and #SmartArianaGrande to find out how to win tickets, perks and privileges related to Ariana’s “Dangerous Woman” concert produced by Music Management International (MMI) Live.
Smart Music Live is the music arm of Smart Corporate campaign that folded its concert and music events that started in July 2016 with a concert featuring Ely Buendia, Aegis, Nathan Sykes and Up Dharma Down. It went on to bring Shawn Mendes, David Guetta, Selena Gomez and Britney Spears.
Aside from “Dangerous Woman,” Smart Music Live also brought to Manila Oasis’ Liam Gallagher on August 14; In the Mix featuring 5 Seconds of Summer, Two Door Cinema Club, Dua Lipa, Zara Larsson, Daya and DNCE on August 17; and Ed Sheeran on November 7.
According to Seattletimes.com, “Grande’s ‘Dangerous Woman’ Tour pushes the 23-year-old in a bolder direction.” Said to be the artist of the moment after showing the world how exactly to bounce back following the horrific Manchester tragedy when she did the tour there, Ariana will continue to spread love and music when she sets foot in Manila.
With what happened at her Machester concert and how she was able to epitomize how to rise after such a tragedy with the “One Love” show and the way she has been getting in touch with the victims of that horrific act of terror, whether in person or via her social media, definitely adds more to Ariana’s feminist causes.
Here are some of the high moments to look forward to when Ariana takes full control of the Manila concert scene:
1. Feminist interlude. Girl power is also one of Ariana’s strong suits. Ariana isn’t just growing up in front of her fans these days. She’s showing up to be a role model, not a very common thing to find in pop stars these days.
2. String of hits. Those who have seen “Dangerous Woman” have been raving about her fast numbers, those hits that come with the complete package Ariana is known for: Power vocals and phenomenal choreography. This is expected to happen when she strings these hits together: “Side To Side,” “Break Free,” “Into You” and “Dangerous Woman.”
3. Stage visuals. They say expect the works in an Ariana concert… from fireworks to fiery hot dancers and an even hotter choreography. Pyrotechnics is a staple in Ariana concerts along with laser lights, confetti drops and rising platforms.
4. Outfit changes. Another concert fixture for Queen Ari are spot-on fashion and costume changes. Expect local celebrities to put on their best impressions of Ariana Grande. The artist’s previous tours are always packed with Hollywood celebrities in the audience so the Manila stop wouldn’t be much different; it will have local “stars” in full attendance.
 
LIAM MAKES IT TO MANILA THIS TIME AROUND! Voted the greatest frontman of all time in a 2010 poll by Q magazine, former Oasis front man Liam Gallagher did a one-hour concert of 17 songs at the Mall of Asia Arena without him singing his ex-band famous songs and leaving concert-goers asking for more, to no avail. Oasis was famous for its hit songs “Live Forever,” “Lyla,” “Don’t Go Away,” “Slide Away” and “Champagne Supernova,” which are cited as examples of Liam’s best work.
Liam was Oasis’ vocals and tambourine with his brother Noel as lead guitars and vocals was most heavily influenced by the Beatles, an influence that was frequently labelled as an “obsession” by British media.
Scheduled to perform in the Philippines back in 2002, Oasis cancelled two days before the show because of a terrorist incident in Mindanao. Since then, Filipinos had been waiting for their arrival in the country until they disbanded in 2009 due to years of tension between the siblings.
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam, Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (guitar), Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan (bass guitar), and Tony McCarroll (drums, percussion). They were later joined by Liam’s older brother (lead guitar and vocals) as a fifth member, becoming the band’s settled line-up until April 1995.
Oasis signed to independent record label Creation Records in 1993 and released their record-setting debut album Definitely Maybe (1994). The following year the band recorded (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995) with drummer Alan White, in the midst of a chart rivalry with Britpop peers Blur.
Along with Suede, Pulp and Blur, Oasis came to be regarded as a component of the Britpop “big four,” and the Gallagher brothers were featured regularly in tabloid newspapers for their sibling disputes and wild lifestyles.
In 1997 Oasis released their third album, Be Here Now (1997), and although it was the fastest-selling album in UK chart history, the album’s popularity tapered off quickly, but not before selling eight million copies. McGuigan and Arthurs left Oasis in 1999 as the band released Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000).
After departures of its settled lineup, they were replaced by former Heavy Stereo guitarist/frontman Gem Archer and former Ride guitarist/frontman Andy Bell. Their fifth studio album Heathen Chemistry was released in 2002.
In 2004, drummer Alan White left the band, leaving them as a four-piece with addition of The Who drummer Zak Starkey, son of the Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, as recording and touring unofficial fifth member. They found renewed success and popularity with Don’t Believe the Truth (2005).
That’s how close it got to the Beatles and Manila actually experience the return of the Fab Four got the 60th year celebration of its concert in Manila in a blur.

Mrs. Universe South Asia 2017 Joyce Penas Pilarsky, a woman for other women, is a tireless advocate of female causes.
As a world-class fashion designer, Pilarsky uses colors intuitively. She is partial to bright florals as these represent living and loving. Yet on August 30, 2017, on the event of Women’s Month when Mrs. Universe 2017 leads a global protest against child abuse and gender-based violence, she will give up the color code and wear black and gold.
To be held this year in Durban, South Africa, Mrs. Universe is an international and global beauty pageant and Human Rights Forum organized in Sofia City, Bulgaria in 2007. The contest is open to married women from countries/nations of all continents around the world, who are between the ages of 25 and 45, have a family and career, and are involved in a “significant cause.”
“The #OneVoice march taps into the theme for this year’s Mrs. Universe event, ‘Empowering women. Creating change.’ What could be more hard-hitting than women from all over the world, from different backgrounds and communities, speaking out in a collective voice against the scourge of women and child abuse?” says Mrs. Universe 2017 hosting director in Africa and Durban resident, Tracey-Anne Agget. “We want governments, communities, civil society groups, men and women to join forces to protect our women and children. This is an international outcry; a global declaration that enough is enough.”
The organizer, Mrs. Universe Ltd., also coordinates the Mrs. Europe, Grandma Universe and Children of the Universe pageants. The current and reigning queen and titleholder is Mrs. Universe Olga Torner of Austria who won in the competition held in Guangzhou, China.
“Durban has outdone Africa by clinching the rights to host the 40th Annual Mrs. Universe Pageant. It’s a coup for the KZN coastal hub as this is the first time the glitzy event will be held in the continent,” says 2016 Mrs. Universe first runner-up Aggett, who won over the International Mrs. Universe organizing committee with her charitable projects and vision for the continent.
“After hosting in South Africa, I’d love it to take it to Botswana or Ghana because there are a lot of women there that are trying to step up and it would be a great privilege for their economy from the tourist level, trade and investment, as well as empowerment level,” adds Aggett.
“There’s a lot of emotions that runs through me regarding this. It's very exciting because finally I have a platform which I can really make as a way to see more women and children around Africa. The fact that I’ve got 10 years to empower women around Africa and to be a strong voice and unite women and children’s voices as one, globally, makes me feel like I’m doing the work I’m supposed to do,” shares Aggett.

VIOLENCE AGAINST FEMALES. Violence strikes females from all kinds of backgrounds and of all ages. It can happen at work, on the street, or at home.
Different types of violence are: Dating violence; domestic and intimate partner violence; emotional abuse; human trafficking; same-sex relationship violence; sexual assault and abuse; stalking; violence against immigrant and refugee women; violence against women at work; and violence against women with disabilities.
Sometimes, women are attacked by strangers, but most often they are hurt by people who are close to them, such as a husband or partner. Either way, violence and abuse can have terrible effects. She can get help for any physical and emotional problems. She can feel better.

THE JOYS OF JOYCE. Early in life Joycelyn “Joyce” Javellana Penas of Paranaque imbibed the practive of helping others from her parents. Her father, Atty. Felix Million Penas, worked as a lawyer who rendered free legal service to the needy and her mother is Soledad Nonato Javellana Penas who cooked chicken porridge that Joyce fed to their needy neighbors, mostly children. They had a steady supply of chicken and rice as her father was often given fresh produce in appreciation of his legal services.
As a girl, Joyce had lofty dreams and ambitions. Being beautiful, tall and intelligent, imbibing the good genes of her parents, she aspired to be an actress, a flight stewardess and beauty queen, but her father discouraged her. He wanted her to be a lawyer like him as her eldest sister of seven siblings, five females and two males, married early and he feared she would follow the same path.
By nature, Joyce grew up following his decisions. In her mind, she believed she would be able to pursue them in her own time.
Near his passing on, he allowed his wife to migrate with two of their daughters to London. Joyce and two of her sisters alternated in taking care of him. It was her turn when the bright light allowed him in. Joyce took over his role as head of the family by working as a fashion model and a flight stewardess, where she met her German better half. She matured following the whims and wishes of males.
Then, in 2009, she designed the accessories for John Guarnes’ fashion collection who she selflessly sent to school and tutored in drawing with would-be actor Roden Araneta.
“Fashion design is for the young. You must retire,” a gay young designer confronted her backstage as a new designer of her gala show at the Philippine Fashion Week Summer 2010 held the Mall of Asia Convention Center. Joyce, who had had to sell a lot of acquisitions in order to finance her

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show, was dumfounded, but she did not overreact. “Like you, I have the right to pursue my dream regardless of age,” she replied.
Pilarsky has always joined global beauty pageants and fashion shows with a social responsibility such as a environmental and/or charity purposes. Since childhood, she had always done feeding programs and building/supporting educational facilities for marginalized children.
Joyce did not hesitate to cross the crocodile- and rebel-infested Agusan marsh in Mindanao in Southern Philippines in a small boat to inaugurate the floating library she and her husband donated through Gunther Pilarsky Foundation. The people honored her by making her an honorary princess.
“Thrice I joined Mrs. Universe beauty pageant and in all of those times I got accepted,” the glowing Mrs. Universe South Asia 2017 Pilarsky recalled when we had lunch at Luk Yuen restaurant in Cash and Carry supermarket upon her arrival from Germany. The short vacation to see her husband also served as exercise opportunities to prepare herself for the competition.
“But I failed to join the first time for personal reasons and the second time for professional reasons. Yet when I applied for the third time — this time around — they still accepted me,” Pilarsky humbly recalls.
Leaving for Durban, South Africa for the competition today, August 23, with her London-based sister Sol Penas as travelling companion, she clarifies the circumtances in which she represents South Asia.
“I could have represented the Philippines, but avoided it so I would not be in direct competition with a dear friend. So the organizers offered me South Asia as I will represent nearly 1.6 billion people from the countries of the Indian subcontinent,” she explains. Those countries that make up South Asia are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Sometimes Myanmar (Burma) is also included.
Dispersed from their original homeland, its people of South Asian descent who are not living in their original homeland — some of them may never have set foot in their original “homeland.” They have made increasingly significant contributions to the countries they now live in. The economy, health, arts, media and culture have all been affected in some way.
A well-travelled woman, Pilarsky had been to most of these countries during her many travels with her businessman husband who deals in minerals and other precious stones. So she had observed how their women and children were affected by social conditions, politics, climate change and religions.
Pilarsky has been indirectly promoting their well-being with her fashion shows and charities since 2009 to the presents. Mrs. Universe South Asia gives her the platform, the first time she shouts out directly for the rights against abuse, which she intends to pursue in connection with her mission in the Philippines.
Pilarsky requests for prayers for the victory of her causes. She remains resilient: "I live every day to the fullest so I don't have to worry about tomorrow," she admits.

“We would like to celebrate and pay tribute to the modern-day heroes and new breed of industry movers — the men and women of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry,” expresses the forward-looking Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. managing director Beth Mercado with director of Sales Yuri Mercado and manager of Public Relations and Marketing Calvin Murphy Neria about the mission of the Search of Mr. and Miss BPO.
“We feel that we need to do something as an event company that could somehow help towards nation-building. We hope that we could get all the support that we need from the BPO industry, the media and advertisers,” adds Beth of the support it requires to deliver the lofty ideals.
The first Search for Mr. and Ms. BPO finals night will be held on November 21, 2017 in Metro Manila’s biggest events venue, the world-class Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

CREDENTIALS. Royale Chimes is known for having brought to Metro Manila global British entertainers such as Bootleg Beatles, The Stylistics, Jack Jones (with Jose Mari Chan as special guest) and Boy George and the Culture Club. It also brought in the Hello Kitty show.
Its “#LoveThrowback,” which showcases Original Pilipino Music love songs, started the hugot line trend in Valentine concerts. The concept was such a hit that “#LoveThrowback2” was last Valentine season’s highest grosser among premium-priced tickets. A repeat was announced right on the evening of the soldout concert.
With TV actor and model Prince de Guzman as program host, Calvin and mentors thoroughly detailed answers to every question about the upcoming Search of Mr. and Ms. BPO. The media rallied support for the pioneer pageant aimed to enhance and advance the self-worth and image of BPO employees.
BPO or what is commonly referred to as call or contact center is much misunderstood. Although a lucrative industry that places it in importance over the overseas employment business, it has a high turnover despite attractive compensation packages.
Although carefully recruited, players show a tendency to work fatigue so many are chronic smokers, alcohol guzzlers, bar-hoppers, free-spenders and sex-trippers. Organizers thought the excesses could be alleviated with an alternative program that the Search for Mr. and Ms. BPO offers.
The first contact center was established in the Philippines in 1992. After almost two decades, the Philippines was declared the world’s BPO capital overpowering India. And last year, it was projected to have generated 1.3 million new jobs with a 17 percent annual growth. Without a doubt, the Philippines is the global standard for the BPO enterprise.
A  breakthrough production of Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. with the enthusiastic cooperation of BPO industry players to offer the innovative solution that will provide entertainment to the “mga bagong bayani ng bayan (the new heroes of the country)” through the search of their ambassador.
First revealed to this writer in snippets during the launch of the soldout “Lovethrowback 2” at Luxent Hotel last February, planning took six months before the Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. team launched the pageant formally at the Cervantes Room of the luxurious Discovery Primea in Makati City.
An exciting search with a fresh and innovative approach, the first “Mr. & Ms. BPO” highlights the work force behind one of the most progressive industries in the country to date.
“We didn’t go to the battle unprepared,” proudly shared director Calvin. “We brainstormed day in and out and researched everything about the BPO industry. We were heavily prepared from the venue of the launch to the lineup of the mentors up to the video teaser of the search.”

QUALIFICATIONS. The first Mr. and Miss BPO aims to promote excellence, leadership and camaraderie in the workplace. It will also empower the candidates to impart the right attitude at work and the drive to help in nation building. Facilitating the development of the candidates in a holistic approach is a formidable team composed of mentors for fitness and well-being, communication skills, emotional intelligence acumen and modeling, just to name a few.
The Search is now accepting applicants. Interested parties must be 18 to 26 years old, single, Filipino citizen or with Filipino blood ancestry, at least 5’4” tall for female and 5’6” tall for male. They must also have proportionate physiques, possess pleasing personalities, and with good moral character. He/she must also be regular employees of the company and a resident of the Philippines.
There will be two days of screening and one day to finalize the official candidates. A lineup 20 pairs representing the different BPO companies is planned, a total of 40 individuals who will be screened by a panel of distinguished personalities from the industry of business, fashion, health and wellness, entertainment, advertising, among others.
Each titleholder wins P300,000 each with the company they represent getting P150,000 each for the corporate responsibility. First runners-up will get P200,000 each and P100,000 each for the company they represent. And the Second Runners up will be get P100,000 each and P50,000 each for the company they represent.

MENTORING. Shortlisted candidates will be mentored in aspects of personality enhancement by the following mentors with impressive credentials:
June Macasaet, model and male pageant winner who was crowned Manhunt International 2012 at Bangkok, Thailand. He is the first Filipino to win the international male beauty pageant and has since then turned its template;
Jennifer Hammond, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental (Miss Intercontinental Philippines) 2016 turned in-demand motivational speaker. She now jurors “It’s Showtime’s” highly popular “Miss Q & A” segment; Mauro Lumba, grand winner of Century Tuna Superbods 2014, favorite ramp model and television and film actor; Ruby Manalac, a sales and marketing specialist here and abroad. Operations and different facets of Human Resources and Organizational Development focusing on training are her specialties. She is a recognized emotional intelligence expert; and Jonathan Yabut, marketing genius after emerging as the first winner of the The Apprentice Asia.  He is frequently invited to give motivational talks in schools, corporations and other institutions about leadership, marketing and youth empowerment. And now in the exciting Mr. and Ms. BPO Search!
“The mentors complement each other and will make the candidates who joined experience a worthwhile journey. They told us that they will help the pageant in full capacity,” adds Yuri.
To register and join the Mr. and Ms. BPO, check out the official Web site (www.mrandmsbpo.com) and download the application form. For more details, follow the event’s social media accounts on Facebook (MrandMsBPOofficial), Instagram (mrandmsbpoofficial), Twitter (MrandMsBPO) and on YouTube (MrandMsBPO). For other inquiries, you may call the Mr. and Miss BPO secretariat at 0977-3846984.
“We are very positive about the search because there’s an overwhelming feedback from the BPO people themselves,” shares Beth. “We’re getting a lot of e-mails congratulating us for this endeavor. We are so grateful that somehow we are touching the lives of the people in the BPO industry. I hope they would support us all the way so we can pursue and stage this pageant every year.”
With all these breakthroughs, the search for the perfect BPO Ambassadors is equally exciting. The time has come to put the spotlight to the new breed of young men and women.
What has been the initial response? Spills the ecstatic Yuri, “Tremendous!”

The Assessment and Enrichment Program (AEP) celebrated its 10th year to pay tribute to Scholastic Asia’s dedicated education partners, the fourth Scholastic Readers Cup awarding ceremony held at the Rizal Ballroom of the Shangri-La Makati on August 23.
The most prestigious award, Scholastic’s Winners Circle Champion was received by St. Paul College Balayan, represented by its School Principal, Sr. Norma Michaela Que, SPC. Since the 2014 Readers Cup, St. Paul College Balayan has been reaping awards for its students’ outstanding performance both in terms of readership and of reading achievement.
A milestone year, 2017 marks a decade of Scholastic’s partnership with Philippine schools in the AEP, a research-backed literacy program that strengthens balanced literacy instruction, equipping students to be proficient readers and raising them to be life-long learners.
Benedictine International School and Uno High School, Scholastic’s education partners in the Philippines since 2007, were given the Scholastic Pioneer Award. New Era University - General Santos City Branch was awarded the Readers Cup Rookie Award for their success in rallying reading on their first year of partnership with Scholastic in AEP.  
Going on its fifth year, the Scholastic Readers Cup continues to inspire school administrators, teachers and librarians to lead in their schools’ transformation towards a community of readers and learners. Scholastic’s partner schools have proven that it is possible and worthwhile to raise today’s children as avid readers who grow in creative wonder, in hope and in a world of limitless possibilities.
Selected educators composed of school administrators, teachers and librarians were treated to a sumptuous buffet, exciting raffle prizes of P10,000 and P5,000 gift certificates, and top-notch entertainment by premiere vocal ensemble The CompanY and by the multi-awarded crooner Richard Poon.
Scholastic executives headed by Scholastic Asia president Frank Wong, country manager Chito Morales and general manager Fritzie Cruz presented the awards to the top 10 schools that bested 160 schools in terms of readership. These schools achieved the highest average of number books read with quizzes passed by their students for school year 2016-2017.
“Thanks to the hard work of our partner schools over the years, Read Aloud has become a regular part of reading instruction, and pleasure reading has become a habit for many children. You should all be very proud of what you have accomplished in your schools. As literacy champions in your schools, you have truly opened a world of possible to your students,” Wong said in his welcome remarks. “Scholastic is proud to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the AEP, a program that seeks to nurture a good reading habit among the Filipino students.”
The top 10 schools are the following:
(1) Stonyhurst Southville International School Batangas (99 books read per student); (2) Stonyhurst Southville International School Malarayat in Batangas (96 books); (3) Holy Cross College of Calinan in Davao (87 books); (4) Nuestra Señora de Guia Academy in Valenzuela (86 books); (5) Immaculate Conception School of Baliuag (81 books); (6) Iloilo Scholastic Academy (80 books); (7) Saint Mary’s Angels College of Valenzuela (74 books); (8) Saint Joseph College of Rosario, Batangas (67 books); (9) Scuola San Giuseppe Marello in San Pablo City (65 books); and tied at (10), Mother Goose Special School System Inc. in Dagupan City (63 books) and Casa del Niño Montessori School Ciudad de Calamba (63 books).
And as Scholastic continues to lead in advocating literacy around the world, it promises to make AEP even better — more comprehensive, more systematic and more relevant to the Philippine schools that have made Scholastic their trusted education partner.
For more information on Scholastic’s education initiatives, visit www.scholastic.asia or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ScholasticAsia.

JAKE AND MOM NEED HEALING. As expected, the feature between Charice, now Jake Zyrus, in multi-awarded and long-running drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) as hosted by Charo Santos-Concio caused a new rift between the transman and his biological mother, Raquel Pempengco.
Jake said his mother is “talaga namang liar” and is in the habit of threatening people, as she did to global music impresario David Foster before. Jake was asked why he wanted his story told as it created more animosity between them. He said he just wanted to tell his side of the story.
According to Jake, Raquel omitted what went on inside Charice. His mother denied them and said Jake merely wanted to promote his showbiz comeback. It appears, in a way, that Raquel is liberating herself as it is clear she is also suffering.
What happened here is similar to the complaint of the half-brother of Pia Wurtzbach of what she told MMK that he denied. Both are clear cases of not keeping the family story private so some kind of denial must be made to clear the family name.
Mother and transon need healing and the MMK feature is a great starting point. But that depends on them and not MMK as it only told Jake’s story as related to them. As a responsible broadcast network, it is safe to assume it took measures to protect its legal interests.
And unless a party brings the issue to the court, it will end up as an exercise of press freedom.

OUTSTANDING TVCS. Networks are overloading timeslots with commercials, but there are those rare ones that are well-produced and actually worth watching.
Nido Advanced Protectus 3 Plus. One is the Nido Advanced Protectus 3 Plus. This ad has the amazing power not to cause viewing fatigue with repeated airing. A separated father picks his young son from his mother’s residence. She handles the dysfunctional relationship with respectful joy. Indirectly, it teaches viewers how separation can be handled without wreaking havoc to domestic peace and/or stunting a child’s emotional growth.
OneSKY. ABS-CBN and its cable, broadband, and direct-to-home subsidiary SKY Cable Corporation were once again recognized for media excellence as it hauled one Gold and one Silver award, respectively, in the 2017 Spark Awards in Singapore.
In its running TVC, two grown-up brothers, one with a cast, keep company by watching Sky Cable. When the healthy brother shows sign of leaving him, the injured brother asks, “Are you leaving?” Without giving an answer, he puts down his backpack and sits down in front of the screen to continue viewing an action feature and shows them enjoying each other’s company.

INSIGHT BY ELVERT BANARES. “This is why I love the millennials! They definitely make their choices heard! They watch quality films or at least search for them. Keep it up, dearest young ones,” Elvert said, posting on Facebook six photos of crowded theater lobbies screening Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino films.
Since the broadsheets and tabloids were invited to a professional press conference to publicize the entries, providing updates would have helped beef up the festival more. Some did publish the list of awardees, but the lack of updates did not help the festival in any way.

NEW STYLISTICS’ ONE NIGHT ONLY CONCERT! Be enthralled by the most popular Stylistics hits. Audiences are definitely in for a musical treat like no other as Grand Leisure Corporation brings Russel Thompkins Jr. and the New Stylistics in a one-night only concert this September 7, 8 p.m. at the world class Theatre at Solaire. The trio is made up of Russel, together with Raymond Johnson and Jonathan Buckson. They are dedicated to the mission of providing quality representation of the group’s original recordings. For tickets, call TicketWorld at (02) 891-9999.

Perhaps because “Juan” rhymes with “one,” the name gains special significance in marketing. The name of ex-boy band hotshots One Direction, for example, was tweaked into ‘Juan Direction’ in a TV5 series. Joe Girard prescribed wearing the number one as a pendant to display the wearer’s mindset about the self.
Joe is Joseph Samuel Gerard, an American salesman who sold 13,001 cars at a Chevrolet dealership between 1963 and 1978. He has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s number one salesman. Number one is the only slot that matters; two is not as good as one.

DEFINED. Franchising is a right to sell a company’s products or services based on an agreement between franchisor and franchisee in a particular area using the company’s name and other copyrighted systems and materials in exchange for a franchising fee for a period of time.
Mang Juan Franchising Corporation currently has 160 nationwide franchised units, the highest among locally franchised food carts in operation to date. On September 30, it will join the Global Negosyo marketing and promotions event in Brisbane, Australia, its first international promotions participation of selected Mang Juan Franchising food concepts.
Just how marketing-forward is Mang Juan Franchising Corp.? For one, it owns the much-desired copyright of the generic name of every Filipino — Mang Juan — as every Juan de la Cruz is lovingly called in the rural areas. It is a favorite name of mass-oriented consumer goods hereabouts.
“But we cannot claim the right as is. A description must be added, such as ‘Mang Juan Franchising Corp.’ according to the Department of Trade and Industry that issues trade names,” reveals franchising manager Charmagne Daguinsin during a recent media interview at the corporate head office.
With her eight-year experience, Charmagne of Pila, Laguna, is a professional in franchising. A graduate of Mass Communication from Centro Escolar University, she heads the Franchise Department, which includes business contacts, leasing officers and training team handles franchise business seminars and product orientation prior to opening.

EXPERTISE. As much as Mang Juan Franchising Corp. knows how to name its business, it has professionalized the selling of street food that promotes health and wellness with fresh, natural and safe products, priced accessibly and have high demand.
As required by most mall locations, its product concepts need only minimal cooking, like heating, to prepare.
It owns the copyright of the trade names “Buko Juan, Pure and Refreshing,” “Lemon Pa More Freshly Squeezed” and “Mang Juan Franchising Corp.” as registered with the Intellectual Property Office certification. On-going are “Dipped French Fries” and the rest.
As French fries is the most saleable among the food cart products, Mang Juan has developed its own concept and named it Dipped French Fries — special potato fries that the consumers can customize with his/her own choice of flavorful dips. So it is not only made of par-fried Grade A potatoes and golden fried, you have a choice of Sour and Cream, Honey Mustard, Buffalo (mild spicy) and BBQ dips.
Lemons are loaded with healthy benefits, and particularly, they’re a great vitamin C food source. One cup of freshly squeezed imported lemon juice branded as Lemon Pa More provides a hundred percent of our daily recommended serving of vitamin C. A special syrup is added to lessen the acidity. To drink Lemon Pa More is to experience natural goodness.
Meanwhile, its other brand Whipped Avenue offers 10 whipped cream-topped shakes like cappuccino, cookies ‘n cream, mango, avocado, strawberry and more. Each order is very affordable at the price of P45 at 12oz., P55 for 16oz. and P65 for 22oz.
While regular restaurant franchises usually cost up to millions of pesos to sign up, all Mang Juan Franchising Corp. brands are offered in hundreds of thousand pesos with special introductory franchise packages available now: 
• All in Juan! at 100K Promo! Cheers to the Holidays!
• Juanitos Special Foodcart Package!
• Juanitos Business Package at P59,999!
• Juanitos Business Starter Package!
• Juanitos Pinoy Pizza and Buko Juan!
 
BENEFITS. Mang Juan Franchising Corp. develops and promotes 36 different food concepts with strong market impact. The presence of effective food concepts serve as good news for start-up entrepreneurs trying to get in the field of business with so much less risk.
Mang Juan Franchising Corp. can lay claim to its strength in developing business ideas viable for entrepreneurial ventures. The recipients have chorused in agreement: retirees, OFWs, college students and the self-employed.   
A full-service consultancy firm for food business, Mang Juan Franchising provides diversity and guarantee in pushing forth food and beverage brands that work. It focuses on the needs of clients and consumers by sharing the best practices, providing mentoring, training and support. In short, it is helping entrepreneurs reach its full potential and identify improvements that can be made opposite its quantifiable benefits.
The agreement of the three-year and 15-day franchising fee includes: Use of trade name and logo, use of Operational Business System, heavy duty food cart with built-in cabinets, tarpaulin with stand, cooking utensils, cooking equipment, chest type freezer, menu board, initial inventory of stocks worth P5,000, three sets of uniform with visor, notarized franchise agreement, free business franchise orientation “How to start a Franchise Business,” dry run assistance, grand opening assistance, training and product orientation of service crew with franchisee, free delivery of franchise package within Metro Manila, and balloons for opening.
Mang Juan brands, showcased to the public through specially designed kiosks, operate in prime areas in malls and supermarkets, as well as in commercial areas such as LRT stations, universities and schools nationwide.
 
TESTIMONY. Kenette Piscano, a successful franchisee presently with seven existing franchises and four soon-to-open brands, has a lot to say about the effectivity of franchising with Mang Juan. 
When asked why she picked Mang Juan as franchisor, she shared, “I’ve seen a lot of Buko Juan branches that it is in demand in the market and which made me curious regarding the brand. My curiosity led me to franchise a Buko Juan store. I believe it is the kind of brand that will stay long in this industry. My first outlet opened up in 2012 and till now I am still growing abundantly with Mang Juan Franchising Corp.”
Aiming to provide business opportunity and educate in the area of operating a successful enterprise, Mang Juan provides franchisees with the following: Use of proven operational business system; complete business package; training and product orientation of service crew and franchisee within Metro Manila; Notarized Franchise Agreement; setup/ingress assistance within Metro Manila; grand opening assistance with area training officers; and free location or site assistance in prime malls/supermarkets.
Small wonder that franchising a Mang Juan brand serves as ideal business for retiring government and private employees wanting to enjoy their benefits in continuity; for Overseas Filipino Workers saving for the future; for college graduates making good use of savings from their families and investing salaries; and for the freelancers to get additional income.
Piscano added, “The fastest ROI for me came in around 10 weeks. I saw that the people get more conscious with what they drink, so Buko Juan clicked as well as Lemon Pa More. Before this year ends, I will be opening four more branches of Buko Juan and Lemon Pa More.”
For franchising inquiries, contact Franchising manager Charmagne Daguinsin by visiting Mang Juan Franchising Corp. at the Mang Juan headquarters located at Unit 520 5th Floor AIC Burgundy Empire Tower, ADB Avenue Ortigas Center Pasig City (at the back of Robinsons Galleria). You may also contact her at phone 625-5694, e-mail inquiry@juasnfranchising.com and through Web site www.juanfranchising.com.
 

Even before Mrs. Universe 2017 was announced, Mrs. Universe South Asia 2017 Joyce Penas Pilarsky was crowned as Mother of the Universe.
Theoretically, this over-the-top victory is a higher title than the main title and goes without saying that Joyce was the winner of the pageant. She was a class all her own.
Joyce took the pageant seriously, taking 30 weeks to prepare. She hand-painted her national costume and designed and made all of her gowns and dresses.
Since jetting into Durban on August 25, 2017, the 86 finalists have had a jam-packed, whirlwind schedule of work and play that put the international spotlight firmly on South Africa. In addition to visiting a few must-see tourist spots in the greater Durban area and sampling the city’s array of culinary offerings, contestants dedicated their time to numerous community service and women empowerment initiatives.
Unlike other similar events, Mrs. Universe acknowledges married women who are doing phenomenal work to uplift and enhance their local communities through CSR initiatives, business development and global trade opportunities. 
Activities included visiting schools to speak to young girls about the importance of education and to inspire pupils with personal stories of overcoming incredible challenges, to spending a morning with orphaned and vulnerable children at Liv Village in Verulam, to taking to the streets of Durban for the #OneVoice march against gender-based violence and child abuse. 
The glitzy Mrs. Universe World Finals on September 2 attracted the who’s who of KZN’s social scene. Guests were entertained by proudly KZN performers including the C-Live dancers, the Champions Pantsula Dancers, performers from the Kumari Shiksha Dance Institute, Indlondlo Zulu Traditional Dancers and Dangerous Curves dancers. Vocalists, Samantha Landers, Bongekile Mabaso and Nokulunga Ntuli had feet tapping and heads bobbing. The show was produced and choreographed by one of KZN’s most celebrated entertainers, Clive Gumede aka The Durban Divo. 
“They saw how I performed well in my three-minute video and speech for my best in my talent portion. I am an inspiration to other people and how I empower women with my warm and genuine personality,” narrates Joyce about her participation.
“I felt the warmth and love of my fellow candidates when it was announced I’m Mother of the Universe. They gave me such hearfelt applause. It means they all agreed, and they like me for the award, suggesting I’m truly deserving. They were all very sweet and supportive,” she says.
“I returned home with the sash and crown on my head, They recognized my achievement and saw that I can empower people of the world, not only women,” happily closes Joyce.

ARVEE AT ‘UNIQUELY DIFFERENT’ ART EXHIBIT. Matthew Lopes Castro says: “Art speaks where words are unable to explain.”
That’s exactly what Arvee Bracero, the only daughter of Raquel and Vien Bracero (deceased) accomplished, when she participated in the art exhibit of special children held in The Block in 2013, attended by this writer. She inspired the creation of ARTlead art group on Facebook that has since then resulted to 15,000-plus membership.
Arvee’s two new art works were exhibited at the “Uniquely Different: Embracing Diversity Across the Lifespan” art exhibit by special young people organized by the Philippine Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics at Novotel Manila Araneta Center from September 5 to 6.
According to her Developmental Doctor, Dr. Mimi Avendano, Arvee told her that one painting shows her giving a gift to mom Raquel as a sign of love The other painting is a rendition of the Queen of Sinulog in Cebu that she attends annually.
Organized by Dr. Avendano, Dr. Francis Xavier Daniel M. Dimalanta was chair, while Dr. Jacqueline O. Navarro was co-chair of the Commercial and Art Exhibit Committee. Arvee and other participating artists were awarded a Certificate of Recognition as Featured Artist.

STEPHEN KING UNLEASHESMOST TERRIFYING FILM TO DATE. Best-selling author Stephen King adds his novel It as megged by Argentine director Andy Muschietti to Carrie, The Shining, 1408, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and Stand By Me to his list of best horror and drama novels turned into well-made, full-length classics. Shawshank Redemption is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
In the town of Derry in Maine (where King lives with his family), many kids have gone missing and cannot be found in 1988. One of them is Georgie, younger brother of Billy (Jaeden Lieberher). He saw him being attacked by a carnivorous clown who lives in the town sewers, named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgهrd). He is the Dancing Clown, who baits kids with a red balloon. All the other kids in the town, including Billy and his gang “The Losers Club” — Richie, Eddie and Stanley — begin to see their worst fears coming true. 
Together with other bullied kids in the neighborhood, who also see ghastly visions of their own — Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Mike and Beverley — Billy goes in search of his brother in an old, abandoned Well House where all the sewer tunnels converge. Pennywise himself is inside, eagerly waiting for all of them to come in so he can swallow them all up one by one.
The darker and more elaborate visuals and sound effects make Skarsgهrd’s Pennywise look, sound and feel even more sinister and diabolical . All the kids do very effectively in their roles to convey complex emotions, not only of fear and horror, but also teenage angst and individual character quirks. They never come across as annoying and cloying.
Lieberher gives an impressive restrained portrayal of a loving, grieving brother. Taylor is also remarkable for his subtle acting. Nicolas Hamilton, who plays the violent neighborhood bully Henry Bowers, makes an impact with his moments of severe psychosis in this film’s most upsetting scenes.
The real life horrors experienced by the kids are actually more dangerous here than the fantastic ones. This film tells that there is a difference between a child’s reality and an adult’s reality. Such nebulous distinction of reality, coupled with the engaging performances of the kids, keep the suspense and tension afloat and make the whole story interesting to the very end, despite the disquieting elements. 

CITIZENS ABOVE THE LAW. Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson was seen in social media posts performing at Bar 360 of Resorts World Manila. She certainly appeared like a citizen above the law as she violated a Malacaٌang Memorandum.
Circular No. 6 prohibits government officials, members of the Armed Forces and individuals aged 21 and below from entering, staying, or playing in casinos. “[The] mere entry or presence of government officials and employees in a gambling casino shall be considered as conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, unless the same was in the performance of official duties and functions,” the memorandum states.
It also says “all government officials and employees shall strictly observe and comply with all pertinent laws, issuances and policies prohibiting government personnel to enter, stay, or play in gambling casinos.”
“Recently, dahil sa nangyari na mayroong nakapag-upload ata ng video, naging mainit ang issue dahil sa pag-perform sa casino. I think Mocha decided to stop performing sa casinos,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.
Martin admitted that prior to joining the PCOO, Mocha had expressed her desire to honor her existing entertainment contracts. He added that Mocha’s case has been forwarded to the Executive Secretary’s office because Mocha is a presidential appointee.
What false sense of power can do!

“Organique Acai Berry drink and Organique Acai Freeze-Dried Capsule are most effective when consumed with regular exercise and proper diet,” shares Cathy Salimbangon, vice president of Organique Inc., manufacturer and distributor of the premium Acai Berry-based food supplements.
“Organique Acai Freeze-Dried Capsule is a perfect complement to your running lifestyle, right in your pocket or exercise bag, with antioxidants to boost oxidation, ridding the body of free radicals and improving the immune system,” introduces Organique Inc. marketing director Lerma Sta. Cruz.
Organique is made of 100 percent acai berries, unlike other brands that dilute it with other exotic fruits to sweeten the mixture but decreasing its effectiveness. Cathy reveals that while Organique Acai Berry is more potent than Organique Acai Freeze-Dried Capsule, the new variant has the benefit of portability.
Exercise is part of Organique Acai Berry’s marketing mix. “The Organique Triathon Team participated in Cebu’s last Ironman event. It just goes to show that we take exercise seriously. I may not do triathlon, but I do exercise regularly. I run everyday,” Cathy shares about her own exercise regimen.
The beneficial benefits of Organique Acai Berry is easily discernible in Cathy’s shapely body and pleasant disposition. When I arrived at the entertainment media press conference, she welcomed me with a warm smile, remembering me even when it was only the second time we had met.
She was indefatigable as it was her second press conference in the same venue, the first being with the sports media. That required stamina and presence of mind as dealing with the media is one of the most difficult tasks of a business person.
No wonder Organique decided to sponsor Purple Run. It takes health and fitness in another forum via Organique Purple Run with 3K, 5K and 10K distances on October 8, 2017 at McKinley West at just P450 for all categories. It is very clear she drinks Organique Acai Berry that three months earlier she launched with Tweetie de Leon as endorser.
“Mark October 8, 2017, in your calendars as Organique takes your journey to health and wellness a notch higher through the Organique Purple Run at BGC with Organique Acai Berry ambassador Tweetie de Leon,” introduced Organique Açaí Freeze Dried Capsule image model, actress, TV host, fashion designer, fitness and Zumba icon Regine Tolentino.
Regine lives a hectic life with shows, events and dance rehearsals to attend to daily. “I can’t afford to slack not only because this is the lifestyle I got used to, but because I love the activity. For me, it’s not work, but a way of life already. That’s why I can’t miss taking this valuable part of my routine — even before I take my breakfast,” Regine shares.
Join us as early as 4 a.m., at McKinley West in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig City as we set this day as your personal date with fitness. Be ready for action-packed activities that will give your body the energy and boost it needs.
Prepare to sweat it out as you run with family and friends for a different kind of healthy fun! We’ll also be having Zumba workout, colored powder, inflatables, drumbeaters, photowall and to complete your road to wellness.
Regine embodies what the brand and product stand for — beauty, fitness and wellness.  
“I take Organique Açaí Freeze-Dried Capsule daily, without fail before I eat my breakfast. I feel energized, alert and active the whole day, ready to take on the day’s challenges,” Regine happily reveals. 
Regine admits that ever since she took Organique Açaí Freeze-Dried Capsule, she noticed that her colleagues and friends say she’s livelier and more glowing than ever. “I noticed the same thing! I feel more on top of my game, being able to do more than my usual already busy schedule. Even when I sleep late, I wake up feeling rested and not fatigued. Another plus is my skin, I know, confidently, that I look younger, too.”
For Regine, Organique Açaí Freeze-Dried Capsule is the best natural thing she discovered to help improve her overall health and well-being. “Plus, they’re convenient to bring, and do not occupy a lot of space in my bag or pocket!”
A single parent, Regine has to maintain an active lifestyle to support her daughters. She just finished a dance album co-produced with VIVA Records to be released in September. With nine tracks, it mixes various dance genres like salsa, hip-hop and more. Carrier single is Moving To The Music that she uses for her zumba events.

CONVENIENCE OF CAPSULES. Packaged in a box of 10 blister packets, each pack contains 10 capsules that are stuffed with the best nutritional defense your body needs to give you the energy, mental clarity, heart health Organique Açaí Freeze-Dried Capsule and memory booster to augment what daily meals cannot fully provide. 
This essential part of her daily routine is no less than Organique Açaí Freeze-Dried Capsule. Made from 100 percent pure açaí berries (pulp and skin) that are harvested fresh, straight from the Amazon rainforests in Brazil.
Thet are produced exclusively by Organique, Inc., a Filipino company committed to bringing the gift of natural wellness to Filipinos and help them improve their well-being. Organique Açaí Freeze Dried Capsule contains powerful anti-oxidants as measured by ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) values.
ORAC values measure the amount of antioxidant per 100 grams of herb and botanical products and research shows that açaí berries contain a whopping 100,000 units. Antioxidants breakdown the free radicals in our bodies that if unchecked can cause damage to our cells resulting to a wide range of illness and diseases.
They benefit the body primarily by boosting the oxidation and ridding of free radicals and improving the immune system leading to disease and illness prevention, skin disease, heart health and memory health.
It also has other equally potent nutrients like minerals, vitamins to help strengthen an individual’s immune system to be able to combat the daily stresses of a harsh, toxic environment and prevent the onset of debilitating illnesses.

ORGANIQUE PURPLE RUN 2017 DETAILS. Proceeds of the event to go to ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya, Organique Purple Run 2017 introduces you to both the health benefits of Organique Acai and a healthy and fun running lifestyle.
Organique Acai has powerful anti-oxidant component that boost the oxidation in the body, rids the body of free radicals that can cause illness an diseases and improves the immune system for better disease prevention. 
In maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle, it’s important for the body to have a good immune system to reap the rewards of continuity in the lifestyle.
Organique Purple Run is happening on October 8 at McKinley West with 3K, 5K and 10K to choose from with P450 flat fee for all categories. There will also be a zumba workout, color powders, inflatables, drumbeaters, photo wall and your road to wellness via the different Organique Acai products. Register Now!
Gun start: 10Km, 5:30 a.m.; 5Km, 5:35 a.m.; 3 Km, 5:40 a.m.
Fee of P450 inclusive of the following: Dri-fit singlet, RFID, Dri-fit finisher shirt, finisher medal, color power, color run shades, raffle items, sponsors freebies.
Register online via Goorahna; in store at Olympic Village Trinoma, Market! Market!, ATC, Glorietta, Robinson’s Galleria, Robinson’s Ermita.
For inquiries about Organique Acai Freeze-Dried Capsule and Organique Acai Berry, call 805-2684; visit www.organique.com.ph. Available in all leading drugstores and supermarkets nationwide.

In the 13th century when the 10 royal families of Borneo fled and landed on Panay Island, fierce black and kinky-haired inhabitants, the Aetas, sold them a piece of the land in exchange for a solid gold hat and basin and put Datu Sumakwel in charge.

Centuries later, Spanish Christians persuaded light-skinned natives to blacken their bodies with soot and wear masks and headdresses to look like Aetas and engage in Ati-Atihan (make-believe Aetas) to repel Muslims.
To the loud beat of drums, defiant shouts of “Hala, Bira!” (Go on and fight!) are chanted with a repeated two-step dance. Aetas sway and swing in a frenzied rhythm to block the invaders out to conquer their beloved paradise, originating the “ati-atihan.”
Mahal, the original Filipino rock opera staged in 1975, recreated this segment of our history:
“Mahiwagang Kasaysayan ito
Ala-ala ng mundo ay wasto
Ang lihim ay isasalaysay
Nang sumapit ang liwanag
Aking Mahal”
Mahal, dubbed as an “electro mechanical mystical Filipino rock musical,” took one year to make and turned out to be a four-hour spread. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar served as a sophisticated template for a production like Manila had never experienced.
With the libretto by Beatriz Romualdez Francia writing as Rahisa Lahat-Wala, it featured Jacqui Magno as Ligaya Liwanag, Joey “Pepe” Smith as a Jack in the Box character and Tess Santos of the pre-Sampaguita days. It went on stage at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on March 21, 22, 23 and April 4 and 5, 1975, at 7:30 p.m.
You’d think information about a musical with such cultural significance — one that attempts to rediscover our pre-western identity as some sort of a long-lost Eden through esoteric and exotic sounds and synchronized movements — can be readily googled or downloaded from YouTube. That, however, proves to be an empty indset. As I found out, it is available only in scraps of information from the Internet, which is materially odd in the Age of Information when almost everything can be googled.
Being a backroom bohemian, I watched a staging and even acquired a copy of the souvenir program designed by Larry Francia, rectangular in size with an image of our half-naked ancestors on the sepia-shade cover. I kept it, but can no longer find my copy.
How did I reconstruct Mahal for this article? By collating available information. It is very possible complete information is available at the CCP library, but due to a walking handicap, I have not attempted to find out.
Francia, freethinking niece of First Lady Imelda Marcos that made her a “Romualdez from the other side of the fence,” created it after her detainment upon the imposition of martial law. The plot is based on the colorful characters of Café Los Indios Bravos on A. Mabini Street, Ermita, Manila, and incidentals there that she operated with husband Henry Francia.
Reliving the crusade of Filipino intellectuals living in France and Spain, who called themselves “Los Indios Bravos” (The Brave Natives) led by Jose Rizal and Juan Luna, the Café turned into a hub — recreating the salons where the reformers huddled to reclaim a coherent identity and dignity for Filipinos.
Mahal brought rock and modern dance in equal balance to create a new musical theater, the rock opera ballet, in the 1970s. Overall direction was by Henry Francia, with music by Abel “Bing” Labrador and Jose Ramon Faustmann, stage direction by Leo Martinez, set design by Johnny Altomonte and choreography by Julie and Rose Borromeo.
Mahal reconstructed the café as Kosmik Kafe and the mind games that played there:
“A hall of mirrors; also a circular tent-like module with two arched doors far left and right and a mezzanine room in the center with a circular staircase leading up to it. The only furnishings are Vienna tables and chairs and a capiz tiffany lamp at the center, a bar with a cash register. A mirror at the mezzanine room and two wall signs: ‘Stamp Out Reality’ and ‘Magic Theater’ — For Madmam Only — Price of Admission — Your Mind.”
A full orchestra by Emy Munji plus a chorus by Quinto; a rhythm and blues section made up of Edmund Fortuno, Wally Gonzales, Vic Naldo and Sonny Tolentino; Indian sitars and tablas presided over by Kuku Grewal; and ethnic music with indigenous instruments — all these made up an unheard of rhythm section that relived the past and present in a mind-boggling stir.
With mobile sets, the narrative revolves around a carousel with life-size animals symbolizing café habitués who were mostly named by their nicknames. Lorna Tirol Kalaw actually went treasure hunting for the Sumakwel gold. It turned the hub of all known and up-and-coming visual artists and writers, revolutionaries, big business owners, Marcos boys, rebels with causes, substance abusers and other plain hangers-on.
Stage performance and screen projections shifted time frames in a multi-screen approach. High on a recreational habit, Smith, who jumps out from a box frequently, forgot his lyrics, but improvised to the correct melody. Who would know?
Ending in revelry that spilled to the lobby to the rousing tune and animated shouts of “Hala, bira!” Smith as Pied Piper incarnate assisted by two costumed midgets called the crowd, “Hoy Pareng Henry, Anong ginagawa mo?/Hoy Pare, Malapit na ang curfew/Hoy Pare, Iligpit mo na ang Mahal!”
With its ambitious design partially delivered, the Francia couple were deemed not professional at the medium. The result was similar when the Beatles decided to make a made-for-television film, Magical Mystery Tour, a critical and commercial flop.
For sure, Mahal required more creative and organizational skills than creative writing, running a café or, for that matter, filmmaking. But it opened up wide possibilities of exploration and direction. We know its anthropological and psychological intention is a tall order, but it pointed to a direction.
The planned recording and a small screen version never pushed through, explaining the dearth of Mahal-related material in the Internet.
Economics got in the way of dreams and daydreams that we lost the value of remembrance. There are no available images or film footages of the production. The best sources are probably music sheets and/or recordings of the soundtrack that heirs of Francia, who moved to another state, would have likely stored for posterity. This assemblage would never be repeated again or at least until now.
But Mahal is found, the essence of the new Filipino music, or what a radio station shouted then as “Super Tunog Pinoy.” Or what would progress not long after as OPM, Original Pilipino Music, an imaginative blend of genres by Filipino artists with distinct cultural sensibilities. 

Wearing a gown with embroidered bell sleeves and hand-painted skirt she designed and painted, Joyce Penas Pilarsky did a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” at the well-attended “WMLC Live & Bubbly” concert at Music Museum, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., on September 21. With kids mostly as performers, Michael Pangilinan and Boyband.PH serenaded Joyce as a tribute for winning the title “Mother of the Universe” at the Mrs. Universe 2017 held in Durban, South Africa.
From there, she proceeded to the media launch of New Generation Heroes at Max’s restaurant on Scout Tuazon. Having changed into a cocktail dress, a black-and-white number with bold floral prints, Joyce showed she never repeats an attire like a real best-dressed woman, beauty queen and now an actress. In the eight years that I have known her, she has observed this no-repeat code. Just imagine how many clothes she keeps in her closet.
An anthology about the life of four mentors as played by Aiko Melendrez, Jao Mapa, Anita Linda, and Joyce, the advocacy film New Generation Heroes will premiere on September 29 and screen starting October 4 in selected cinemas of SM Malls.
Also in the cast are Dexter Doria, Gloria Sevilla, Rob Sy, Debraliz Balazote, Kim Koun Hoo, Alvin Nakasi, Aleera Montalia, JM del Rosario, and Andrea Kate Abellar. With principal photography in Nueva Ecija and South Korea, the film has a multi-dimensional presentation of the case of teachers who selflessly share a greater part of lives in the service of young people.
All teachers are invited to attend the free premiere. All mentors are entitled to a 30 percent ticket price discount upon presentation of their Professional Regulation Commission identification cards.

DREDGING UP MARTIAL LAW. Television programming is such a tricky thing. It can purposely suggest dire meanings where there is none. Like when GMA 7 aired the special feature, the documentary Alaala, at the same timeslot as ABS-CBN’s regular programing ‘Gandang Gabi Vice, strongly projecting relevance over insignificance.
Alaala featured the incarceration-torture story of screenwriter-activist Bonifacio “Boni” Ilagan with none other than matinee idol Alden Richards doing his role. GMA Public Affairs produced the special documentary to commemorate the 45th year since President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law. Boni was freed upon the demand of writer Nick Joaquin to receive his National Artist for literature award.
Written by Boni himself to narrate his arrest and torture and the disappearance of his sister Rizalina by the notorious Philippine Constabulary depriving them of human rights. Gina Alajar plays his mother, Bianca Umali as activist-underground fighter Rizalina and Rocco Nacino as writer-activist Pete Lacaba.
Although Alden is too big for the role, he handled the delicate role with enough truth. GMA 7’s relevant programming is praiseworthy regardless of its schedule.
Aside from its usual talk and comedy format, ‘Gandang Gabi Vice featured the setup arrest of upcoming actor McCoy de Leon as laugh trip.
GMA News TV replays Ang Alaala: A Martial Law Special on September 29, Saturday, at 5 p.m.

STRESS BUSTER! You wake up early just so you wouldn’t be late for work but Manila traffic just wouldn’t permit you to be on time. You get to work, and will be scolded by your boss because of tardiness. You missed lunch because of the pile of work. You went home late from a tedious overtime and faced some home stress.
These heaps of stress can affect your body so much even if you don’t realize it. This is because of several body issues you face every day like headaches, depression, anxiety, difficulty in sleeping, over eating, slow metabolism, nausea, muscle tension, magnified physical symptoms of menopause and weak resistance. It can also increase your risk of some severe illnesses like stroke, heart attack, type 2 diabetes, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction and impotence.
Stress tolerance is different from person to person. Only you can gauge how much stress is “too much,” but all of us can do several things to improve our ability to handle stress.
Exercise. Regular exercise uplifts the mood and can serve as a distraction from upsetting events in our life. Doing fitness activities such as yoga can both help in your physical and mental health.
Create a support system. Having human interaction can triggers hormones that relieves stress, even a short friendly conversation can soothe your nervous system.
Have some alone time. Learn how to detach yourself from work and stress, take deep breaths that can activate the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness.
Eat a healthy and balaced diet. The food you eat can also contribute to your stress level, processed, refined carbohydrates and sugary foods can worsen symptoms of stress, while eating foods with high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids can help you cope with stress.
Get some rest. Lack of sleep increases stress by causing you to think irrationally. Chronic stress can also disrupt your sleep.
Drink vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C is a stress buster. Vitamin C allows the body to quickly clear out cortisol, a stress hormone that increases sugars in the blood stream. Vitamin C helps regulate cortisol and prevents the blood pressure from spiking up in response to stressful situations.
One vitamin C supplement you can take is Bewell-C, a non-acidic vitamin C. It has a high rate of absorption so less vitamins are flushed out while most of it stays in the body to boost the immune system. Bewell-C eases mental stress and protects you against stress related disorders.
Take the safest and most effective nutrient and promote a healthy and stress free life with Bewell-C. Bewell-C is available in Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide for only P5.50 per capsule. For more information about Bewell-C, visit https://www.facebook.com/bewellcsodiumascorbate.

ABS-CBNmobile PROVIDES FREE JOB ALERTS, NEWS, AND SAFETY TIPS. ABS-CBNmobile shows its way of being in the service of the Filipino as it offers subscribers free access to the Kapamilya One text service, which blasts up-to-date information on employment opportunities including recruitment fair events, on top of important news alerts, and safety advisories.
The chances for a better life start with “Trabaho Tips,” which sends subscribers the latest employment openings and recruitment fair announcements, as well as tips for facing potential employers and sending out resumes in a way that can attract companies.
Meanwhile, users can also get “Balita,” which gives users access to for current news and alerts via text; “Kapamilya Tips” for safety and money management; “Good Vibes” for inspirational quotes; and a directory to Lingkod Kapamilya hotlines. Users can get up to three messages per category per day, without spending their load.
To register, ABS-CBNmobile subscribers should dial *128# and choose from the menu of text broadcasts they want to receive. Subscribers need to have at least P1 maintaining balance to receive the free alerts.
With an ABS-CBNmobile SIM, subscribers can call, text, and have internet access. Subscribers can also avail of the Kapamilya VIP program, a status that gives ABS-CBNmobile users front row access to all things Kapamilya, for free. With it, fans of the ABS-CBN stars and shows have a chance to experience a host of privileges like live shows, front-row seats in concerts, and the chance to get up-close and personal with their favorite stars.

PRODUCTIVE COURTESY VISIT. Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) directors had a very productive courtesy visit with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Nestor Espenilla, Dep. Gov. Chuchi Fonacier, BSP consultant Manong Max Edralin and BSP managing director Mary Jane Chiong. BMAP is led by president Ann Reyes-Ducanes (Chinabank), VP Beleen Lim (Security Bank), treasurer Em Valdes (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation), director Rina de la Cruz (United Coconut Planters Bank) and Mike Villa-Real from Philippine Veterans Bank.

Aiko Melendez, lead actress of the advocacy film New Generation Heroes, to premiere tonight and screen at SM Malls cinemas starting October 4, will be the only mother to be escorted by her son, Andrei Yllana, her son with actor Jomari Yllana, in the much-anticipated 11th Star Magic Ball. The 25th year of Star Magic will be held at Makati Shangri-La Hotel tonight, September 30.
Aiko attended the New Generation Heroes press launch glowing in a black cocktail dress, having lost much weight. Perhaps she is also in high spirits because of her booming entertainment career, including a new full-length feature.
Aiko plays Emilia Ardiente Torillo in the hit ABS-CBN series Wildflower. She is the main female antagonist of the series, who ordered her bodyguard to rape Camia (Sunshine Cruz) and kill her. She has ordered the killing of almost every individual who has crossed her. She is feared by everyone except her father Julio (Tirso Cruz III), who constantly puts her down; and her son Arnaldo, who resents her because of her accusations about Ivy Aguas (Maja Salvador).
Emilia is a product of her family. She is corrupt to the core. Despite the fact that she is never taken seriously by all the men in her family, she is the only one who never trusted Ivy. She got trumped by Ivy, and is currently in jail waiting for a hearing date to be scheduled. Later in the show, it was revealed that Emilia was not Esmeralda's daughter, but from another woman. This woman remains unknown.
On the other hand, Aiko plays an overseas worker teaching in South Korea in New Generation Heroes, an advocacy film about values formation, rights to proper education, admiration of teachers and people who dedicate themselves to teaching. The MTRCB has classified it as Parental Guidance.
A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Education from St. Paul’s Manila, Joyce Pilarsky plays herself in the film. “Maganda iyong movie, kaya ko ito pinroduce. It’s about four different teachers at ‘yung experiences nila. I think, iyong mga manonood ay may matututuhan dito. It is something that you will always remember; it is something that they will treasure.”
Joyce is all praises for Aiko. “Ang galing niya, napakagaling niya. I really admire her a lot; she’s a very, very good actress. Nag-i-internalize lang siya, kaya na niyang umiyak agad, ang galing ni Aiko.”
As a new actress, Joyce was never intimidated by Aiko, who, in fact, helped with her acting. “Mabait kasi siya kaya hindi ka mai-intimidate sa kanya. Very supportive siya at mabait… and inalalayan niya ako sa movie. Si Aiko ang madalas kong kaeksena sa movie.”

Who is ballrooming with whom? Martin Nievera will host the much-anticipated 11th Star Magic Ball tonight.

Going solo. Piolo Pascual who usually attends with Shaina Magdayao, is going solo. He announced he will take over Star Magic “parenting” work after heads Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan and Mariole Alberto, who usually exit earlier than event’s end, have left.

Much–awaited pairings. Will John Lloyd Cruz escort new girlfriend Ellen Adarna?
Kim Chiu only had two dates in the Star Magic Ball history: Gerald Anderson, who is buzzed to be in a relationship with Bea Alonzo; and Xian Liam, who is rumored she had parted with. Who will it be this year?

Former Star Magic artists. Claudine Barretto, Heart Evangelista and Kristine Hermosa are set to reunite with their friends from ABS-CBN. Claudine was part of the fourth batch of Star Magic, Kristine the fifth batch, while Heart belongs to the ninth batch.

Complete with proposal. Julia Barretto was left speechless when her onscreen partner and rumored boyfriend Joshua Garcia hired a choir just to ask her out to this year's Star Magic Ball. 
In a video uploaded on Facebook, Julia's face could be seen blushing red as the choir, whose members were holding cards that read "Will U Be My Date?" sang to her Ed Sheeran's Perfect.
Barretto was then surprised by Joshua, who emerged from behind with a bouquet of roses, prompting Julia to shyly bury her head in Joshua's chest. 
Mccoy de Leon is the latest Kapamilya actor to come up with a gimmick to ask his date to go to the Star Magic Ball with him. The Good Son co-star surprised onscreen partner Elisse Joson with a "prom-posal" during the screening of a documentary for their magazine cover photo shoot. Mccoy popped the question while they were both onstage during the event. "Sabi ko lagi sa 'yo, I always got you, love love. Ayokong malungkot ka kaya may tanong sana ako," the young actor said before a banner with the message, "Will you be my date, my princess?" appeared in front of Elisse from across the stage. It took a few seconds before the surprised Joson answered, "Yes."
Iñigo Pascual surprised Maris Racal with a rose on national television to ask if she would be his date.
Rumored real-life couple Elmo Magalona and Janella Salvador were all over social media these past few days because of Elmo's creative proposal. The young matinee idol was filmed serenading Janella to the tune of Frank Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight. Elmo also prepared a poem for his leading lady, which expressed his intent to ask her to the ball: "To waste this opportunity would be a pity. Princess, will you go to the ball with me?"
Edward Barber knelt and asked his on screen partner, Maymay Entrata, live on Magandang Buhay to be his date. Aside from this, he also gave Maymay a camera charm for her bracelet and, of course, the lucky girl couldn’t help but cry.
In Tonight With Boy Abunda, host Boy Abunda quizzed Pinoy Big Brother alum Marco Gallo if he had already asked his love team partner, Kisses Delavin, to the Star Magic Ball. What resulted was an impromptu public proposal in front of a live audience. "Kung sakali, papayagan mo (ba) akong maging partner mo sa Star Magic Ball?" asked Marco. "I just want to ask if he really wants me to," said Kisses. "Because for me, there's no problem. If he wants me to, then I will. Pero I want to make sure that he really wants me to. I don't want that it's just imposed," she continued. After a few moments, Kisses finally agreed to go with Marco to the ball: "I would give him a chance. Yes."
Bailey May likened fellow Pinoy Big Brother teen housemate Ylona Garcia to ice cream to convince her to go to with him.
"You're super sweet, just like your all-time favorite treat," Bailey told Ylona, who then uploaded their photo on her Instagram account, expressing her appreciation for Bailey's effort. "Awww! My favorite things from my favorite guy. Who could say no to this? I'd love to be your date," she captioned. He also posted their photo on his personal account, telling his followers that he succeeded in convincing her to go to the ball with him.

Constant partner. Sue Ramirez has no date, but will have Joao Constancia of Boyband PH as “constant date.”
Wait and see. JK Labajo is still dateless.
Unknown still are Pinoy Big Brother alummi Vivoree Esclito, Christian Morones, Miho Nishida and Heaven Peralejo.

GOOD FOR JOHN LLOYD’S SOUL. John Lloyd Cruz, who is an avid collector with a philosopical mindset, finally lets out his creative streak by joining award-winning contemporary artists in a newly launched exhibit in Makati. Working under his nickname Idan Cruz, the actor presented a collection of photographs and a video installation for “Ingress/Egress,” which will run at the Underground Gallery at the Makati Cinema Square until October 14.
Other featured artists include Carina Santos, Gail Vicente, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Gino Javier, Isabel Santos, Jed Escueta, Kaloy Olavides, Kawayan de Guia, Lena Cobangbang, Luigi Singson, Luis Antonio Santos, Maria Jeona Zoleta, MM Yu, Neo Maestro, Poklong Anading, Robert Langenegger and Romeo Lee.

SANTA CLAUS IS NOT COMING TO TOWN. With all gearing up for the holiday shopping season, the North American operations of Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy, becoming the latest victim in a retail industry rocked by online shopping and discount chains. The Chapter 11 filing is among the largest ever by a specialty retailer and casts doubt on the future of the company’s approximately 1,600 stores and 64,000 employees. The Philippine operations stay open until further notice.

OPENING TODAY. New Generation Heroes, an Aiko Melendrez, Jao Mapa, Joyce Penas and Anita Linda starrer, had a well-attended premiere at Cinema 8 of SM Megamall. It was graced by Aiko’s children Andrei Yllana and Marthena Jickain. Due to her advanced age, however, Anita was unable to attend.
A teacher by professional training, Joyce was able to portray her role — a teacher who trades with co-teachers and students out of her official duty — with convincing power. Being her first starrer, this is impressive as she has little experience in acting. Joyce keeps the film on track; in fact, she holds it together. Her dedication as actress and producer is incomparable.
New Generation Heroes screens in selected SM cinemas particularly in Megamall, Mall of Asia, SM Manila, Sta. Mesa, Fairview, Marikina, Southmall, Bacoor, Pampanga, Clark, Cabanatuan, Cebu, Iloilo and Davao.
The film is classified Parental Guidance, and all mentors are entitled to a 30 percent ticket price discount upon presentation of their Professional Regulation Commission identification cards.

MARENG WINNIE, MASTER OF REAL TALK. When Mareng Winnie Monsod talks on television, her arguments are solid, existing or occurring as fact; actual rather than imaginary, ideal or fictitious. Being an actual thing, having objective existence and not imaginary, the discussions are real and not just made up. It is of a substance, not imitation or artificial, therefore genuine, authentic and bona fide.
Mareng Winnie Monsod proved anew that she is the Master of Real Talk when she interviewed North Luzon Railways Corporation (NLRC) chairman Francisco “Isko Moreno” Dumagoso in Bawal Ang Pasaway on Monday over GMA News TV at 10:15 p.m. Without pretentious discourse or social climbing, the feisty Mareng Winnie was able to bring out the crux of issues involving Chair Isko and the kind of government administrator he is, no-holds-barred.
Most Filipinos want to know what has become of Isko since he graciously passed off running for the position of mayor of Manila, lost his senatorial bid by a margin, solicited a position in President Rodrigo Duterte’s government last July and delivered major results in a matter of two months. We hope the lead he has initiated will not be stalled by his appointment and bureaucracy.
He solved the NLRC mess with a win-win solution by giving up the questionable deal without the government paying more money. He also converted it into a 20-kilometer tram to be delivered on December 2020 “without corruption” as he admirably put it.
Mareng Winnie seemed to trust him, not doubting his answers. Her credibility so high, it is a measure of the women and men of GMA Network News and Current Affairs. In short, she is believable in comparison to other talk show hosts despite the emotional content.
NOTES ON THE STAR MAGIC BALL.
1. Winners of the Star Magic Ball 2017, usually selected based on star and wear quotients are:
Best Dressed Award: Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach/Kisses Delavin and Marco Gallo
Belle of the Ball: Julia Barretto
Brightest Star of the Night: Kathryn Bernardo/Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil
Couple of the Night: Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano
2. Bea Alonzo attended with Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu with Xian Lim.
3. If the likes of Anne Curtis, Sarah Geronimo, Nadine Lustre and James Reid did not attend, it is simply because they are not Star Magic artists and their business managers, Viva, decided not to let them join a non-income-generating event.
4. If Megastar Sharon Cuneta did not get an early invitation, that is because she has been attending either as an ABS-CBN or non-ABS-CBN star. She finally decided not to attend as she has no new formal wear.
5. GMA Network artists Heart Evangelista, Kristine Hermosa, Megan Young and Janine Gutierrez attended with respective romantic partners Sen. Criz Escudero, Oyo Boy Sotto, Mikael Daez and Rayver Cruz.
6. Lawyer Joji Alonso posted on Facebook her photo with her hand on Mr. M’s shoulder: “5 years of Star Magic would not have been possible without this selfless man, Johnny Manahan, a fitting tribute was finally bestowed upon him last night during the Star Magic Ball, deeply honored to be among your trusted allies Mr. M.”
7. John Lloyd Cruz came fashionably late and solo wearing sunglasses and stole a moment from Gerald Anderson by hugging perennial screen partner Bea Alonzo.
8. No diamonds for Enrique Gil this year, but Liza Soberano wore a diamond-studded bracelet. 
9. Daniel Padilla was the perfect escort to Kathryn Bernardo by making sure her flowing skirt was positioned properly on the red carpet.
10. DJ Chacha had the biggest no-care bare arms.

MR. AND MS. BPO UPDATE. The Mr. and Ms. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Search targets 20 male and 20 female participants. As of late September, the total number of mixed applicants had reached 80, and organizer Royal Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. manager of Public Relations and Marketing Calvin Murphy Neria has lost count.
“There should be more by now,” he clarifies. “Most of them are males; perhaps the females are buying time. Anyway, deadline for filing is October 4 still.”
Mr. and Ms. BPO Search held a bloggers conference at K-Pub Barbecue Restaurant at the Garden Restaurants of Trinoma. Mentors June Macasaet, Jennifer Hammond, Mauro Lumba, Ruby Manalac and Jonathan Yabut attended. Aside from mentoring where they will teach the finalists personality development skills, they will be part of the pre-judging process.
The first Search for Mr. and Ms. BPO finals night to be attended by the employees of the various BPO companies represented and the general public will be held on November 21 in Metro Manila’s biggest events venue, the world-class Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Royal Chimes managing director Beth Mercado director of sales Yuri Mercado and Calvin Murphy Neria are very positive about the results.
The search is now accepting applicants. Interested parties must be 18 to 26 years old, single, Filipino citizen or with Filipino blood ancestry, at least 5’4” tall for female and 5’6” tall for male. They must also have proportionate physiques, possess pleasing personalities, and with good moral character. He/she must also be regular employees of the company and a resident of the Philippines.
There will be two days of screening and one day to finalize the official candidates. A lineup 20 pairs representing the different BPO companies is planned, a total of 40 individuals who will be screened by a panel of distinguished personalities from the industry of business, fashion, health and wellness, entertainment, advertising, among others.
Each titleholder wins P300,000 each with the company they represent getting P150,000 each for the corporate responsibility. First runners-up will get P200,000 each and P100,000 each for the company they represent. And the Second Runners up will be get P100,000 each and P50,000 each for the company they represent.

FACEBOOK CORRECT! Facebook is irrational. It just punishes erring members with account suspension without informing them of rule infraction and for how long such punishment will be in effect. These deprive members of information to determine, avoid and self-correct.
This is a long-standing issue with Facebook, which keeps repeating itself and causing dissatisfaction among members. They allege that it fakes statistics, tolerates fake content that results in the gross misuse of social media.
And this is a simple issue to correct. This also does not help encourage paid advertisements as they only result in limited awareness and not the much-desired hard sales. Why Facebook continues to do this is beyond understanding as it is for its own benefit.

Aksyon TV reported that controversial actor John Lloyd Cruz, who is on leave of absence from ABS-CBN and whose work contract with the Kapamilya network expires next year, has been sighted several times in GMA Network.

In an official statement, ABS-CBN head of Corporate Communications Kane Errol Choa confirmed that John Lloyd is on indefinite leave and will continue employment with the Kapamilya Network when he returns.
The buzz is he is with frequent companion Ellen Adarna and they are vacationing in Switzerland. This buzz confirms pending their admission that they are in some kind of romantic relationship, whether exclusively dating or living together.
Although artists can be contract stars and freelancers, Atom Araullo’s switch to GMA confirms the transfer of recent of Kapamilya drama series actors Carmina Villaroel, Al Tantay, Jason Abalos, Matt Evans and Edgar Allan Guzman.
Now ABS-CBN can no longer claim the switching channel is a one way street with the move of actors associated with GMA such as Sarah Lahbati, Richard Gutierrez, Aljur Abrenica and Bela Padilla (originally with Star Magic as Krista Valle). Andie Eigenmann, whose mother, Cannes Best Actress Jaclyn Jose, is with GMA Network, has announced her intention to quit show business. Can she be strategizing the big move?
John Lloyd still appears in Home Sweetie Home, his weekly family-oriented sitcom with Toni Gonzales and Ellen. “Indefinite leave” means indeterminate time and he and/or Ellen will be unavailable for videotapings of Home Sweetie Home unless production can come up with believable (or even unbelievable) scenarios that will allow them to be absent from the narrative.
Although he arrived late in the last Star Magic Ball, John Lloyd maintains a strong relationship with father figure Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan. Even if he visited executives of GMA Network, as alleged, most likely that’s to explore possibilities and alarm ABS-CBN come contract negotiation time that he in looking at other possibilities.
John Lloyd is a restless soul. Who knows if talks with a new employer will pacify it? But perhaps ABS-CBN will not let that happen.

ATOM ARAULLO UNDER THE SEA. GMA Network scores an impressive mileage for Philippine environment by adding prize-winning journalist Atom Araullo to its roster of high-performing documentarians.
“I hope to learn from them and I will share my knowledge with them,” Atom stated about the expected synergy. GMA Network is the country’s uncontested leader in documentary content.
Kicked off by the screening of his feature in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, the documentary showed never-before seen photos and footage of Atom, including his father from whom he apparently got his chinky eyes. Everywhere he went, he could relate to people of all ages.
“‘Di ko alam. Gusto mo gawa tayo?” Atom replies nonchalantly when asked about his official work title at GMA Network. Then somebody from the audience tried to help, “Documentarian.”
This confirms that Atom did not shift channels for a higher position and salary, but to be able to focus on his competency, doing documentaries, and stay away by choice from early morning show hosting, which is a big hassle for him as he is not an early riser; and sideline as a drama series actor or do his own television show.
He wants to be able to work with Jessica, Howie Severino, Mackie Pulido and do projects of his own outside the network with creatives he met while doing Mike de Leon’s full-length feature Citizen Jake.
Atom held his impressive first solo press conference in a stylized blazer over smart shirt, jeans and leather shoes to launch his first documentary with the Kapuso Network, Philippine Seas, to broadcast on November 5, 3:30 p.m. on GMA 7.
He also does not know the length of his work contract. He quips, “Baka two months.” And adds, “Si Noel (Ferrer) kasi,” putting the lack of hard information about his new employment to the well-known business manager, who he revealed facilitated his return to the network where he used to belong.
Asked what he thinks of the confirmation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu, he said, “Now he has to start to deliver. He has to balance the use of natural resources for commercial purpose and serving the people.”
These answers show Atom’s straightforwardness and fairness, the measures of a good journalist. He does not improvise to give a preconceived answer, but thinks through it on the spot. This makes it an honest answer.
We asked, upon Atom’s announcement of his departure from ABS-CBN, where he was going. Now it is clearer: Initially, under the sea He immediately began filming for his new documentary Philippine Seas, a special that hopes to uncover the wonders and threats surrounding the Philippines’ marine gems.
To do this, Atom went on a rigorous 10-day expedition across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao where he experienced many firsts in his career as a documentary-maker.
If other invitees took selfies with Atom, I shook his hand in recognition of his great work in entertainment. He has a normal grip that he made personal with a warm smile. He will make a great politician but the way he talked during the presscon that’s not listed among his long-term plans.
Lead will do a full-length review of Philippine Seas after its much-awaited broadcast on November 5, 3:30 p.m. on GMA 7.

GINA LOPEZ RECEIVES SEACOLOGY PRIZE. In appreciation of her tireless environmental advocacy in the face of powerful opposition, Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez was awarded the 2017 Seacology Prize with the $10,000 prize held on October 5, at the David Brower Center in Berkeley.
Gina, the much-admired former acting secretary of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Now in its 27th year, the Seacology Prize is awarded to an individual who has shown exceptional achievement in preserving island environments and culture. Ceremony reception started at 6 p.m., followed by the awarding of the Prize and a presentation about Seacology’s current projects.

AGA RETURNS TO THE MOVIES. Manay Ethel Ramos, Aga Muhlach’s kind business manager for the longest time, sent an SMS that she should have visited Bambbi Fuentes’ salon had she known she would be flashed on the screen during her talent’s guesting in Magandang Buhay to promote Seven Sundays, his return feature set to open nationwide today.
But avid fans desiring for an Aga-Lea Salonga film will have to wait longer as said project is not scheduled in her calendar this year. The frequent visits to Leon Gallery of Atasha Muhlach, accompanied by her parents Aga and Charlene Gonzales with twin brother Andres, have resulted in encouraging her to pursue art. In her Dad’s questing in Magandang Buhay, Atasha’s artworks were displayed.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS AS COMMERCIALS. Fourteen local solo and group artists like Raymund Marasigan & Sandwich, Ebe Dancel & Autotelic, Noel Cabangon, and Abra & Abranotes sing contemporized versions of classic Christmas songs in Coke Studio Philippines. Nothing more than hipped up commercials, it’s splattered with Coke TVCs and logos in a studio setting over TV 5 during the Season!

LEAD OUT! Rain will perform in the Rain or Shine concert for the benefit of the Marawi invasion victims at Araneta Coliseum on November 3!... The world’s top ballet company, Bolshoi, will do Swan Lake at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in February 2018 despite two local productions this year!... Jessy Mendiola, Luis Manzano’s girlfriend, now calls his mother, Star of All Seasons Vilma Santos, as Monskie!... Joey de Leon’s off-the-cuff comment on depression and his admission that he was wrong have put the issue to the fore, clarifying and spreading the truth about it!... Jinggoy Estrada lighted seven candles to the Sto. Niño of Cebu to petition the release of best friend Bong Revilla Jr. from the slammer!... Fake news did not give rise to fake starlets!... The plot of Super Ma’am gives fresh content to national television!... How I like watching Juan Direction replays over Aksyon TV!... The fastest way to lose money still is to produce a film when you lack the competency to do so!

Michael Montanez and Charmaine Reyes Cristobal join the Leon Online Exchange Auction 5, with works by Salvador Dali, National Artist Jerry Elizalde Navarro, Mauro Malang Santos, Elmer Borlongan, Jaime Roque, Ben Alano and many others.
Montanez puts on the block his 24-by-36-inch, oil-on-boxed canvas Go with the Flow (2014). A young female, a barefooted violinist, goes with the drift of the music’s rhythm, symbolizing the flow of life. Movements tell the style on the substrate.
Cristobal puts under the hammer the 24-by-36-inch, framed oil-on-canvas Opheliac (2015). It is an interpretation of the head of an agitated woman in gray monotone, her left hand upraised over her long black hair, against a grayscale background with drips of white and occasional red.
Tutored in the rudiments of painting and former assistants of Dante Hipolito, Montanez and Cristobal join their first art auction at Leon Online Exchange Auction 5 on October 21, starting 11 a.m. at León Gallery, ground floor, Corinthian Plaza, 120 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City. 
Painted in Tareptipism, the art movement from Baler, Aurora, Montanez and Cristobal make a departure from Hipolito’s well-loved Composite Realism style. Tareptipism was created by Vincent Christopher Gonzales, Sherwin Paul Gonzales and Ian Maigan based on the principles of waves that make the earth silently or violently move.
An art movement that outlines the Filipino art style that the Gonzales brothers named after the old Tagalog word, tareptep, meaning “ripple of water,” Tareptepism aims to convert the ripple of Filipino art into waves in the national and global art scene.
As an “ism or a movement based on a historical perspective, Tareptepism recognizes that visual artists are exposed to multimedia in the Information Age; as such, they are open to many waves of influences.
The Tareptepism Manifesto reads: “Tareptepism is the dynamic art of fusing influences: An art of fluid movement ever changing and evolving through the matrix where the art and the artist dwell. Like water it is ever flexible and boundless.
“The waves, the wind, the streams, formation of leaves, ripples of water are some of the elements that inspired Tareptepism. It is an illusion of motion. Tareptepism captures motion from environment and the dynamism of emotion. Tareptepism puts motion to visual representation of emotion and soul through manipulation of lights, colors, textures and lines.
“Tareptepism, contrary to futurism, is pro-nature. Tareptepism compares to surrealism which is more on dream while Tareptepism is more on hallucination. It compares to realism’s imperfection to Tareptepism’s inconsistency.”
To cope with the increasing demand for his paintings, Hipolito decided to train out-of-school youth with artistic talent who could not afford to go to art school. Those who were serious and displayed aptitude such as Montanez and Cristobal became his assistants.

MONTANEZ. He had no knowledge of colors until a neighbor in Bacoor, Cavite, Carmen Hipolito, Hipolito’s wife, approached him. Montanez relates, “Pinapahanap siya ng marunong o hilig mag-drawing. Matagal ko na kasing kilala si ‘Te Carmen since bata pa ako. Halos tawid-bakod lang ‘yung pagitan ng bahay namin pero di ko kilala si Kuya Dante kasi di ko siya nakita nang matagal dahil nag-abroad siya. Nagkilala kami noong December 1997 nang turuan niya akong maging mantsanero (first coater) ng paintings niya.”
Montanez counts Hipolito as his main influence as an artist.
“Pagtuturo ang isa sa natutunan ko kay Kuya Dante. Marami siyang naturuan at natulungan na kapwa ko na walang kakayanan para makapag-aral. Dahil sa kanya naging posibleng matupad yung pangarap namin maging pintor,” Montanez said of Hipolito’s work ethics.
Aside from painting methods like his use of oil and the criss-cross brush stroke, Montanez imbibed Hipolito’s attention to detail. “Matiyaga si Kuya Dante na magturo. Natutunan ko kung paano maging pulido sa bawat detalye ng mga gusto kong ipinta. Mas madaming details, isip niya, mas maganda lalabas ang obra.”
He also adapted Dante’s work principle — that of upholding passion over profit. “Hindi kailangang maghabol sa pera dahil once gawin ito, masisira ang trabaho.”
Montanez shared unforgettable experiences with Hipolito: “Sinasama niya ako na mag-alok ng paintings sa clients. Nandoon ‘yung tanggihan nila ‘yung painting, baratin. Mahirap makabenta dahil kakasimula pa lang kasi uli ni Kuya Dante. ‘Yung painting ginawa naming panangga sa ulan at araw ‘pag naglalakad at naghahanap sa client.” 
Hipolito’s influence on Montanez is evident in the oil-on-canvas Saranggola (2014). A farm scene of happy life during harvest time’s background of peace, prosperity and perfection, a group of boys fly kites. A bamboo groove and a carabao-drawn cart in the style of show this. But the difference lies in Montanez’s rendition of the slim figures in an orange hue compared to the mentor’s yellow. Shadows abound, which are rarely seen in Hipolito’s paintings.
“Magnificent!” raved lawyer/film producer/businessperson Joji Villanueva Alonso upon seeing for the first time Montanez’s commissioned 10-by-five-foot, oil-on-boxed canvas mural En Forma de Historia (“Formed by History” in English, 2016).
Commissioned when she saw Montanez’s Sorbetero post in ARTlead Originals on November 2015, the work turned out to be the solution she had been wanting for the blank wall of her Quantum Post-production office in Kamuning, Quezon City, which she had wanted to fill up for quite some time.
Alonso asked this writer, who is head of ARTlead Originals, to see Montanez in an arranged meeting. After touring him in the office, she threw him the challenge of filling up the space with a mural. Montanez showed her his portfolio in his laptop and she specified a style where the subjects are busy and happy at work. After agreeing at the price, she let him proceed without asking for a layout.
Following the Composite Realism style developed by Hipolito, who passed on in early 2016, he proceeded to work. He had evolved a style that was distinctly his own in urban idiom, veering away from Dante’s rural romanticism. So his subjects are dressed in contemporary clothes and engaged in present-day mores and manners.
Natives of Crisologo Street in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, go about their morning routine in the bygone splendor of its cobbled streets and Spanish-style ancestral houses. An ox-driven cart selling small household wares passed by so they stopped to check what they can purchase. In spread of malls and convenience stores, they continue to use native handicrafts very much like they opt to live along the fabled passageway.
Their past has been formed by their lifestyle that Montanez depicted in contemporary idiom. Using Hipolito’s painting procedure, he photographed family members including six-month pregnant wife Cristobal and four-year-old daughter Milcha wearing everyday clothes and not farmers attire in the manner of his template.
What Montanez comes up with is a style more realistic in contemporary terms, an extraordinary updating that is rural realistic and urban romantic as the same time.

CRISTOBAL. A stunning visual interpretation of the title of Emilie Autumn’s eponymous 2005 album, Opheliac refers to the character Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a person who has delved into madness. As described in Act IV, Scene VII of the play, she sings while floating in a river before she drowns.

For her part, Autumn based her painting on British artist Sir John Everett Millais’ Ophelia. Simple and striking, Cristobal executes in grayscale a personal despair in a foreboding sense of loneliness that makes the ambiance bleed blood. She shares: “Na-relate ko sa Tareptepism ito dahil sa waves of colors na para sa akin parang ganun ang tumatakbo sa isipan kapag situation ng isang Opheliac.”
From Las Piñas City, Cristobal worked as a first coater for Hipolito starting 2010. He hired her to develop her natural gift for art. Her preference for oil is clearly a lesson imbibed from Hipolito.
Hipolito turned out to become more than a mentor to Cristobal. “Si Sir Dante parang tatay ko na ang tingin ko sa kanya. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa kanya dahil simula ng mapunta ako sa kanila, nagbago ang sitwasyon ko,” she shared.
She then added, “Before kasi medyo hindi maganda ang situation ko. Walang direksyon. Pangarap ko talagang mag-Fine Arts pero imposible kasi walang kakayanan ang parents ko. Hanggang sa pinakilala po ako sa kanya ng kaibigan ko. Unti-unti ko ring naayos yung sarili ko sa tulong nila.”
Their influences and inspirations have resulted to a happy life for Montanez and Cristobal as their original style projected, blessed with two offsprings, Milcha Vanellope and Mint Vincent.

In some kind of alien landscape full of hanging, round Chinese lamps, Pinoys Gabby (Jennylyn Mercado) and Gab (Derek Ramsey) meet for the first time. (They are Tere and Julian of the surprise Metro Manila Film Festival blockbuster feature English Only Please.) They make the languid rounds of the terrain. You somehow feel it is love at first date. Gab brings Gabby to her flat. Once she closes the door, she opens it again fast and they engage is passionate lovemaking.
This is the millennial-kind-of-sexy of the newly issued teaser trailer of All of You, Quantum Films’ official entry to the 43rd MMFF, a Jennylyn and Derek starrer as directed by Dan Villegas, to kick off this Christmas, December 25. Yes, bes and beshies, the official title is no longer Almost is Not Enough as the original lead actor, Jericho Rosales, was not available to shoot in the US. All of You, for sure, will make the cold of Christmas hot!

NOT CLEAR IF ED SHEERAN WILL SET FOOT IN MANILA. It is unclear whether British hitmaker Ed Sheeran will still set foot in Manila on November 7 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, his second time to perform in the Philippines, as part of his Divide World Tour.
Writing to his fans via Facebook, Ed said that he had injured his right wrist and left elbow due to an accident, making him cancel tour dates in Taipei, Osaka, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
“I’m waiting to see how the healing progresses before we have to decide on shows beyond that,” he further said. Notice Manila is not included in the shortlist.
While cycling around London, a car hit him. He posted a photo on Instagram with his heavily tattooed right arm in a cast and his left arm in a sling.
Smart Music Live, known for bringing top-notch concert experiences to Manila alongside Ovation Productions, is in contact with Ed’s handlers to get a definite answer if Ed Sheeran Live in Manila will push through.
The 26-year-old Ed recently taped a video message for his Manila fans via https://www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications/. He said, “Hi Manila! I will be playing at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds on November 7. This will be my biggest gig in Manila and the last time I played in Manila was the best crowd of it all so I’m expecting a lot. I’m really looking forward to coming there and I love you guys. See you soon.”
Ed fan or not, here are the top three reasons to be part of his spectacular Manila concert:
1. The hits. Ed has churned out some of today’s most covered, much-downloaded hits including 2017’s current best-selling title, according to Forbes.com, “Shape Of You.” Ed has gifted music fans with “Thinking Out Loud,” “The A Team,” “Castle On The Hill,” “Bloodstream,” “Supermarket Flowers,” “Sing,” “I See Fire,” “Lego House,” “Don’t” and “Photograph.”
2. Stage visuals. Wondering why Ed, whose songs are predominantly slow, holding his tour on the open air concert grounds? It’s because he will be bringing the most ginormous LED display to go along with laid back guitar playing. And these LED panels couldn’t even fit the MoA Arena. Check out social media posts from previous tours and you will definitely agree that setup looks phenomenal!
3. The perks. If you are a Smart subscriber, Smart Music Live has the best concert seats, front and center, reserved for you should you win in the promos. Apart from these tickets, Smart has also been consistent with total concert experiences via the Smart Party Bus and concert booth perks and privileges just track the hashtags #SmartMusicLive and #SmartEdSheeran.
On September 12, Forbes came out with an entire article devoted to Ed’s monster hit, “Shape Of You.” In the feature, “Here Are All The Ways Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You Made History,” the writer detailed the song’s achievements — and this is just ONE song.
“There may still be time for some other popular song to beat him, though at this point in time, it looks like 2017 will conclude with ‘Shape Of You’ as the bestselling title of the year. At the mid-year mark, Nielsen Music reported that Sheeran’s massive hit was the only song to actually sell at least two million copies, and it was at least half a million units ahead of the nearest competition,” reads the feature.

WINNER! The studio dressed in church finery, Team Jugs Teddy Vice presented the remake of the wedding of Teddy and wife Jasmine Corpuz as a reality entry for their group’s presentation for the annual “Magpasikat Week” of the It's Showtime hosts to celebrate the noontime show’s anniversary now on its eight year.
It opened with Jugs Jugueta playing “Somebody” on the piano as Mica and Krissha of GirlTrends and Ronnie, Ryle, CK and Luke of Hashtags danced. Vice singing “Anong Nangyari Sa Ating Dalawa” followed, and he recited a “reverse poetry” about love.
Teddy serenaded Jasmine, who dreamt of Teddy proposing to her with “Magpakailanman” and proposed marriage. They were married on stage as Vice sang “Sa ‘Yo” with the participation of their two kids, Angelica Phoebe and Theodore John.
Teddy narrated that when he met Jasmine, she was about to leave for abroad to marry another guy, but she loved him so they decided to elope and had a civil wedding.
Jurors director Rory Quintos, Janno Gibbs, Ina Raymundo, Marc Logan and Maricel Soriano are expected to award the grand prize of P300,000 to Team Jugs Teddy Vice’s chosen charity.

XANDER SUBBING FOR JOHN LLOYD? In Home Sweetie Home, Romeo (John Lloyd Cruz) and Tanya (Ellen Adarna) were sent to an unspecified seminar abroad in line with their indefinite leave from ABS-CBN. The unverified buzz is Ellen is with John Lloyd’s love child as revealed by her unverified uncle, the former ABS-CBN /GMA7 broadcaster, Jay Sonza.
Back to the sitcom, the undistracted Julie (Toni Gonzales) returns to her teaching job, the recruitment office actors were a no-show in the episode and viewers were teased with Xander Ford joining the cast next episode! Certainly, the status is not an apple-to-apple comparison, thus, maybe a temporary solution, as the Makeover Prince has not even proven he can act or has staying power. John Lloyd and Ellen finally reached Switzerland for their vacation as buzzed by Lead.

PROTECT YOUR LIVER WITH LIVERGUARD. Some of the fat in the liver is normal, but if it goes way beyond five percent to a maximum 10 percent of the overall weight of the liver, it can be too much and can be a serious health problem.
The liver is the second largest organ in the body. It helps process everything we eat and drink, it filters the harmful substances from the blood. If there is too much fat in the liver, it can interrupt this process and fail to process the harmful substances from the food and drinks we intake.
A fatty liver can do so much damage to your liver that it can cause liver failure. This is caused by excessive drinking of alcohol, obesity, diabetes and genetic inheritance. Eating a high-fat and high-sugar diet can also contribute to having a fatty liver too.
Live a better life by making better lifestyle choices. Let’s not forget that every organ is essential to keeping our body healthy and functioning the way it is supposed to. Take care of your liver with Liverguard.
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Protect your liver with Liverguard. Available at Mercury Drugstores and other leading drugstores nationwide for only P15 SRP per capsule. For more information about Liverguard, visit https://www.facebook.com/liverguardtheliverdefender/.
LEAD OUT! The much-anticipated local blockbuster drama series features the mother-and-son tandem of Sylvia Montez and Arjo Atayde!... A drunk Baron Geisler was detained Monday night for alleged unjust vexation and alarm scandal in a Tomas Morato, Quezon City resto-bar!... It looks like Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s twice-a-year boxing matches will fail this year!... John Arcilla takes the lead of Barangay 143, the first Filipino anime film!... What is the Film Development Council of the Philippines doing to promote Birdshot as the country’s official entry to the Foreign Language Film category of the next Oscars derby?... JM de Guzman happily announced he has been substance-free for two years now!... Major American networks are fighting over signing Ronan Farrow, son of Mia Farrow, following his bombshell scoop about Harvey Weinstein’s sex addiction in The New Yorker!

Rouge, the gorgeous quartet made up of girls with ages ranging from sweet to sexy 21 to 30 years old, which created a sensation at Pilipinas Got Talent Season 5 and a stir with their original uptempo “Hanep,” is now promoting a new, promising single called “Gulong, Gulong Buhay (GBB).” The song is composed by the members and is now available for digital downloading at Spotify and iTunes.
The pop rock band performed in front of entertainment press, special guests, friends and business associates lunchtime of October 24 at the Ka Freddie’s Bar in Quezon City. Otherwise entitled “GGB” available in various digital platforms, the song is about love and the romantic confusion involved.
Ka Freddie’s Bar is owned and operated by world-renowned guitarist-composer Freddie Aguilar whose award-winning song “Anak” had been recorded in multiple languages. The bar is compact with a second floor. The entrance displays the trophies Aguilar had gathered in the span of his long career. The place has excellent acoustics as we found out when Rouge opened the event with a showcase of “Gulong, Gulong Buhay.”
Sharing with you its words in bumpy and foot-stomping rhythms:

Hala, mahal mo na pala ako 
Hindi ako karapat dapat 
Wag ka sakin mangako
Wag ka na sanang umasa pa
Dahil ang puso ko 
Matagal ko nang naibigay sa iba
Di na mag babago ang isip ko
Ngunit pag nakikita ka
Bakit nagkakaganito

Gulong gulong gulong gulo
Nang ikaw ay dumating sa buhay ko
Di na alam kung pano sasabihin sayo
Litong litong litong lito
Dapat na sigurong lumayo
Bago pa ako mahulog ng tuluyan sayo

Hoy, pano ba natin tatakasan
Dahil akoy nahihirapan
Kung palagi kang ganyan
Ngunit pag ako’y iniiwasan
Di mapakali ang aking puso’t isipan

(Bridge)
Oh ano ba ito
Hirap ng dalawa kayo sa buhay ko,
Dapat ko na bang iwanan siya
O kailangan ko na bang iwasan ka?
Ano, nakikinig ka ba
Ako’y nagtataka 
Kung mahal na ba kita..

... nahulog na yata ako sayo..

Manager Leah Singwatt explains why the crew was not wearing red with black knee-high boots or socks as expected: “They primarily wore red during the promotion of ‘Hanep.’ Para maiba naman, members suggested they wear dark halters and mini skirts for the launch of ‘GGB.’ As you can see, it works very well! It makes them look enticing as they bump and gyrate with their instruments,” she comments.
Leah told Lead that Rouge is busy with live appearances and appears twice a month on entertainment mogul Vic del Rosario’s restaurant and music lounge at SM North Edsa. “They are not overly busy to get too tired with work, just enough for them to be actually asking for more,” Leah shares.
Horizon Entertainment producer Mon Pacheco reveals, “Rouge will release its sophomore long-form album, the materials of which they are currently composing and recording by first quarter next year.”
A YouTube sensation for its well-viewed covers of known songs, Rouge advocates “Girl Power!” as each member embodies the beauty, brains and heart of being a musician.
Rouge original song “Hanep,” now with more than 80,000 hits on Spotify, is part of Star Music’s OPM Fresh compilation (that included tracks from Iñigo Pascual and Alex Gonzaga) released in the same year.
Apart from the individual roles they play in the band, these women are also quite accomplished as individuals. These young ladies rock. They sing, play instruments and harmonize all at the same time! They show their versatility by incorporating light rock songs with classical violin lines to add to the unique musicality of the group. 
Kara is the bassist and the leader of the group. Her experiences from her beginnings to ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2, to her international gigs, honed her to become a versatile and mature musician.
Princess is the violinist who started playing when she was 10 years old and was a member of the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra Junior Ensemble. Aside from playing the violin, she has also won awards for clay sculpture, poetry writing, illustrative story-telling and expressive reading. Nowadays, she recycles empty glass bottles and paints them so they can be re-used in her spare time,
Princess who front acts Rouge playing violin and vocals in “Gulong, Gulong Buhay.” The most senior in the group at 30 years admits it is not easy to multitask. She is able to do it with constant practice and discipline.
Rouge is aware of the perils of being an all-girl band, that of the possibility of not lasting long due to marriage and the demands of motherhood.
“We’ll deal with them when we get them. We have discussed the issue among ourselves, but we agree to stay intact as much as we can. We have had personal differences but here we are still together. I think friendship will keep us intact,” Princess shares over Japanese food that she chose from the generous buffet table that Leah prepared for lunch.
Princess hopes the North American tour planned for the group will push through next year. “It has something to do with visas. With the restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on Asians, it looks like a stiff climb. But we sincerely hope it will push through,” she shares.
Jeri plays the guitar while her passion for singing led her to pursue it as a profession from the time she entered University. She has performed in bars and is an entrepreneur by day. 
Gyan plays the drums; you will be amazed by her skill and her fancy tricks. Her first competition was in a Battle of the Bands wherein she, at the tender age of 10, joined along with her two older brothers. Numerous other competitions, both local and international, followed where she mostly banked the top spot.
As if this were not remarkable enough, Gyan recently landed in the top 5 spot (out of 117) for an international online contest, “Hit Like a Girl.” For her stunning physical charm alone, actor-judge Robin Padilla singled her out at Pilipinas Got Talent, cutely stating that he wanted to stand up to see the seated drummer girl.
Back in 2015, the group made it to the semifinals of ABS-CBN’s Pilipinas Got Talent Season 5, was cited at the 29th Awit Awards for Best Performance by a new recording artist and won the Best WISHclusive Performance by a group. Wish also named Rouge finalist for its Alternative Song of the Year plum. 
For a complete list down of Rouge’s monthly schedule and their freshest posts, check out their Facebook page @rougeallgirl.
For bookings of live appearances, please contact Leah Singwatt at Horizon Entertainment Production at L1 B1 Gertrudes St. Lacolina, Antipolo City 1870 or mobile no. 0917-562-2901 or landline number (+632) 788-2503.

“Happy to be Home!”
Celebrity mom, host, actress, jet-setter and social media darling Ms. Kris Aquino proudly declared when she joined the family of the country’s leading residential digital services provider PLDT Home and fastest mobile LTE network Smart during her launch as brand ambassador.
Kris joins an A-list roster of PLDT Home celebrity ambassadors including Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, celebrity moms Camille Prats with husband and son, Bettina Carlos, celebrity family Isabel and John Prats with daughter Feather, and Smart’s celebrity ambassadors Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards, James Reid and Nadine Lustre, Vic Sotto, Maja Salvador and Matteo Guidicelli.
Vic with pregnant wife Pauline Luna-Sotto, Pia, Camille and Isabel and John joined invited guests at the High Street Lounge of Shangri-La at the Fort Manila before Kris’ star-studded introduction. It turned out that Kris, who wore an all-red stretch gown, waited for her turn to be introduced at the lobby as the event did not have a waiting area.
Vic says: "I'm glad and honored that I'm part of the Sun family because I play Candy Crush, lol. I use data, and this relaunch means it's not just voice calls and texting, but means a lot of people will be using data. I lurk in Instagram — even if I don't post, I see people. Congratulations to PLDT and Smart. Again, I'm glad to be part of the Sun family."
Hosted by Marc Nelson, the high-profile launch featured Jericho Rosales, Franco Laurel, Tweetie de Leon, Maxine Medina and Jennifer Hammond along with tri-media. PLDT-Smart big boss Manny V. Pangilinan was unable to grace the special event. Even if she is among MVP’s close friends, the queen was not accorded special privilege.
This gave Kris the chance to invite Marc to her new house so he could experience its unbelievable Wi-Fi connection. Kris laughed this off as an excuse for Marc to teach her how to swim. He accepted!
PLDT executives then explained, "We started fiber in a few key cities and municipalities; now, even far-flung areas (have it). The premier villages have it, this will enable our consumers to have the digital lifestyle. We have condo units that don't have this yet, but we're moving, and we have people experience Fibr and stay happy about it. In BGC (Bonifacio Global City), we have mostly all residential buildings now Fibr-ready, so if you live here, you're lucky!
“You should all be on PLDT Home tomorrow; also be connected with our streaming sites tonight. Roku is also now available, so there's no reason why you're not enjoying our services. We want all our 2 million homes to transfer from DSL to Fibr because there's a Lot to enjoy from this faster connection," they added.
The Queen of All Media joined PLDT Home’s growing roster of celebrity brand ambassadors, particularly for its SmartHome suite of products and services. Kris’ (online) presence is expected to reach unprecedented heights as a special edition of her famous video blog “The Kris List” takes centerstage in this partnership.
Kris told us about how she maintains a smart home and utilizes PLDT Home Fibr and LTE when she's mobile, saying, "Let's all admit it, traffic is terrible. I checked who is watching me and most of them are millennials and they watch me through phones. Connections have improved so much and they watch me through mobile these days and LTE doesn't buffer on me.
“I also love the roaming charges because it's P499 a day. The other network charges more, so you see why they got me? “ she laughed. “We need to be connected. Thank you to PLDT and Smart for making us all connected. You are the first company to invest in iFlix so I'm going there, too. PLDT is an innovator, we have to give them that!"
On the other hand, Smart will enable “Digital Kris” to navigate her lifestyle, businesses, social media and the fast-changing digital landscape powered by Smart’s LTE, named fastest by wireless research coverage firm OpenSignal. 
According to Kris, PLDT’s integrated Home technology is a perfect match for her own lifestyle, as she raises two digitally savvy sons and expands her personal brand into the realm of digital media.
“This is super exciting for me because PLDT is really a big part of our home and our family, so to be officially an ambassador is a huge honor,” she says. “I can’t wait to share my own stories about how technology affects the way I raise my children and the way we communicate. I always want the best for my family and being with PLDT is definitely one of those decisions.”
When it comes to allowing her followers an intimate look at her travels, live blogs and online contents, Kris will rely on Smart. 
“Everything now is digital. You know how watching TV has shifted over to binge-watching in gadgets? That’s the same pivot I see for my digital needs. With Smart’s reliable LTE speed, I know that reaching a broader audience, particularly the millennials, is now a lot easier.”
Kris hosts and produces several online video series on her official Facebook page including Wear Kris for fashion tips, “The Kris List” for her personal list of new experiences and conversations with people, “Heart to Heart with Kris” for a glimpse into her daily activities and adventures, and “”Kris Travels” for fans who want to virtually join her as she travels the world with her loved ones.
The doting mother of Josh and Bimby has always been cautious about her kids’ safety. She is very happy that PLDT Home is on the same mindset as she is in this promoting home security products for Filipino families such as the home monitoring system Fam Cam, the cyber security platform Fam Zone, and the multi-functional kiddie gadget Smart Watch.
Kris is a perfect fit for PLDT Home’s world-class entertainment content and platforms including the game-changing all-in-one entertainment box — the Roku PoweredTM TVolution which offers over 100 streaming channels including Cignal TV, Netflix, iflix, and YouTube.
With powerful connection from PLDT Home Fibr, all these content options can be enjoyed on high-definition lag-free and without pixilation. Fibr subscribers, like Kris, can also now sign up for the country’s first-ever Whole Home Wi-Fi service — the Philippines’ first personalized solution designed to connect the entire house to an all-in-one broadband and smart Wi-Fi network.
“We’re honored to have Kris as part of the PLDT family. I am confident that, together, we can really empower and inspire more Filipino families to build the strongest connections at home through world-class internet and technology,” PLDT-Smart FVP and Head of Consumer Business for Market Development Oscar Reyes Jr. adds.
"We're happy that Open Signal has already released the report has increased its edge of LTE Coverage nationwide. We have 6 percents advantage over our competitors and I think it's a big thing to enable our subscribers and educate them about this revolution to tell them about LTE. For us to bring Filipinos to the digital era, we need to upgrade them to a 4G device, to make sure their sim cards support it, in Smart, Sun Cellular and T‘NT, we have all these offers that people can now enjoy. This way, more people can enjoy it now,” Head of Wireless Consumer Division for Smart Alex Caeg says.
Follow PLDT Home and Smart on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more updates.

FLAWLESS DECRIES ADDITIONAL BEAUTY TAX. Flawless has publicly expressed its displeasure on Instagram about the current issue on taxes being proposed on all luxury beauty treatments and products.
They posted, “At Flawless, we see beauty as a powerful tool that helps people feel and function better as they go about their everyday lives. Highly taxing cosmetics and beauty service is unjust, unconstitutional, oppressive and discriminatory to hardworking Filipino consumers. As a Filipino brand that believes in bringing out the best in everyone, here’s our Flawless appeal. Give us a break and don’t tax my beauty.”
While clientele of cosmetic clinics span a wide bracket of income-earners, Flawless believes that the decision to be beautiful is a right and a privilege that shouldn’t be oppressed and its consumers should not be discriminated.
The bill is being pushed by Sen. Sonny Angara and is contained in Section 30 of Senate Bill 1592. It comes in the wake of the news that luxury cars will have additional taxes too, and its implementation starts next year.

The truth is out there. Quantum Films released on November 12, 2017 the official poster designed by Justin Besana of All of You, its official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Festival (MMFF). The movie marks the return of the blockbuster team of Jennylyn Mercado and Derek Ramsey as megged by Dan Villegas. The official trailer will air on November 17.
Derek as Gab and Jennylyn as Gabby with Dan do the “awra” on a street in Jiufen, Taiwan, where Quantum Films shot All of You. So far, this is the only romantic comedy at the 2017 MMFF that uses a picturesque foreign location, which Filipinos seem to consider nowadays as a bonus for a passionate love story. This seems to be the secret of local blockbuster movies lately.
Empoy Marquez and Alessandra di Rossi’s blockbuster Kita Kita did principal photography in Japan. His follow-up feature, The Barker, was shot in Metro Manila and was a non-performer at the ticket counters. Lead predicts the same will happen to Alessandra’s two-actor only “12” shot locally with Ivan Padilla.
Jiufen is a mountain town in northeastern Taiwan, east of Taipei. Known for the narrow alleyways in its old town, packed with teahouses, street-food shacks and souvenir shops, it is near central Old Street is the Shengping Theater, established in the 1900s and since restored. Close by, the Gold Mine Museum traces the town’s history as a mining hub during the Japanese-era gold rush.
All of You, originally entitled Almost is Not Enough, is an official selection based on script. Mike de Leon’s Citizen Jake was not submitted on the October 30th deadline for finished film entries so it is out of competition. Loy Arcenas’ Ang Larawan is the only identified entry. The other four entries will be revealed officially on November 17.
Quantum Films submitted Always is Not Forever, a Jennylyn as Gabby and Jericho Rosales as Gab starrer to be shot in Jiufen, Taiwan for this year’s MMFF. But Jericho was not available as he was busy shooting another feature. “His schedule could not match ours so we had to find a replacement,” Quantum Films producer, lawyer Joji Alonso, explained..
Since Derek replaced Jericho as Gabby, minor adjustments on the script and casting had to be made including the title change to All of You.
“Maybe next year when we shoot in the US,” I remember Derek answer about his next team-up with Jennylyn during a chance interview in 2016 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club when he was with teammate John Estrada for the 2016 Mayor Benhur Abalos Cup golf tournament.
Derek and Jennylyn were headliners in the surprise 2014 MMFF Quantum Films blockbuster English Only Please, megged by Dan. A heartbroken financial analyst as played by Derek hires a pretty translator as played by Jennylyn to help him write a scathing letter to his Filipino ex-girlfriend.
To shoot in the US was the original plan for the sequel. “Yes, if it were Part 2 of English Only Please,” explained by producer Joji. “But since di naman, di kami nag-US.”
Almost is Not Enough is made by the same team of “#WalangForever,” 2015 MMFF Best Picture, recipient of the Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence and its biggest winner. It almost ran away with the prizes including Best Actor for Jericho, Best Actress for Jennylyn, Best Screenplay for Paul Sta. Ana, and Best Original Story for Dan and Antonette Jadaone.  
Jennylyn as Mia is a celebrated writer of romantic-comedy films in #WalangForever, who is at a turning point in her life. This makes it difficult for her to believe that love could last. Everything comes to a head when Jericho as Ethan returns, only for her to find out that he has become a cynic of lasting love because she broke his heart.
This makes All of You a maindie, a fresh love story with an exciting twists. A big support cast and an even bigger list of actors in cameo roles, it has the same romantic appeal, but an entirely new treatment!
Meeting in Juifen, Taiwan, the teaser shows Gab and Gabby making the rounds of the streets with hanging red, round lamps. The mood triggers romance so that when Gabby drops Gab off at his place, she knocks back only to express her animal instinct in Gab’s sexy body with no words spoken.
Christmas will sure be hot this year!
 
WILLIE FROM THE HEART. Willie Revillame feted the 800 soldiers returning from terrorist-occupied Marawi City by allocating two airings of Wowowin over GMA Network for the purpose of entertaining the war-weary freedom fighters with fun games with big cash prizes, nationalist songs and raffle of three Bria houses and lots donated by Sen. Cynthia Villar.
The lucky winners were Piccolo de la Cruz of Malabon, Fernando Julian of Pangasinan and Jesus Pancho III of General Trias, Cavite. In photo with Sen. Villar are retired AFP chief of staff and incoming DILG Secretary Gen. Eduardo Aٌo and Willie with the winners holding certificates to their new house and lot. Willie also gave P1 million for the wounded soldiers and P2 million for the families who lost their loved ones due to the conflict.  
Although Willie has non-supporters in media and he no longer requires a phalax of publicists, it seems the entertainment media prefers to deal with tittle-tattle and fake news such as the gossip that actress Isabel Granada died when attacked by aneurysm. Willie’s tribute happened right before our eyes and newsworthy so its authenticity is undoubted.
GMA7 has made Willie a professional entertainer. He now does not overtime his show and presents a more entertaining edition even if he no longer wins entertainment awards. Lead hopes that the same will happen to Kris Aquino when she’s taken as Willie’s co-host in Wowowin, which will undergo reformat as tell-tale signs are starting to happen as the missing long-time co-hosts Ariella Aranda and Donita Nose.
GMA-7 is the only network that gave this kind of love to both the injured and non-injured heroes of the battle of Marawi, for sure, Serbisyong May Puso!

JUSTICE LEAGUE ALL IN. It means prizes galore when Justice League, directed by Zack Snyder, kicks off for worldwide release on November 17 (November 16 in the Philippines).
The Justice League is all in! Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) and Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) are inspired by Superman’s (Henry Cavill) apparent sacrifice for humanity so they assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Mamoa), and Vicor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher).
Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, J.K. Simmons, Ciaran Hinds, Robin Wright and Jesse Eisenberg are also in the cast.
Get free “Justice League” tickets or win a new Samsung Note 8 when you subscribe to Smart’s All In Plans, Smart Giga Surf or avail of the Smart Justice League handsets via Smart Postpaid. Recently, Justice League’s cast went “all in” by releasing shout-out video to Filipino fans (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcdhUrI_UdI).
To also win tickets, gadgets and other freebies and perks, visit Smart.com.ph and follow Smart’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts to track the hashtag #SmartJusticeLeague.
With Smart’s fastest LTE network, All In Plans and Giga Surf offer a wide range of packages addressing every kind of data need so you can do more and get the best experience possible from Smart. Like the pool of Justice League heroes in the latest DC installment, Smart’s offers are All In.
“Justice League” as distributed worldwide by Warner Bros is the latest from Smart Giga Movies which also rolled out other Hollywood blockbuster treats with “Logan,” “Ghost in the Shell,” “Fast & Furious 8,” “Wonder Woman” and “Kingsman: The Golden Circle.”

As much as the characters of Kaizen Studio’s Way of the Cross carries the emotional weight of the story forward, the WORLD that they live in dictate their actions, and the locations in this film play a major role in shaping the story.
From Filipino-American actor-producer-director-writer Anthony “T-boy” Diaz V’s action thriller Break released last year comes the mystery feature Way of the Cross, a new, controversial film shot in the Philippines for international and national release this year. Diaz gives up the director job and shares it with Gorio Vicuna to focus as actor to let you have goosebumps.
When Erik Matti’s Seklusyon that has scenes desecrating the Virgin Mary screened in the flop 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival and turned out to be one of its three top grossers, the Catholic Church decided to let it go. It knew that controversy and the negative publicity mileage were what the filmmakers were baiting, but it did not bite!
There are no such scenes in Way of the Cross. The film title is a vague reference to the Catholic Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as Way of Sorrows or Via Crucis. As such, it alludes to the series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion and accompanying prayers.
Although “way of the cross” is a phrase strongly associated with the Catholic faith, it has no desecration scene and has a cross knife design strongly linked with Satanism. So “Way of the Cross” is the feature that Alvin Lorenz Anson talked about during the media launch of Break last year.
This was discernible, I thought, in the design of the media launch held at the Beats Bar and Grill on Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City. The foreign-looking cast and crew dressed in the color of death looked otherworldly.
The host, publicist Alwyn Ignacio, was a “lady in white” in a gown with an uneven hemline. Even the press kit with the “Memory Book April 2017,” a glossy magazine-cum/autograph book that highlights the cast and crew and shoot photos came with Kisses chocolate candies in a black bag with a strip of red ribbon. Shades of blood sucking!
This is why I come to expect Alwyn’s press conferences. They are well-organized and complete with production design!
It made me cringe to realize that from where I came from, the Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish at Philamlife Homes where I am volunteer for its 60th anniversary celebration, I moved to the media launch of Way of the Cross. And when I asked to leave almost as soon as I arrived to return to where I came from, I was asked by Ignacio’s kind partner, “Please write about it ha?” as if clueless that I give her invites full publicity.
And the driver who brought me there deserted me without information. God is kind that the bar had a kind and tattooed bouncer who assisted this person with disability to hail a cab. He even brought me a chair to sit on and placed it on the side street that made me an attention-grabbing king of the road.
And then I learned Way of the Cross came with a post-shoot accident! Script supervisor and Way of the Cross family member Mj Balagtas was involved in a head-on collision along with two of the feature’s actors on final shoot day. She survived it and was brought to a specialist in Manila for better treatment.
Terror!

RARE BREED. The brawny Diaz is the rare breed of filmmaker for his craft that makes him an exceptional multitasker. Just to maintain his slim, muscled body by pumping iron regularly is major work by itself. Most actors are only that, but Diaz is the complete filmmaker. In Way of the Cross, he continued to grind away for the maximum big screen appeal.
On screen and in photos, Diaz strikes as a kind of millennial James Dean, but a rebel with a cause, and with a more relatable Liam Neeson-ish vibe. He is the new kind of screen hero who has a good head to match the well-toned physique. And somehow you sense that there is a tenderness beneath the swagger and the action star gait.
Before 20, Diaz had completed dozens of short films. The independent filmmaking spirit has been evident early on with Diaz multitasking, taking on screen writing, directing, producing, acting and editing duties. At 20, he graduated with high honors at the University of Las Vegas Film School, making him the youngest graduate in the history of the program.
Diaz has received acclaim for the early short films he made like “Delusion” and “Forgotten Heroes.” In 2012, he put up a film production company called Kaizen Studios in Las Vegas, USA. The following year, he established a satellite of Kaizen Studios in Shibuya, Japan.
He is now in pre-production for his next film to be shot in Japan.

NO SPOILER. Set against a faith-driven small town in the Philippines (Pakil, Laguna), Way of the Cross follows Rogelio “Rogue” Marquez (Anthony Diaz V), a Las Vegas-based Filipino-American FBI agent whose estranged father living in the Philippines is diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
Rogue travels to his home country to visit his terminally ill father and half-sister in Manila. A string of murders occur during Holy Week celebrations in the nearby town of San Antonio that sends waves of terror among the local town people, and stuns the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its top agent.
Rogue’s curiosity and FBI instincts lure him into a dark cat-and/mouse world of religious abstracts as he attempts to uncover the motivation behind the murders in hopes to solve the mystery.
Completing the cast are Rafael Rosell, Daiana Menezes, Roxanne Barcelo, Giovanni Respall, Miguel Vasquez, Yussef Esteves, Oz Rivera, Danielle Chopin, Dax Martin, Paolo Gamboa, Nicole Malonzo, Sean Guyamin and Jordan Castillo Jr.
Way of the Cross is an international indie film line-produced by Elaine Carriedo Lozano of Eye In The Sky Pictures, Zenza Global, Gward Inc., Anthony Diaz and Alvin Anson with Peejay Vicuna as supervising producer, Antonio Diaz and Lani Dizon as executive producers, written by Antonio Diaz and Gorio Vicuna and directed by Anthony Diaz abd Gorio Vicuna.
With faith, sometimes you have to see to believe.

To walk in a dramatic self-designed gown with a long canvas train rendered in textile and acrylic paint, then embellished with beads upon beads and appliques upon appliques of flora and finished by crown glitter, Mrs. Universe South Asia 2017 Joyce Peñas Pilarsky as escorted by Cian Fider is Queen Helena of the Santacruzan of the 60th anniversary of Santa Rita de Cascia Parish, Philam Homes, Quezon City on May 28, starting 6 p.m.
With all its splendid glory and pageantry and withstanding the 36 traditional characters and Biblical personifications in eye-catching costumes and carrying symbols that contribute to the religious ambiance, the main queen is still the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her image consistently occupies the final spot while a choir chants “Dios Te Salve (Hail Mary)” throughout the colorful procession.
Queen Helena and Queen Emperatriz, second and third to last of the long row before Virgin Mary, are the same biblical personalities who have distinct characters. Queen Emperatriz is another representation of St. Helena, alluding to the imperial Roman title of Agusta, which her son Constantine bestowed upon her. Queen Helena is the actual personification of St. Helena, who carries a crucifix in her arms, escorted by the young Constantine dressed in princely raiment.

STA. RITA @ 60. Sta. Rita de Cascia, Patroness of Impossible Causes, abused wives and heartbroken women, was an Italian widow. Rita married at an early age that lasted for 18 years, during which she is remembered for her Christian values as a model wife and mother who converted her husband from abusive behavior. Upon his murder, she dissuaded her sons from revenge.
With many rejections, she subsequently got accepted by an Augustinian community of religious sisters, where she practiced mortification of the flesh and for the efficacy of her prayers. Various miracles were attributed to her intercession, and was often portrayed with a bleeding wound on her forehead, usually carrying sweet-smelling red roses that remove the malodor coming from her stigmata.
Originally a community chapel built for the homeowners of the Philamlife Village, the Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish Church was inaugurated and blessed by Rufino Cardinal J. Santos on June 2, 1957. Philamlife Homes is Quezon City’s first middle-class gated subdivision planned by Harvard graduate Angel Napkil. All sub-parishes under the Sta. Rita Parish were converted into parishes and the Parish started to serve all the spiritual needs of parishioners and Catholics who opt to receive them from there.
Sta. Rita Parish Church evolved into a fully airconditioned church that assures the solemnity and comfort of services. Located in a sprawling, maintained surrounding, it has amenities such as a covered atrium, a three-story fully equipped social hall complete with elevator, winding staircases and administration offices. Children can play and photos can be shot in the surrounding park.
To give importance to this well-loved annual celebration to commemorate the feast day of Sta. Rita celebrated on May 22, the Organizing Committee under Rev. Msgr. Daniel Sta. Maria, Parish Priest and Vicar General of the Diocese of Cubao,  decided to hold a grand celebration entitled “Sta. Rita @60” and subtitled “Maturing as a Communion of Communities” beginning May 14 to May 28, 2017.
It opens with the screening of Regis Films and Entertainment Inc.’s Tatlong Bibe, a star-studded advocacy film promoting the power of prayer at the Philam Homes Clubhouse on May 6. Fr. Bong Bongayan gives the post-screening talk.
An agape featuring a three-suite fashion-dance revue with a Filipiniana theme and sit-down dinner is scheduled on May 21 at 6 p.m. at the Sta. Rita Social Hall. Featuring Pilarsky’s couture collection with the members of the Sta. Rita Parish Youth Ministry as performers and models, former GMA Network artist Stephanie Henares is guest model. Choreography is by former Bayanihan member Romeo Abarro and Christine Hibe.
The Flores de Mayo held daily at 6 p.m., this is highlighted by the innovative Santacruzan featuring senior citizens as sagalas. This marks the closing of the Jubilee Door.
Other weekend spiritual and fun-oriented community activities are also scheduled. Coordination by Lina Tuazon, Pilarsky, Edith Fider and Edgar O. Cruz are volunteers.
 
SMART LAUNCHES GILAS SEABA AND MOTHER’S DAY VIDEOS. Smart Communications recently launched a viral video that encourages the use of data and smartphones to create more bonding times with mothers instead of treating technology as a barrier.
This internet-dependent era has always seen millennials glued to their smartphones for entertainment, social network and work needs. #TimeForMomHabit pushes for creative ways to use the power of technology into a tool to interact more with the most important women of our lives.
In a viral video uploaded by Smart, a mother reaches out to her millennial daughter via text messages all throughout the day but the daughter only gets the opportunity to look at the messages when she gets home from work. In a pivotal and touching scene, she makes sure she spends quality time with the mother via video call.
Moving forward, the daughter makes it a point to stick to #TimeForMomHabit. She is shown including her mom via video call whenever she can. This way, she doesn’t sacrifice much of her routine because her mother is already part of it.
After all, “it only takes a few minutes a day” to get into the #TimeForMomHabit.
Smart subscribers can rely on video calls made via subscribing to Gigasurf50. Just send GIGA50 to 9999 for the following package: one gigabyte of data; additional 300MB for iflix, YouTube, Spinnr, Dailymotion and Dubsmash; and unlimited texts to all networks valid for three days.
#BeThereLikeNeverBefore for your mother this Mother’s Day, share your #TimeForMomHabit posts. To watch the video, go to Smart’s Facebook page.
Support Gilas like never before with Smart360. For one whole week, Filipinos will be glued to every game to be played by the Philippine selection tasked to rule the 12th Southeast Asian Basketball Championship (SEABA) on May 12 to 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in order to qualify for the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, which to us can only mean one thing: A clear shot at basketball glory. SEABA is our only return ticket to FIBA Asia, which will lead the Philippines back on the Olympic basketball map.
Filipinos all over the Philippines can support our Gilas heroes like never before when they watch the non-stop action with Smart360 via http://360.smart.com.ph/, which will live stream all of Gilas Pilipinas’ six games beginning on May 12. The nationals will continue to battle it out against SEABA’s on May 13 and 14 before having a one-daybreak on May 15 only to play again from May 16 to 18.
To maximize your viewing through Smart360, load up with Gigasurf 50 by keying in GIGA50 and sending it to 9999. Gigasurf 50 comes with 1GB of data plus 300MB for iflix, YouTube, Spinnr, Vimeo, Dailymotion and Dubsmash. It also comes with unlimited texts to all networks, valid for three days.
 

Commissioned by Sen. Loren Legarda and Tatler Magazine, ace multimedia artist Elvert Bañares attended the 2017 Venice Art Biennale to document the Philippine Pavilion titled “The Spectre of Comparison.”
Led by curator Joselina Cruz, the exhibit features Filipino artists Lani Maestro and Manuel Ocampo representing the nation in the prestigious global art exhibition.
“The Spectre of Comparison” will hold its vernissage on May 11, 2017 at the Artiglierie of the Arsenale in Venice, and will open to the public from May 13 to November 26, 2017.
A multitasker, Elvert made the rounds of the pavilions and registered his loves:
France. Utilizing its space to accommodate the soundscapes of the instruments created and letting actual musicians play them, artist Xavier Veilhan echoes processes of collaboration and invites visitors to take part in personal, physical and aural spaces.
Germany. It’s a quick entry point into what seem to be a random event wherein the visitor assumes the role of an actual spectator. If this were not situated inside a pavilion, you would think you were in a social experiment. Anne Imhof utilizes drama (technically, a performance) with installations and sculpture to examine current issues faced by individuals today. Do we want to see things from afar or are we engaging ourselves in issues that directly affect others?
Mexico. The real and the abstract evoke moods of curiosity, mystery and tension in very cryptic pieces in this installation by Carlos Amorales. Coupled with a musical score and an animated film, the feeling of alienation is heightened. Watch what happens to the migrant family in the animated film and try interpreting the flier afterwards. It’s a rich experience presented in minimal forms that remains with you even after you leave the space.
Tunisia. There is an immigration counter and there are long lines from citizens all over the world in Tunisia’s Pavilion where visitors go through an actual stamping of a passport. Here, you are given a passport and Visa to be a citizen of the world. Once you place your fingerprint (a word which Tunisians practiced in a café where I had lunch days before the Biennale opened), you have access everywhere ― a strong critique of the migrant issues.
It’s one of those concepts with a message that gets easily transmitted to everyone. While many see it as a fun exercise (me included), it gets you involved in one of the most serious discourses in this year’s Biennale. So now he is a citizen of the world. So declares Tunisia. So declares a concept aware of its encompassing spaces.

WHAT’S EATING THE MEGA-STAR? The viral photo of the husband of Sharon Cuneta, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, holding hands with Sen. Risa Hontiveros after visiting Sen. Leila de Lima in detention, turned out to be manipulated. It is suspected to be the reason for the Megastar’s decision to fly to the US by herself and stay there alone for over a week now.
Whatever the reason she left, it is none of our business. Besides taking care of her family, she has been occupied coaching on The Voice Teens, and working on a comeback album. She also hinted about wanting to buy a new property in the US. When Sen. Francis ran for the Senate, she sold her existing real property there.
The Megastar finally explained on Facebook: “In the past few weeks I’ve had two people die on me. A favorite auntie is sick. The start of filming for my movie with Star Cinema has been moved to September. I owe so much money (on very good investments, not stupid stuff) and I have NO ONE IN THE WORLD TO HELP ME.
“So I left Manila. Being somewhere else lets you see things from a whole different perspective. Can’t be effective as a mother, wife, sister, aunt, co-worker, friend, etc., etc., etc., if YOU yourself are lost and need to breathe.
“Siguro naman may karapatan din ako na malungkot at mapagod?
“I am human being. I want to rest my mind, body, heart and soul. I am tired of being all things to all people, and I realize no one has really done or been the same for me. I think there are only few of us who are like that.
“I should be retired and living off the fruits of my labor now, but instead, I work like a horse when what I should do is working only on what I wish to and only when I want to. No one will save me from my concerns, mostly created by other people who, unlike me and some I work with now, call everything wrong ‘just business.’
“No more Daddy. Only God. And my health and energy and will to work. My family, Friends and fans. These are all and I know for now they are more than enough. I am tired though I love what I do so much.
“I have changed inside me. I feel it very much. I still cannot put my finger on it, but I know one thing is that I am no longer taking any b_______t from anyone. I am tired of having to often ‘act’ in real life too when I should be acting only in front of the cameras. It is scary to realize that you have gotten so used to acting like your life is perfect the minute you have an audience, and knowing that you’d rather be on the floor crying. Maybe that’s’ why my laugh over the years has only gotten bigger. I have become and expert at compartmentalizing my feelings that I can focus instantly on topic and let whatever my problem is take a backseat for the moment. That can be a good thing, but again, that scares me.
“I am tired. More inside that outside.
“But I am eternally grateful to God for His unbelie­vable blessings and am trying my best to be a good steward of them.”
As a professional, she has the right to seek her own action. She has explained taking a short break from work as she had been through “way too much pain and fatigue in the past few weeks,” signs of menopause. Now 51, she is reaching the end of her menopausal stage and it will be soon over.

‘ANG BABAE SA SEPTIC TANK’ RETURNS TO THE US. This Quantum Films feature directed by Marlon Rivera and written as Cris Martinez was the Philippines’ official entry to the 2012 Oscar Foreign Language Film competition. It will soon screen at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. About a three-person indie filmmaking team — all middle-class, English-speaking, young and ambitious — their grand plan is to make it big in the film world.
Philippine films have been well-received at glamorous international film festivals, and they have just the right story to satisfy the appetite of the global film elites: A desperate mother of seven kids in a Metro Manila slum who has no choice, but to pimp out one of her kids — initially a girl, but later switched to a boy for sure-win dramatic effect.
On top of exploiting the “poverty porn” formula, the filmmakers experiment with every possible stylistic cliché, from heart-wrenching docudrama to campy musical, to maximize the emotional response. This witty comedy, a box-office success, proves that Filipino filmmakers are not afraid to poke fun at themselves and their colleagues.