In between seasons, members of the multi-awarded Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF) manage to cross over from theater to the immortal medium of film in Otso.
Set as an entry in the Master Director's Showcase of the Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival this September, Otso also marks the return of Elwood Perez whose last film was in 2003.
Otso stars PSF founder Vince Tañada in the lead role, PSF homegrown talents Monique Azerreda, Gabby Bautista, Patrick Libao, Chris Lim, Jordan Ladra, Adele Ibarrientos, Cindy Liper, Art Gabrentina, Kevin Posadas and many others.
Sineng Pambansa is tentatively set to start on September 7, 2013 in SM Cinemas.
Here are the results off boxofficemojo as of June 5 - June 9, 2013. Conversion is set at $1=P40. The lowest recorded earning in the boxofficemojo list is $6071 (P242,840) so that means that any locally produced film that did not make it to the list earned less than this.
Note: Per several press releases and blog posts, It Takes A Man and a Woman has already surpassed the 400M mark. The figures above may not coincide with studio press releases though as their figures include earnings from international screenings.
Meanwhile, here is the updated list of the highest grossing MMFF movies of all time.
Set in the backdrop of the CPDRC (Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center) that houses the world famous "Cebu Dancing Inmates," Dance of the Steel Bars tells the story Frank Parish (Patrick Bergin), a retired US fireman and philanthropist who finds himself wrongly accused of murder and jailed in the Philippines. Stuck in prison, Frank was beginning to lose faith in everything he believed in until he becomes friends with Mando (Dingdong Dantes), a convicted murderer who denies his passion for dancing just to prove his masculinity and Allona (Joey Paras), a transsexual who tries to contribute to prison reforms by teaching his fellow inmates dance exercises.
Dance of the Steelbars is not exactly groundbreaking and the story could, at times, feel forced but the movie gains its much needed momentum when it gives ample focus on the dancing. Armed with crisp editing, the film comes alive in the moments depicting the beginnings of the dance group that has generated no less than 50 million views on YouTube in a span of six years.
In that final scene where a full performance of the group is featured, the movie is finally able to briefly convey a true story of hope and its real reason for being. At this point, you can forget about Mando, Frank Parish and all the other characters presented in the first hour of the film because it is only in that final scene that we get to see the story that we expected to see.
Dance of the Steel Bars is showing exclusively at SM Cinemas beginning June 12, 2013.
In case you missed it, watch the much talked about pilot episode of My Husband's Lover below.
While suffering from the same flawed teleplay that is prevalent in most of the network's shows where everything is spelled out for the audience, this may actually be useful for this series considering the delicate topic that is being discussed. I imagine that it may not be easy to explain to the adamantly Catholic masa (and this is regardless of social standing) that watches Eat Bulaga how men can be in love with each other and that is okay.
Laden with stereotypes and contrived situations that are a staple in your usual telenovela viewing, My Husband's Lover is really pretty typical. The main difference so far is that it looks like it has the balls to discuss a reality that people often turn away from and bring it front and center on primetime.
At a time when telenovelas all but recycle stories about fairies, mermaids and superheroes; at a time when remakes are made to sound like a brilliant idea when the main reason that they are there is because networks seem to have run out of new and original ideas; and at a time when a show is called riveting and will trend if someone gets kidnapped; where rich people always seem to have goons and killers at their disposal, here comes a simple story of a common truth that we have seen countless times in real life but is considered 'controversial' or even taboo on local television. In that respect, this show is already a cut above the competition at the moment.
Of course I am crossing my fingers that guns and goons will not soon find their way to this drama.
This June 26th, Star Cinema kicks off their 20th Anniversary celebration with Toni Gonzaga, Angel Locsin, Bea Alonzo, Shaina Magdayao and Enchong Dee in Four Sisters and a Wedding.
This family-dramedy also features veteran actress Coney Reyes and is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina. Check out the full trailer below:
At a time when gender awareness is at its peak in Philippine society, GMA 7 boldly brings to primetime television a reality that is hardly presented to the telenovela-target market. Tackling the lives of closeted homosexuals, the series gives the public a chance to see the hardships of people that are forced to live by the expectations of a bigoted society.
I, for one, am very curious as to how the creative team of the show will present this delicate story which is pegged to "...draw viewers to understand that love is not defined by sexual preference and no matter how different it is from the love we all know; it could still be equally pure, selfless and true."
Marking the 10-year anniversary of the Renaissance Art Gallery, an exhibit will showcase the works of some of the most celebrated artists that have graced the gallery since its inception in 2003. This event opens on June 5 and will run until June 29, 2013 at the Art Center, 4F SM Megamall Bldg. A in Ortigas.
Special guests of honor are National Artists Napoleon Abueva, Arturo Luz, Ben Cabrera, Abdulmari Imao.
“RenaiXance – A Decade of Renaissance Art Gallery” is curated by Cid Reyes, a Best in Art Criticism Awardee from the Art Association of the Philippines.
For more information you may call (632) 6373101 or visit facebook.com/renaissanceartgallery.
Before posting about the upcoming show of Laura Fygi here in Manila, I checked out her tunes on Youtube. Instantly, I became a fan. Not only was her music enchanting, it also has a delectable and distinct flavour that one must not miss if given a chance.
Check out the samples below:
Spend "A Magical Night with Laura Fygi" on June 24 at the Fairmont Raffles Hotel with special guests and our country's very own talents - Jacqui Magno, Richard Merq and Jeannie Tiongco. For ticket inquiries, you may call 891-9999.
Ending speculations about her sexuality, which rooted mainly from her drastic change in style or the sudden departure of it, Charice finally declares that she is a lesbian on the Abs-Cbn talkshow - The Buzz.
Although the announcement is hardly surprising, it was welcomed by majority of netizens, straight and gay people alike. The overwhelming acceptance is actually quite inspiring and takes the focus off the massive hate and bashing that has plagued the accomplished artist recently.
With the identity issue on the side, the focus is now back on Charice's talent and limitless potential that allowed her to conquer the international entertainment scene. As netizens unanimously hope that she gets her career back on track, this author would just like to give props to the artist for having the balls to admit who she is no matter what anyone says and for proving once and for all that the truth can indeed set a person free.
In one episode of It's Showtime, a group of contestants made up of an elderly woman with almost a dozen of her children was making a monologue on how she had a hard time supporting her children and how winning in the contest will make a lot of difference in their lives.
While the more traditional noontime show host would milk this scene with dramatic music and 'Hey, I am your saviour' attitude, Vice Ganda asked the woman if she would have considered family planning when she was younger. Vice went on and explained the importance of RH Bill to a family whose only knowledge of it seems to have come from the blatant misinformation of the church that they attend.
This same comedian who dishes out seemingly cruel jokes on stage and television stood up against a politician that majority of the supposedly 'enlightened' voters thought was ill-prepared to be part of the country's Senate. In an effort to affect change, Vice spoke candidly and his opinion made headlines, was retweeted and reposted countless of times - reflecting on how much people valued and trusted his character and his beliefs.
This is the image of Vice Ganda that I have in my mind. He is socially relevant, smart and he does his part to make a difference even if that means doing something that isn't initially popular or accepted by the masses.
On the one hand, we have Vice Ganda as the comedian. His brand of humor was lifted straight off comedy bars and made mainstream by top grossing films and hit TV shows that affirm acceptance of the viewing public. His humor has always been quick witted and frank, a little cruel but never serious enough to actually hurt anyone.
The now infamous Jessica Soho joke from his recent concert, I admit, may have been a little off for a mainstream market. Of course I have heard of variations of the same joke in comedy bars in the past . I have received forwarded text messages about the lola na ninakawan pero gusto marape sya ng magnanakaw countless times from the same people that are now indignant about rape jokes only because this is the current trending topic.
Of course for the sake of being politically correct, we say that bullying is wrong. Calling people fat is wrong. Saying that people should enjoy getting raped is wrong. But the fact of the matter is that comedy bars operate on delivering jokes that could offend people and it is always a matter of - "If you can't hack it, then don't go." The people in the concert all seemed to get that it was just a joke. People that have seen the concert videos that came out days before this issue, seemed to like it enough as it was flooding my timeline until someone from GMA 7 pointed out that it was supposed to be offensive and everyone else became moralists.
Sure, this was staged on a bigger venue but Vice Ganda delivered the exact kind of humor that people expected of him. On the question of whether it was off or not, I believe that it was - but it was intended that way. Was it right? Maybe not. Maybe an apology is in order. But one bad joke should never be a gauge to judge a person and disregard all the good that he is and all the good that he has done.
I have the utmost respect for the achievements of Jessica Soho and mean jokes do nothing to reduce that respect - as delivering them do not reduce the respect that I have for Vice Ganda.
UPDATE:
To end this issue once and for all, here is Vice Ganda's public apology on It's Showtime.
After four seasons of The Amazing Race Asia, AXN returns yet again with another made-in-Asia original production - The Apprentice Asia.
For those that aren't familiar with The Apprentice, think of this as Survivor in a urban set-up; one where the contestants get to shower and eat decently and where only the toughest and most cunning strategist will get hired by a noted tycoon.
Played by Donald Trump in the original production, The Apprentice Asia will feature Forbes Asia 2010's Businessman of the Year, Tony Fernandez - Group CEO of TuneAir (Tune Hotels) and AirAsia. Joining him as advisors are Mark Lankester (Group CEO, Tune Hotels) and Kathleen Tan (CEO, AirAsiaExpedia).
AXN searched the region for the best entrepreneurs that have the potential to work for Mr. Fernandez. Among those that were chosen are Filipinos, Jonathan Allen Yabut and Celina Le Neindre.
Jonathan is an Economics major from the University of the Philippines who is currently the senior product manager of a pharmaceutical company. He is only one of seven marketers under the age of 35 to win the 2012 Mansmith Young Market Masters Award.
Celina, on the other hand, completed a Master Chef Program at the Philippine School of Culinary Arts and currently a food and beverage consultant for a steakhouse.
“The Apprentice Asia” premieres on May 22 and airs every Wednesday at 9:05PM exclusively on AXN.
Before casting your votes today, check out what your candidates stand for.
Do not vote based on good intentions, image and promises made on TV ads, these can all be faked. Do not vote based on looks and popularity either. Check out your candidates' track records and see if their actions are guided by what is best for this country.
Vote wisely, Filipinos.
BINAY makes it to the Magic 12. Guess that whole vote wisely message didn't work. :))
