“THE MAZE RUNNER” PICKS UP SPEED AS SEPTEMBER 17 NEARS!

Watch and Meet the Gladers Video

                “The Maze Runner” is set to turn things in a dizzying blur as the teenage captives in a virtual prison known as The Glade run for a chance to save their lives.   Headed by “Teen Wolf’s” heartthrob Dylan O’Brien along with a group of talented young actors including Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Aml Ameen, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee and Blake Cooper,  “The Maze Runner” is directed by Wes Ball based on James Dashner’s hugely successful (trilogy) tome.

                At this year's Comic Con, the cast attests that the movie will be shocked on how the book’s famous baddies known as the Grievers, were depicted. Director Ball further stressed that the audience will definitely be in for a pretty terrifying ride.

Published in October 2009, “The Maze Runner” became a New York Times Best Seller and captured the imaginations of readers around the world, who described it as a combination of “Lord of the Flies,” “ The Hunger Games,” and the legendary television series “Lost.”  Dashner understands those comparisons, especially to Lord of the Flies, but notes that THE MAZE RUNNER is at its heart a very different story.  “I don’t think characters would react they way they do in Lord of the Flies,” he explains.  “I think they’d be more civilized, orderly, and determined to survive and escape.  THE MAZE RUNNER is an adventure story that’s also about hope and the potential of the human spirit.”

             
The book caught the attention of producers Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman from the management/production company The Gotham Group.  “We see a lot of young adult novels,” Stollman explains. “And you always look for something that has a big world creation with characters that are identifiable and something we haven’t seen before,” which is what they found in Dashner’s book.

                Leading man Dylan agrees, "That’s something that might separate this, I think, being like one of those YA movies that are coming out. I so genuinely don’t think it’s like that. It totally exists in its own right and like he said, it could easily be taken as a kid’s movie just objectively, but there is a real sense- there’s this gravitas to it It’s really, really mature in that aspect of performances and just the story."

                Reflecting on the story’s appeal, Dashner notes that much of it stems from the “constant state of not being able to predict what’s going to happen next.  I wanted my readers, and now the moviegoing audience, to feel like Thomas when they enter the Glade.”



                “The Maze Runner” opens September 17 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Meet the Gladers video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFvok6gBAdM&list=PLcZs6n5iZPx8CHV6UBIQaEHvK4Uru0CqW

Breeze ActivBleach treats all moms in 1Laba Day on August 28!

Breeze ActivBleach is treating mommies across the country to a day off from their laundry chores with the simultaneous nationwide event 1Laba Day happening on August 28.

Moms in barangays throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are invited to head to 1Laba Day venues and let Breeze’s revolutionary ActivBleach take care of their stained clothes while they take part in exciting activities Breeze has in store for them to celebrate every mother’s hard work and love for her family.

With 1 Laba Day, Breeze aims to wash 1 million stains using Breeze ActivBleach, which removes even the toughest of stains in just one wash. Participating moms can enjoy their ultimate laundry day-off as Breeze treats them to various entertainment activities, while the Breeze Laba Ladies and Laba Machines, sponsored by campaign partners Electrolux, White Westinghouse, Whirpool and LG, will take care of washing their clothes.

Simultaneous 1Laba Day events will happen in Metro Manila (Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, Pasay), North Luzon (Tarlac, Pangasinan), South Luzon (Laguna, Cavite), Visayas (Cebu), and Mindanao (Davao). In Quezon City, the 1Laba Day event will be headlined by celebrity moms.

Breeze with ActivBleach is the first and only detergent brand with 4-enzyme technology to remove more types of stains with less effort and time. It even has a unique active system for better foam profile and quicker lather, plus percarbonate TAED bleach that takes out bleachable stains without harming the environment.

Be a part of the Breeze 1 Laba Day event and see for yourself how Breeze with ActivBleach removes 1 million stains in just one wash. Like the official Breeze Facebook page (@BreezePhilippines) and join the online promos to get the chance to win washing machines from partner brands. Consumers can also get free Breeze gift packs for every purchase of an Electrolux, Whirlpool and LG washing machine.

MEET SHISHIO, RUTHLESS VILLAIN IN “RUROUNI KENSHIN: KYOTO INFERNO”

A powerhouse cast of famous Japanese actors is assembled by director Keishi Otomo for the epic action thriller “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno,” the first of two sequels to the 2013 blockbuster “Rurouni Kenshin.”

Appearing for the first time opposite the hero Kenshin Himura (Takeru Satoh) as the crazed Makoto Shishio is the popular character actor Tatsuya Fujiwara. Performing in hot, heavy, stifling bandages that even make it hard for him to hear, he becomes the personification of pure evil. And Fijiwara gives justice to the role with a powerful, terrifying performance.

Originally a Choshu clan samurai known as ‘the shadow assassin’, Shishio fought alongside Kenshin against the Shogun’s Shinsengumi police. Viewed as Kenshin’s successor, he was known to few people. He and Kenshin never met.

Fighting, as was Kenshin, at the battle of Toba-Fushimi that sealed the overthrow of the Shogunate, Shishio was then betrayed by his own side and his body set on fire, the new government wishing to conceal certain assassinations he had committed. Miraculously, however, he survived, and has assembled a private army of mercenaries from within the Kyoto underworld with a view to overthrowing the new government and ruling the land himself. The burns he suffered destroyed his ability to perspire, and his body radiates a tremendous heat. He lives by the law of the jungle, and in his vast ambition he will stop at nothing to achieve his ends.

“This was the first time I’d worked with Director Otomo, and Shishio was a special kind of character so I had some worries, but both the director and Satoh were very welcoming,” Tatsuya Fujiwara says. “Shishio is a character the filmmakers built up with visuals and everything else over a long time. The action team also worked hard with me, so I felt really under pressure to respond to that. The director and Satoh and I talked about how to embellish the last battle between Shishio and Kenshin in great detail until we all agreed on how it would happen. And even though a lot of that was hard to put into words, it came together when we filmed it, and I think everyone was happy with the results. It’s a big thing for me that I’ve been involved with a truly world-class level movie, one that only comes along every decade or so.”

Born May 15, 1982 in Saitama Prefecture, Tatsuya Fujiwara made his stage debut in London, England in director Yukio Ninagawa’s 1997 production of “Shintoku-Maru,” and much of his career has been spent on the stage. With Battle Royale he shared a Best Newcomer Award of the Japanese Academy and won a Best New Actor Blue Ribbon Award, and was widely praised for his portrayal of Soji Okita in the 2004 NHK Sunday night historical drama series “Shinsengumi!” A powerful performance in director Takashi Miike’s 2013 Cannes International Film Festival Entry “Shield of Straw” established him in the top ranks of Japan’s younger character actors. In October of 2014 he will appear in a stage production of “Julius Caesar.”

Other film roles include the two “Death Note” films (06), the “Kaiji: Ultimate Gambler” series (09, 11), “Parade,” “The Incite Mill” (both 10), “I’m Flash!” (12), “The Chart of Love,” “One Third,” and “Monsterz” (all 2014).

Based on the Kyoto arc of the popular manga series written & illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the “Rurouni Kenshin” sequels follow the story of Kenshin Himura (Takeru Satoh), a legendary swordsman in the wars accompanying the turbulent fall of Japan's Shogunate in the 19th century. Once feared as 'Battosai the Killer', he has adopted a peaceful life since the arrival of the 'new age'.
But Makoto Shishio (Tatsuya Fujiwara), the 'Shadow Killer' and successor to Kenshin's position as the deadly assassin, has since then been scheming in the Kyoto underworld, raising an army of disaffected former samurais with the aim of overthrowing the new regime.

Agreeing to a request by the new government to defeat Shishio, Kenshin leaves his beloved ones in Tokyo and sets out for Kyoto. He and Shishio are a match in skill and in wits, but their aims are opposite. Can Kenshin preserve the nation without breaking his vow that he will kill no more...?
The films also star Emi Takei (Kaoru Kamiya), Munetaka Aoki (Sanosuke Sagara), Kaito Oyagi (Yahiko Myojin), Yu Aoi (Megumi Takani), Yosuke Eguchi (Hajime Saito), Min Tanaka (Nenji Kashiwazaki), Tao Tsuchiya (Misao Makimachi), Ryunosuke Kamiki (Soujiro Seta), Maryjun Takahashi (Yumi Komagata) and Tatsuya Fujiwara (Makoto Shishio).

The first sequel, “Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno” will open across the Philippines on Aug. 20, 2014, to be followed by “Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends” on Sept. 24, 2014. Both films are distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

SMART launches LTE-Advanced 5G to the Phils

Two years after it pioneered the deployment of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or 4G technology in the country, wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) announced that 5G wireless technology LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), is now running in the Philippines’ largest and strongest network.

Smart switched on LTE-A at the Smart Jump Center in Mandaluyong City recently, setting the next phase of mobile communication technology beyond 4G LTE standards.

LTE-A, referred to as ‘5G’ by reports on leading global mobile operators AT&T and T-Mobile, delivers data from between 100 megabits per second (mbps) to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), or ten times faster than 3G services and more than twice as fast as 4G services.

By firing up LTE-A technology on its network, Smart joins only a handful of carriers around the world with an LTE-A network, along with leading mobile operators in South Korea, United States, Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong.

“Even as our 3G and 4G networks continue to be unrivaled, Smart becomes the first operator to leap into the future and put the Philippines at par with the world’s most advanced countries in terms of mobile communications technology,” said Orlando B. Vea, founder and Chief Wireless Advisor of Smart.

With LTE-A, a 10MB file takes less than a second to download, YouTube videos no longer have to buffer, and video calls are almost lag-free. But beyond speed, LTE-A’s main feature is also its capability to allocate more network resources to users when the need arises. Smart started testing LTE-A across the country in August last year, delivering results of more than 100Mbps in Makati City, in Boracay, and in Davao City during the Kadayawan festival.

Internet for all

Ramon Isberto, Public Affairs head for Smart and its parent company the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), said that the recent development is part of the company’s multi-pronged approach in addressing the various needs for internet and data services in the market.

“The PLDT Group’s strategy has always been to create solutions that address the varying needs of all segments of our customers, to bring fixed, wireless and mobile broadband services where they really matter. They may be delivered at different speeds and volumes, using a variety of technologies, and meant to respond to a wide range of needs of the market – but all of it is aimed at bringing the benefits of the internet to every Filipino,” explained Isberto.

This strategy meant deploying a combination of Fiber-to-the-Home, Next Generation Network, Time-Division Duplex LTE, Frequency-Division Duplex LTE and vDSL to bring internet to every Filipino home, and 3G, 4G, and 5G or LTE-A for mobile subscribers, according to Isberto.

“We are able to deliver all these high-bandwidth services and applications on the strength of our transmission backbone network, which is the most extensive and most resilient in the country. Aside from allowing us to commit to speed, our unmatched network resources give us the edge in terms of efficiency and reliability,” added Isberto.

Smart’s nationwide coverage is backed by PLDT’s fiber optic cable connection which has now reached nearly 90,000 kilometers, or more than four times than competition. To further strengthen this domestic fiber optic network (DFON), PLDT also set up third legs in its fiber loops in key areas nationwide, the latest of which is the Bohol DFON project that provided redundant links between the Visayas and Mindanao.

Watch Pinocchio comes alive with music and magic on August 16 until December 14

Who will ever forget Pinocchio?  Everyone adores the story of the wooden puppet, what better way then is to bring the story of Pinocchio in theater, together with your kids, relieve the story of wooden puppet whose nose grew when he told a lie. Prepare to be enchant with PINOCCHIO and the rest of the cast.

In celebration of its 22 years of producing well-loved musicals for children of all ages, Repertory Philippines Theater for Young Audiences proudly announces the staging of PINOCCHIO.

This August, Repertory Philippines will take the old and young alike on a journey of this wooden puppet who wanted nothing more than to be a real boy. The play, set in old Italy, comes alive with music, colorful costumes, a little bit of magic, and a vibrant array of characters that travel alongside our beloved Pinocchio as he seeks to make his dream a reality.

Just as our Pinocchio was accompanied by such unique characters, years of experience back up the wide-eyed dreams of the young actors playing the title role. Supporting these young ones is a battalion of veteran and up-and-coming talents, whose theater experiences cover a vast selection of productions.

GEPETTO 
With every wooden puppet, there is a maker. And for every boy, there is a father. That is what Gepetto is to Pinocchio. The kind and generous old man is brought to life by Nic Campos and Oliver Usison. Nic (who also alternates as Antonio) has been a part of many Repertory Philippines’ productions including Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Seussical. He has also acted his share of Shakespeare in the plays Much Ado About (Claudio/Don Pedro) and Twelfth Night (Malvolio).

On the other hand, Oliver Usison made his Repertory Philippines debut in Jesus Christ Superstar!, and has since appeared in Seussical, Fiddler on the Roof, Once on This Island, Miong, Love’s Labor’s Lost, among many others. He is also an instructor of the Rep Summer Workshop.

ANGELINA 
Angelina is a housekeeper and cook for the old Gepetto. Ever so caring and pleasant, this kind woman will be played by Ring Antonio, Naths Everett, and Goldie Soon. Ring Antonio began her theater career with Repertory Philippines’ The Wiz. Following this, she has appeared in many other productions, the most recent of which was Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

When it comes to theater veterans, Naths Everett is definitely one fine-tuned artist. She has been in the theater scene for over twenty years, wearing the hats of performer, choreographer, and teacher. Some of her productions include August Osage County, Do You Hear the People Sing?, Jekyll and Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar!


Finally round up the Angelinas is Goldie Soon, whose theater experience goes way back to her college years in the University of the Philippines where she pursued her degree in Theatre Arts. She has since starred in productions such has Oedipus Rex and Ang Inspektor General for Dulaang UP. Her more recents involvements have been The Joy Luck Club, Alice in Wonderland, and Red Turnip’s Cock.

THE BLUE FAIRY 
What is a fairy tale without a little magic? She fulfills the wish for Pinocchio to become a real boy, and she guides him as he continues with his journey. If the old man Gepetto is his father figure, the Blue Fairy is almost like a mother to our boy Pinocchio. Playing the Blue Fairy are three talented and experienced actresses: Cara Barredo, Liesl Batucan, and Christine Flores.

Cara (who also plays Gino) began her theater career at a very young age, starring as Tiny Tim in Repertory Philippines' Scrooge. Cara was also lauded for her performance as Beth in Little Women, and this earned her the Gawad Buhay Award for Best Female Featured Actress. Liesl Batucan is a performer with many facets to her. She a two-time Aliw Award winner for Best Actress and a PhilStage Gawad Buhay Awardee for Best Female Featured Performance in a Musical. Liesl has been in many local productions (The Little Shop of Horrors, The Wizard of Oz, Romeo and Juliet) and has also performed Off-Broadway at the La Mama Theatre in New York City.

Finally, the last Blue Fairy is Christine Flores. She found herself in Children’s Theater and participated in productions such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Beauty and the Beast. She currently runs the Bel canto Studio, where she imparts her love for theater and music to aspiring students.

ANTONIO 
Antonio is the good-natured narrator of our tale. Guiding us through Pinocchio’s story as Antonio are Arnel Carrion and James Stacey. Arnel Carrion has a long list of productions under his belt. He has been part of the casts of Shakespeare in Hollywood, Much Ado About Nothing, The Secret Garden, The Boor and the Proposal -- just to name a few. James Stacey, on the other hand, attended university in the United Kingdom but has since made a career for himself in Manila. His theater credits include Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Grease.

THE COACHMAN 
The villain of our tale lured children into the sinister Land of Toys. His panache is in the toss of his cape. Bringing to life this sinister creature are none other than Bituin Escalante (who also alternates as Angelina), Raul Montesa, and Onyl Torres.


Bituin Escalante is no stranger to the world of theater, with her career spanning almost twenty years. Her most recent foray on the big stage was Resorts World Manila’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert. She is a member of the Philippine Theater Actors Guild. Raul Montesa has been in the original casts of Miss Saigon in Germany, Manila, and Singapore. His lastest production was as Jafar in Atlantis’ Aladdin. Finally, rounding off our villains is Onyl Torres. He began his theater career early – with the Dulaang Sibol in high school. He is a two-time Gawad Buhay Best Music Director Nominee for Jeckyll and Hyde and The Producers.

CANDLEWICK
Candlewick is one of the most unruly in Pinocchio’s bunch – he is a smart-aleck dweller of the streets. Bringing Candlewick’s fast attitude to life are Daniel Delgado, Antonio Lane, Jay Pangilinan, and Chris George Shulze.

At the young age of seventeen, Daniel Delgado participated in a handful of productions. He is also a member of Alliance, a dance crew that represents the country in international hip hop competitions. On the other hand, Antonio Lane has been in the theater scene since he was six years old. His most recent appearance on stage was for the Virgin Labfest 10, where he was part of a stage reading for Lagalag.

Jay Pangilinan teaches theater workshops for Trumpets Playhouse and Repertory Philippines. His theater credits include plays such as Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Seussical, and most recently, The Bluebird of Happiness. Finally, rounding off our Candlewicks is Chris George Shulze (who also plays the roel of Signore Volpone). He has been under the tutelage of the like of Michael Williams, Menchu Yulo, and Jaime del Mundo. At present, he is part of the international production of The Boston: The Kitchen Musical.

GINO 
Gino is Candlewick’s faithful sidekick. Playing Hino are Steven Conde and Thea Gloria. Steven has appeared in productions such as Snapshots and Portraits, Rivalry, Alice in Wonderland, and The Producers. Thea Gloria, on the other hand, started her acting career under the watchful eye of Anna Valdes-Lim. She has been a part of productions such as August Osage County.

SIGNORE VOLPONE 
The fox in this play – wise, and somehow wise enough to pass himself off as a singing teacher. This curious character is enfleshed on the stage by Jef Flores. He made his theater debut in Camp Rock the Musical and has also appeared in Cinderella and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

SIGNORE GATTO 
The cat of the play – who plays sidekick to Signore Volpone. Playing the cat are Kendrick Ibasco, Steven Hotchkiss, and Chino Veguillas. Kendrick began his theater career in his church ministry, and since then it has extended towards productions such as Rivalry and The Wizard of Oz. Steven Hotchkiss has graced the stage as Friedrich in The Sound of Music. He is now a trainer and conductor for the CAAP Chorale. Finally, Chino Veguillas began is foray in theater in his school’s production of South Pacific. This has since led him to other productions such as Once on This Island, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Little Mermaid.

Rounding off this brilliant cast of performers are ballet dancers Jeff Comeros, Joni Galeste, Erica Jacinto, Jacqui Jacinto, Mark Joseph Pineda, and acrobats Tristan Cheng, Clark Francis dela Riva, and Chill Ocampo.

With such a bounty of talent and passion, it is a sure thing that our boy Pinocchio is one his way for a journey that is magical and truly unforgettable.



Ms. Joy Virata, artistic director of Repertory Philippines Theater  for  Young Audiences will direct PINOCCHIO. This marks the third time that  Repertory Philippines is staging the musical, the first two being in 1996 and 2004.

This new and fresh production of PINOCCHIO is going to be a real treat for the entire family with masks, music and merriment. It will be alive and bursting with energy. The children in the audience will be spellbound with its visually stunning and colorful set design and costumes, the lively choreography, and the witty songs and dialogue of Colodi’s comic characters.


PINOCCHIO is set to open on August 16, 2014 at the Onstage Theater, 2/F, Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas cor. Legazpi St., Makati City. The show runs until December 14, 2014.


For details of show, please call tel. nos. 843-3570 and 451-1474 or email shows@repertoryphilippines.com or log on to www.repertoryphilippines.com.

Connect to Repertory Philippines online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/repertoryphilippines
Twitter: www.twitter.com/repphils
Instagram: www.instagram.com/repphils
YouTube: www.youtube.com/repphils

Tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph

PINOCCHIO is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 USA. Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684

See you at the theater !!!!

Power Mac introduces personal activity monitor Misfit Shine

Now there is a personal cute wearable activity tracker device to monitor your weight goals. It helps you watch your calories intake and allows you to schedule your next physical activities. Misfit Shine was launched at Power Mac Center SM Aura with its new ambassador Anton del Rosario last August 13, 2014.

“Fitness is a fundamental concept in attaining one’s wellbeing, and Misfit Shine certainly ups the ante in the fitness device industry as it integrates product technology with style. With Misfit Shine, Apple users are outfitted with a fashionable and practical tool that delivers health and wellness solutions,” said Misfit Wearables Channel Manager Aurelien Joly.

Founded in 2011 by Sonny Vu, John Sculley (former CEO of Apple and Pepsi), and Sridhar Iyengar (co-founder and CTO of AgaMatrix), Misfit Wearables was a pioneer in the industry of wearable sensory technology. The SHINE was the first product off its production line – a lightweight, elegant activity tracker designed to fit the lifestyle of individuals with a penchant for fitness.

SHINE' Your personal activity monitor,  track your progress, you will get motivated and help you reach your goals.

Are you moving enough? This is the question that the Misfit SHINE poses. While endurance is
normally measured by heart rate, the SHINE is designed to motivate you to keep moving- something that most people take for granted, but is fundamental in achieving overall fitness and balance. It doesn’t matter which angle you choose. It can be a favorite sport, a daily yoga practice
 running to your next meeting, or even just a light jog around the neighborhood. At the same time, the SHINE also effectively tracks your sleeping pattern, from light to deep, a restful sleep, thereby
helping you monitor exactly how much quality rest you are putting in.

Crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum metal, Misfit SHINE is made to last the years and designed to fit just about any lifestyle. It is lightweight, subtly stylish, and complements any daily fashion statement, taking it from the office, the streets, or to the gym.

Misfit Shine is available in jet, grey, topaz, and champagne variants. The device has a 6-month battery life and  retails for PHP 6,850.00.  Available at all Power Mac Centers nationwide. For more information, visit any Power Mac Center or log on to www.powermaccenter.com or www.misfitwearables.com

WB Remains The Only Studio In History To Surpass $1 Billion Domestically For 14 Consecutive Years

WARNER BROS. PICTURES CROSSES BILLION-DOLLAR MARK AT U.S. BOX OFFICE

 Warner Bros. Pictures became the only film studio in history to earn more than $1 billion at the domestic box office for 14 years in a row. In fact, the division has crossed the billion-dollar mark for 15 of the past 16 years. The announcement was made recently by Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures’ President of Domestic Distribution.

The studio passed the billion-dollar threshold thanks to a huge first quarter, featuring the box office success of New Line Cinema’s and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures’ “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second in Peter Jackson’s Trilogy, which opened in late 2013 but which enjoyed substantial returns in the first quarter of this year.

2014 continued to build with Warner Bros. Pictures’, Village Roadshow Pictures’ and LEGO System A/S’s blockbuster animated feature “The LEGO Movie”—which was the #1 movie for the first half of 2014—and “300: Rise of an Empire,” the heavy-hitting follow up to Zack Snyder’s groundbreaking “300,” from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. Summer started with a bang thanks to the monster hit “Godzilla,” from Warner Bros. and Legendary, IMAX’s largest opening this year, followed by Doug Liman’s action thriller from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow, “Edge of Tomorrow,” starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, and one-of-a-kind comedy from Melissa McCarthy as New Line’s “Tammy.”

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “This is a proud day for our studio. To cross such an extraordinary milestone once again is a direct reflection of the high standards and incredible efforts of the dedicated and creative individuals at work here, both on and off the screen. We still have an exciting roster of films yet to open this calendar year and, together with the talented teams bringing them to the theater, we look forward to continued success.”

Still to come in 2014 from Warner Bros. Pictures are: New Line’s and MGM’s “If I Stay”; Alcon Entertainment’s “Dolphin Tale 2”; the dramatic comedy ensemble of “This Is Where I Leave You,” starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda; “Annabelle,” another chapter in New Line’s highly successful “The Conjuring”; David Dobkin’s “The Judge,” starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall in tour-de-force performances, from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow; New Line’s sequel to the hit comedy “Horrible Bosses,” “Horrible Bosses 2,” reuniting the stars from the original, including Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day; “Inherent Vice,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “surf noir” adaptation of author Thomas Pynchon’s cult favorite novel; and from New Line and MGM, the much-anticipated finale to Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” Trilogy, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”

Get 10% discount every Monday with Lazada using your Mastercard

Mondays are never manic with Lazada and Mastercard!

Get 10% discount on select lifestyle items

If you are the urban lifestylista, the proud mother of three, or a yuppie trying to make it big in your career, there could be many reasons to dread Mondays—the traffic, the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, or probably just the mere idea of ticking an item off your kilometer-long to-do lists.

While you are busy making the most out of life, Lazada, the country’s biggest online shopping mall, together with Mastercard, is encouraging you to live your best life now by taking advantage of effortless and risk-free shopping at Lazada.com.ph. With additional 10% off on select lifestyle items, you can easily shop using your Mastercard.

Shop like a VIP at Lazada Philippines’ Mastercard Lifestyle Mondays with tens of thousands of lifestyle items right at your fingertips from home appliances, health and beauty products, fashion and accessories, to watches and many more.

Online shopping at Lazada offers not just the best deals on the hottest items in town, but also provide its consumers the enviable VIP treatment that they deserve. From its myriad of payment options, to free nationwide shipping on transactions above P1000 to free product returns within 30 days (subject to applicable terms and conditions), Lazada has never ceased to make online shopping truly effortless and risk-free; especially now that you can shop via your smartphones with the Lazada Mobile App now available in Apple Appstore, Google Play, and now in Windows Store. So no matter what phone you may be using, you can certainly shop while you’re on the go.

So Mondays are never manic with Lazada.com.ph and Mastercard as it continues to bring awesome deals with the Mastercard Lifestyle Mondays.

To know more about their partnership, log on to http://www.lazada.com.ph/shop-mastercard-monday/ or subscribe at Lazada Philippines fan page by liking www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines.

Frank Grillo leads the cast of "The Purge: Anarchy"

FRANK GRILLO, FROM “THE WINTER SOLDIER” TO “THE PURGE: ANARCHY”

He made an indelible mark in Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” as villain Brock Rumlow. Now, actor Frank Grillo leads the cast of Universal Pictures' “The Purge: Anarchy,” the sequel to summer 2013’s sleeper hit that opened to No. 1 at the North American box-office.

“The Purge: Anarchy” follows an unlikely group of five citizens who, over the course of the night, find out just how far they will go to protect themselves and, ultimately, each other, as they fight to survive a night fraught with impossible decisions. The story begins with a haunted loner, Leo (Grillo), a sergeant who has suffered the loss of his son prior to tonight. Arming himself with enough guns and body armor to make it until dawn, he is a man possessed...and one clearly going out on a vigilante mission of vengeance against those responsible for his loss.

Prior to casting, filmmakers were clear that this wouldn’t be a genre piece that sacrifices character development. Therefore, it was important to spend the first 20 minutes of “The Purge: Anarchy” providing audiences with an intimate look into each character’s situation. Says director James DeMonaco: “I said, ‘If we’re going to do this, let’s get to know these people.’ I figured, if we don’t care about them up front, we’re not going to care about who lives or dies. I don’t want sacrificial lambs who could be randomly killed on this night.”

DeMonaco had previously worked with Frank Grillo on the miniseries “The Kill Point,” so casting the actor as the gritty and resourceful Leo was a goal. Grillo fit the mold and then some. Offers DeMonaco: “I’ve loved Frank’s work for years, and I’ve followed his career since `The Kill Point.' As soon as I came up with the character, I said, ‘It has to be Frank.’ Frank is a tough guy in real life, and we wanted to have an actor who didn’t have to pretend to be tough.”

Producer Brad Fuller agrees with the director, laughing: “If I had to go out on Purge night, I’d want to be with Frank Grillo. I know I would make it because he would get me through it.”
In Grillo, producer Jason Blum knew DeMonaco had the right guy in mind: “James was passionate about having someone who felt very heroic, but also felt like an everyman; that’s what Frank does best. He feels like he could be your friend, but he also feels like he’s beyond your reach in terms of how heroic he is. That’s the character that he plays in this movie: the underdog who you think is quite a cynical guy but actually has a huge heart.”



Grillo describes coming on board the speculative thriller: “I was heading to L.A. for a trip, and James [DeMonaco] called me and said he was working on a sequel to `The Purge.' He described it to me before I’d even read the screenplay, and it sounded like an old Western…like `The Outlaw Josey Wales.' I thought it was interesting and provocative, and after he sent me the script, I was sold.”

While the first film was told from the point of view of the wealthy Sandin family living in the suburbs, DeMonaco focused “The Purge: Anarchy” on the side of the disenfranchised, those whom were targeted in the annual Purge. Grillo was particularly drawn to this idea. He shares: “In this film, you truly get to see what The Purge is and why it exists. It makes you scratch your head about where our society is in terms of violence and prejudice and what we must deal with on a daily basis.”

Opening across the Philippines on August 27, 2014, “The Purge: Anarchy″ is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Switch and Save to affordable Watsons Generics

Watsons a leading pharmacy retail brand in Asia recently launched its own line of multivitamins and medicines Watsons Generics last August 7, 2014 at Manila Peninsula together with its new ambassadors Lorna Tolentino and Edu Manzano.  They are admitted to switching from their branded multivitamins to Watsons generics before becoming its endorsers. Lorna Tolentino have tried Glutathione and Milk Thistle with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin B1+ B6 + B12 and among others. Edu Manzano on the other hand have tried the Vitamin B1, B6 and B12 as well. They told the guests and media that they are happy with the healthy switch and is living a healthy lifestyle.

 Watsons Generics also held a free medical consultation on that day, free blood sugar test, blood pressure monitoring and BMI test, and provided free medicines to those who have suffered from illnesses such as diabetes and mild hypertension.

Health literacy remains to be a key health challenge not only in the Philippines but around the world, even in developed countries. With literacy and health both recognized as fundamental components of pursuing health and well being of the society according to World Health Organization, medical and health industry leaders highlight a new collaborative framework to help address the low health literacy in the country.

At the launch of Watsons Generics, Dr. Anthony Leachon, President of the Philippine College of Physicians, emphasized that health literacy plays a critical role in addressing the dismal health situation of Filipinos including poor health and high risk of hospitalization.

“There still are many gaps that need to be addressed to improve health literacy in the country. Poverty and lack of education remain to be some of biggest contributors that prevent patients to communicate, understand health information, and subsequently make sound decisions about their health. What we need is a pragmatic approach toward health literacy—not only involving the doctor and patient but also the pharmacist and product,” shared Dr. Leachon.

He further explained that the best way to address these gaps is to use a practical framework that illustrates how the physician, patient, pharmacist and product can work together to create a more health literate community. “Ultimately, health literacy is achieved when patients and providers truly understand each other,” he added.

Watsons Generics prides itself for maintaining highly trained pharmacists in all of its branches nationwide. These pharmacists aim to support consumers with their medical decisions, particularly in purchasing medicines and adhering to the doctor’s prescription.

“Pharmacists must do their part in educating the public through conversations with customers. The well being of our customers is at the core of everything we do, and by entering the generics industry, we enable Filipinos to remain vigilant in their decision-making process when it comes to their health care,” Chiong added.

Aside from making health information accessible to the public through its pharmacists, Watsons also empowers consumers with the launch of its own generics medicine line. The Watsons Generics line will offer a wide array of medicines and supplements that are manufactured by trusted partners to ensure that all products are of high quality, safe and effective while maintaining its affordability. By providing quality generic medicines to the public, Watsons aims to build trust amongst its consumers and encourage them to be more proactive on maintaining their health.


“We believe that the public and private sectors can collaboratively develop solutions to mitigate this problem of low health literacy. The new product line of Watsons Generics is a testament of our commitment to give the public more options so they can take control of their health,” said Danilo Chiong, Health Business Director of Watsons.

In its initial launch, Watsons Generics will offer a wide variety of over-the-counter medicines, supplements, and maintenance drugs that addresses common ailments, illnesses, and lifestyle needs of Filipinos. Watsons was a pharmacy first with over 170 years of pharmacy experience, and continues to lead the industry as Asia’s no. 1 pharmacy retail brand for five consecutive years according to Campaign Asia.

Our Mrs. Doubtfire (Robin Williams) is gone forever

I will always remember Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire, as he was endearing, funny and a good actor. I just heard that he died this morning, my heart goes to his family.  Flashbacks/scenes from Mrs Doubtfire keeps playing on my mind, and I am heartbroken. As Genie in Aladdin , you are now free. My prayers are with you.

Williams married graphic designer Susan Schneider in Napa Valley, California, ceremony in October 2011. Schneider sent a written statement to CNN through the representative.


"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken.
"On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."

Williams married graphic designer Susan Schneider in Napa Valley, California, ceremony in October 2011. Schneider sent a written statement to CNN through the representative.