TNT all set to compete in Mumbai

            TNT Movie (Tago Nang Tago/Always on the Run) starts 2015 with a bang as it competes in the 13th Third Eye Asian Film Festival,  with the short film screening on the first Sunday of the year, January 4, 2015, 11:30am. at the Ravindra Natya Mandir - Mini Theatre, Sayani Marg, Prabhadevi (Near Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Next To ICICI Bank), Mumbai 400025, Maharashtra, India.

            TNT is the only Filipino film included in the official selection of the said festival. It will be will be screened along with other shorts produced by Asians and/or in the Asian region in the short film competition.

            Written and directed by Roberto Reyes Ang, TNT is about the plight of an undocumented immigrant, portrayed by Perry Escaño, who is to realize his American dream and survive in the city that never sleeps, New York.

            "It's been a very meaningful year for TNT. There have been a lot of suspense and twists and turns, from looking like the project is not going anywhere due to numerous delays and unexpected circumstances to ending 2014 on a very high note. This film became a reality and stands where it is now because of the men and women who believed it in from the very start with, we would like to thank all the people who made this film possible . You put this film to where it stands now. This is a product of love and hard work," says director Robert Reyes Ang.

            The 13th Third Eye Asian Film Festival is organized by The Asian Film Foundation of Mumbai in collaboration with the Prabhat Chitra Mandal National Film Development Corporation Limited.
     Prior to competing in this festival, TNT world premiered at the International Film Festival where it won the Best Ensemble Cast Award.
    It was showcased in the FACINE’s 21st Filipino International Film Festival in San Francisco.
      It was also among the IndieBravo! Award of Distinction recipients sponsored by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

       Escaño shares, “TNT (Always on the Run) is a story that rings true to many, it is about a Filipino expatriate living illegally in New York City.  Hopefully, this short film will make overseas Filipino workers to become more aware of what to do and what to avoid when it comes to working abroad. It also tackles human trafficking and exploitation of laborers.”
       Shooting for three straight days in several places in Queens, Manhattan, in the subway station and on Time Square, the lead actor relates,  “I felt uncomfortable in the beginning. I felt pressured because I was the only professional actor on the set. I know that I shouldn't commit any mistakes, that they expected a lot from me.”
       Aside from acting, Escaño  is also into film direction. He says, " Making films is my passion. I want to keep on making projects that move the audience, that make them rethink old views. There's satisfaction in being able to share your art to the audience, and also in being able to impart something to them.”
      "Overture" which Escaño directed  and “Tama (Deranged),” which he wrote, participated as official entries during the 2011 Gawad CCP Film Festival.
       Last year,  he wrote and directed “The Platinum Hair,” a documentary on the life of the late theater thespian Ama Quiambao.
       He is set to shoot his next film starring BJ Forbes, Maria Isabel Lopez, Dindo Arroyo, Geoff Taylor and Mark Justine Aguillon.
       His thoughts about winning the Best Ensemble Acting at the 2014 International Film Festival Manhattan NYC,: “I'm happy that the group got an award. All the actors I've worked with on this film are New-York based. What's interesting is that they are not professional actors. Ged is a painter, Ramon is a film producer (“Batang West Side,” 2001) while Dominique works at a restaurant. Still, they were very focused and serious. They would all sit down and give analysis of each of their characters. I guess that's why this project turned out well.”
            He enthuses, “An international recognition means that the global community now trusts Filipino products; That if it's done by Filipinos, there is already that premium that it's a good film.”

            For the festival's full program, please visit: http://www.affmumbai.info/schedule2013/sche2014.html
            For more information about our film, please check out our website: http://theglobalx.wix.com/tnt-movie

Chef Lau joins the cast of The Apartment: Celebrity Edition

Culinary extraordinaire Chef Rolando Laudico, more famously known as Chef Lau, represents the Philippines in Asia’s number one design reality TV show, The Apartment, for its fourth season produced by Imagine Group in collaboration with Fox International Channels. The series is set at the breathtaking Bangtao Beach in partnership with Castlewood Group featuring celebrities from all over the globe. Chef Lau will be battling it out with 11 other contestants and get the chance to win USD 100,000 for a charity of their choice.

The renowned chef has been featured on television for the development of Selecta’s Gold Label Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream and was a recurring judge and host in the highly popular and successful MasterChef: Pinoy Edition. This time, Chef Lau is competing against an international cast, namely: Paula Taylor (Actress/ Host), Xiao Wang (Actress/ Jewelry Designer), Rima Fakih (Miss USA 2011), Lucy Clarkson – Demeo (Model/ Singer), Patricia Knudsen (DJ/ TV Host), Nicole Russo (Producer/ Singer), Mary Christina Brown (Film Star), Cindy Gomez (Pop Singer), Justin Bratton (Host/ Actor), Ryan Star (Singer), and Bronson Pelletier (Actor).

The cast will be divided into four groups to redesign luxurious villas provided by the Castlewood Group. Chris Comer, CEO of Castlewood Group, said, “We are extremely proud to be partnering with Imagine Group for this year’s brand new format of Asia’s leading reality design show, The Apartment. This edition has been taken to a whole new level, raising the bar for reality TV with a star-studded international cast in a beautiful and inspiring setting with our award-winning luxury villas in Bangtao Beach, Phuket. Also having all the winnings donated to charity supports our belief in giving back to local communities, something very close to my heart. Can’t wait to see the celebs go at it!”

This season of The Apartment, top design guru Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen will reprise his role as the head judge of the competition, and former guest judge, Andrea Savage will join the panel as a recurring judge on the show. Jamie Durie is also back as the host of the show.

President and Founder of Imagine Group Riaz Mehta also expressed, “We are extremely excited to launch The Apartment: Celebrity Edition. The Apartment is one of our longest running reality TV shows and having celebrities as contestants add a varied dimension to the show.”

Mr. Jeremy Rowe, Managing Director, Decorative Paints – South East and South Asia at AkzoNobel, the manufacturer of Dulux, said: “We have a long-standing partnership with The Apartment from the very first season, and this is the fourth consecutive year that we provide the contestants with access to the latest interior design tools and resources. As the world’s leading colour authority, we are excited to the return of this Asia’s number one design show and look forward to see all 12 celebrity contestant this year to express their personal style and turn their ideas to reality.”

The Apartment: Celebrity Edition will air on StarWorld every Sunday, 9:40PM SG/HK (8:40PM JKT/BKK) starting 25 January 2015 and will run for 10 action-packed one-hour episodes.

Teddys Bigger Burgers specialty burgers now exclusively available at its 2nd branch Shangri-la Mall

The first time I had a taste of that fat delicious juicy mouth-watering burger from Teddy's was on its opening day last August 23 of last year.  My perception of what a burger should taste and look like levelled up, there will never be a burger like Teddy's Bigger Burgers, theirs is a gourmet of a burger its high end but reasonably priced. You have to pay for taste and quality.  I love the way they made it, hot, delicious, juicy, and with a potato bun so squishy made perfect for their patty. Their secret sauce and add-ons are the ones I love the most because you can customize your burger accordingly.

Everyone is anticipating for Teddy's second branch, those whose working or residing near
 the Pasig area will now have access on the burgers they love. Teddy's Bigger Burgers is now open at the 6th level of Shangri-la Plaza, Mandaluyong City. It has the same charming Hawaiian 50s interior (just like in Greenbelt) with surfboards, wooden tables and chairs,  but this time the second branch is bigger and spacious.

Good thing is they now offer specialty burgers, the Samurai, Elvis and Bandito and are  exclusively available at this branch.

The SAMURAI BURGER from Teddy's branch in Japan  is a 100% USDA Ground Chuck patty topped with crispy sweet potato, wasabi mayonnaise, teriyaki sauce and nori strips. The strong flavor of the wasabi is balanced by the sweetness of the teriyaki sauce and the complex flavors of the nori to make for a unique burger that will delight those into Japanese food. The spicy sweet taste got me, because I like all things spice.

The ELVIS BURGER was inspired by ‘’The King of Rock ‘n Roll’, Elvis Presley. As Ted Tsakiris and Rich Stula made a research they gathered that Elvis loved his burger with peanut butter, bacon and bananas. So they created this gourmet burger, for those who would like to sample this, go on and try, you will surely go bananas!

This is one of my favorite I could eat 3 orders of this the whole day, seriously the BANDITO BURGER with jalapeño and dripping cheese sauce and juicy patty compliments each other so well. It was concocted with the adventurous diners in mind, the one who prefers to bite into burgers with strong flavors and zest.

Teddy’s burgers are made of 100% USDA Ground Chuck made-to-order patty, dressed with a secret special sauce then sandwiched in a soft potato bun. Available in 5 oz (big), 7 oz (bigger), 9 oz (biggest) and Monster Double (double patty) options, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers are best paired with extra crispy fries, tater tots or beer-battered onion rings, and super thick milk shakes.

Awarded multiple times as the best burger in Hawaii and recently in Seattle, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers was established in 1998 by Tsakiris and Stula, with locations across Hawaii and the mainland U.S. The Philippines is Teddy’s 2nd international location, following Japan.

For more information about Teddy’s Bigger Burgers PH, visit the official Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/TeddysBurgersPH). Teddy’s Bigger Burgers branches are located in Greenbelt 3 and Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

ELECTRON TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER OPENS DRIVING AND COMPUTER SCHOOL AT SM NOVALICHES

In celebration of its 12 founding anniversary, Electron Technical Training Center, Inc. furthers its mission of helping create a more skilled labor force as it opened its newest satellite branch at the SM Novaliches Mall.

The new branch offers Driving courses at more affordable tuition rates that would hopefully raise the quality of drivers (both private and public) here in the metro, especially since a lot of new drivers lack the basic knowledge of traffic rules and regulations.

The event held at the SM Novaliches activity center was attended by students, faculty and members of various Rotary Clubs, some of which are business owners who have partnered with the school and provide job opportunities to its graduates.

In his speech, guest of honor Congressman Samuel D. Pagdilao, Jr. praised the husband and wife team of Dr. Dominador and Lea Solis for establishing the school and fulfilling the dreams of its graduates. Pagdilao also inspired the students with his keys to success, such as HARD WORK, THOROUGH PREPARATION, having the RIGHT ATTITUDE toward work, and TO SEEK GOD’S PROVIDENCE, to pray and ask for guidance.

"As the world is facing a worsening employment crisis. we at Electron hope to empower the next generation of the Filipino labor force with the skills needed to gain better employment, notes founder Dr. Dennis Solis.

"The school's goal is to help fulfill one’s dreams . Our basic mission is to provide a rigid training that will bring out one’s potential, ability, talent and gain it’s confidence. Electron also offers a quality and comprehensive learning in a short period of time, with a little eflbrt and less expenses, that tends to be useful and productive for their daily living with an income generating value not just here in the Philippines but also abroad, added Ms. Lea Solis.

“Kapag graduate ka ng EI.ECTRON, trabaho ang maghahanap sa ‘yo! has been our tag line as specially skilled individuals are more recognized to be highly qualified workers, therefore, they will get more employment opportunities as well."

Electron offers courses which are the most-in—demand works especially in abroad. They have a 15-day course offered ( Computer Science, Computer Secretarial, Computer Technician, Dressmaking and Tailoring, Electronics Technician, Gas/Diesel Mechanics, Industrial Electricity, Motorcycle Mechanics, Practical Electricity, Ref and Air Conditioned Technician, Welding SMAW); 10-day course offered (ADOBE Photoshop, Animation Using Flash, Auto-cad with Drafting, Bartending, Beauty Care, Book-keeping, CCTV Security/Surveillance Camera, Cell Phone Technician, Computer Programming, Driving with Troubleshooting, English Proficiency and Finishing Courses for Call Center Agents, Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Hairdressing, Laptop Technician, Massage Therapy, Web Designing). The school also offers a five-month, one year and two-year courses. All courses are accredited by TESDA.

And the good news when enrolled in Electron — they have the lowest tuition fee ever! There are also no age limit when enrolling in Electron , they have a hands-on training for immediate acquisition of skills. They have a unique ladderized program that allows each enrollee to acquire specialized skill in any courses offered with a certificate of completion awarded after every 15"‘ meeting thus qualifying them to work immediately. Plus, Electron allows each of their enrollees to take refresher courses as much as they want for FREE!

Electron has 10 branches that includes Novaliches — Main Campus, Munoz, Valenzuela, Paranaque, Pasig, Las Pinas, Espana, Pasay, Caloocan and in Marilao, Bulacan.

For more inquiries, visit Electron in #664 Quirino Highway, Bagbag, Novaliches Quezon City. You can also call 02- 418-2232/02-352008 I/02-703-0878 or email at electrontech2002@yahoo.com.

BACKROOM, INC. LOOKS AHEAD FOR A MORE BLESSED AND BRIGHTER 2015

Backroom, Inc. wrapped up a blessed and meaningful 2014 with a Christmas Party last December 18 held at the Village Patio, 185 Maginhawa Street, Diliman, Quezon City . For Backroom, Christmas is always a joyous and much-anticipated season of the year. It is a time of merry-making and thanksgiving for all the blessings received. The Christmas Party was also a continuation of Backroom’s 25th anniversary celebration.

The party began with a Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Reverend Fr. Allan Samonte followed by a sumptuous dinner.

After dinner, exciting parlor games were played participated in by Backroom staff, artists, and guests.

One of the highlights of the party was the videoke singing competition among Backroom staff and guests. Junnel Manansala, Backroom artist and member of NYOBG, emerged as the First Place winner with his rendition of the song Let Me Be the One. Jamie Almario who sang You bagged Second Place while Philip Rojas who sang Bituing Walang Ningning won Third Place.

A video presentation reminiscing the company’s 25 years was presented. Happy memories of the good old years were recalled as the staff and the guests watched old photos on the screen.

As part of its annual tradition, Backroom had its raffle draw and exchange gifts. Raffle prizes were also drawn for lucky guests.

It was a fun and intimate Christmas Party. Backroom, Inc. is now optimistic for a more blessed and brighter 2015!

"Annie" is back with Oscar Nominee Quvenzhané Wallis

YOUNGEST EVER OSCAR BEST ACTRESS NOMINEE PLAYS “ANNIE”

Who will ever forget the first movie "Annie"? That cute adorable girl with her curly blonde locks that made us love her more in the late 80s.  America's favorite orphan is now back in the persona of Quvenzhané Wallis.

The girl who moves with the rhythm of a busy NYC? The foster kid who sees the good in everybody - even her foster mom, the queen of mean, Miss Hannigan? Who Hearts New York - and finds out that New York Hearts her right back? Just one kid - it's “Annie!”


The youngest person ever nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, Quvenzhané Wallis (“Beasts of the Southern Wild”) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who's also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014.

Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they'd be back for her someday, it's been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything's about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) - advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) - makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he's her guardian angel, but Annie's self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it's the other way around.

"What is cool about Annie is that she teaches the adults what matters in life," says Wallis of the plucky heroine. "I think all kids feel like we have something to teach grownups."

Wallis says she's a fan of the original movie. "It's my favorite," she says. "I like to sing and dance along with it. So I love that I got to sing and dance in the movie for real this time."

"Annie is very kind and serious, and worries about the other girls - she makes sure they're okay," says Wallis. "She just has a dream of finding her parents. That's the number one thing on her list. Miss Hannigan is always in her way, but she also has the other four girls by her side."

Of course, Wallis formed a special bond with those four other girls. "I felt like I had four sisters on the set," she says. "They were so fun - I made such good friends. And also Cameron Diaz - she's so nice in real life. Miss Hannigan is supposed to be mean, but not Cameron!"

A Broadway classic that has delighted audiences for generations comes to the big screen with a new, contemporary vision in Columbia Pictures’ comedy “Annie.”

Director/Producer/Screenwriter Will Gluck teams with producers James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith & Will Smith, Caleeb Pinkett, and Shawn “JAY Z” Carter, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith with a modern telling that captures the magic of the classic characters and original show that won seven Tony Awards. Celia Costas and Alicia Emmrich serve as Executive Producers. The screenplay is by Will Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna, based on the musical stage play “Annie,” book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and on “Little Orphan Annie,” © and ® Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Opening across the Philippines on January 21, 2015, “Annie” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of

Electrolux; Your Guide to a Healthy Holiday!

The holidays are just around the corner and with festivities like Christmas and New Year celebrations come food— lots of it.

Lechon, pasta, fried chicken, fruit salad, and cakes are only some of the usual dishes in most Filipino family’s holiday meal plan. We all know how hard it is to resist these delicious yet calorie-packed treats. So here are some tips to help you enjoy the holiday season while keeping the extra pounds away.

Eat breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so remember to jump-start your day with a hearty meal, especially on days you will be eating more. Depriving yourself of this vital meal can lead to overindulgence on calorie-laden treats that you will surely regret later on. Skipping breakfast can also lead to snacking throughout the day, which means eating more than you would otherwise.

Welcome the day with a slice or two of whole grain or multigrain bread. These have low glycemic indices (GI), which mean they are digested more slowly over a longer period of time than white bread. Add a bit of crunch to your bread by toasting it in the Electrolux pop-up toaster. Pair this up with a cup of freshly brewed coffee using the Electrolux coffee maker or maybe a hot cup of tea or milk when you quickly heat up water with the Electrolux electric kettle. Whip up a simple but hearty breakfast conveniently with the Electrolux Easy Sense breakfast set.

(L-R: ETS 3200 Easy Sense Pop-up Toaster, EEK 3200 Easy Sense Coffee Maker, ECM 3200 Electric Kettle)

Bring your own healthy options
Bring a salad or a vegetable side dish when invited to a Christmas party potluck to make sure that there is a healthy option on the table. Instead of bringing fruit salad in milk and cream, indulge on mixed fruits in honey to satisfy your sweet tooth with less guilt. Keep all your vegetables and fruits fresh and crisp with the Electrolux NutriFresh™ 3-door refrigerator. Its middle compartment can be used as a crisper, chiller, or freezer depending on your party needs.

Electrolux EME3500SA 12 cu. ft. 3-Door NutriFresh Refrigerator


Hearty substitutes
With a little imagination and the right kitchen equipment, it’s not hard to cook healthier versions of your favorite holiday dishes. For instance, use vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise-based dressings for your salads. You can also add fruits and nuts to add flavour and texture to your salad. For cake frostings, you can use a fruit puree instead of the usual sugar or cream cheese frosting. All you need is a powerful blender like the Electrolux Powermix Silent Blender to ensure the right texture and consistency of your puree.

Electrolux EBR5050 Powermix Silent Blender


Healthy snacking
Holiday recipes like fried chicken and lechon kawali call for a liberal amount of cooking oil. Instead of deep-frying, try roasting with the Electrolux cooking range with electric oven and grill; this way you get to enjoy the same meaty goodness with significantly less oil. For your cookies, try using whole wheat or gluten-free flour for the batter. You can also sweeten it up with honey instead of refined sugar. Instead of buying from your trusty bake shop, you can create these treats for the whole family in one go using the Electrolux Inspiro built-in oven. This oven offers the same kind of flexibility that busy chefs require. It has a 74-liter capacity, offers up to 8 cooking programs, and allows multi-level cooking that lets you evenly bake a big batch of treats for your loved ones.

( Electrolux EKM66405X Cooking Range, Electrolux EOB5450AAX Inspiro Built-in Oven)

Owen Wilson is back as the miniature cowboy in "Night of the Museum: Secret of the Tomb"

OWEN WILSON: MINIATURE-SIZED HERO IN “NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB”




                In “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” Ben Stiller returns as security guard Larry Daley, together with a highly impressive group of comic actors.  Owen Wilson is back as the irrepressible miniature cowboy Jedediah, along with his equally small buddy, the Roman general, Octavius, (Steve Coogan). Both are embroiled in the latest adventure, directed by Shawn Levy. As always, the legendary artifacts at New York’s Museum of Natural History come to life, but this time, problems arise when they start malfunctioning.  The magic that keeps them alive is waning and Larry’s friends are in danger. Saving them involves an urgent trip to the British Museum in London.

                While the first two films were set in the U.S., the new adventure takes the team to the United Kingdom.  Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan, reprise their roles as the duo of American cowboy Jedediah and Roman Centurion Octavius, both miniatures from historic dioramas.  They’re the smallest characters with the biggest friendship.  Wilson says, “There has been an arc to our relationship.  We started off sort of as adversaries, and now it’s evolved into more of a team.  We’re practically a buddy comedy within a funny family movie.”

                The friendship is all the more unexpected because the characters come from very different cultural backgrounds and eras.  “There’s a brashness to Jedediah,” says Wilson, “that sort of runs up against and chafes the gentility of what Octavius represents.”  The picture of civility, Octavius is a military leader from ancient Rome.  He and Jedediah face their greatest peril yet when they fly through a museum air duct and find themselves in a Pompeii diorama where Mount Vesuvius is about to erupt.

                On being funny, Wilson relates that “My dad had a great sense of humor and on both sides of my family, humor was the way that the family related to each other. My mom had a good sense of humor, but my dad was hilarious. My dad was the head of the public television station in Dallas and that was the first station to carry MONTY PYTHON. He really loved MONTY PYTHON. So I think that being around him and his friends growing up was very helpful for me. And  though I didn't have a background as a stand up comedian and as a child I didn't ever think about becoming a comedian. In school I wasn't really a class clown, but I would get into trouble and sometimes give colorful answers to what I perceived to be banal questions from teachers, and that would make the other kids laugh and sometimes I’d get the teachers laughing a little bit. So maybe there’s a little bit of that in my background.”

                Returning to “Night at the Museum,” Wilson believes that like the movie, there is an underlying magical charm in the movie, “Apart from its great adventure, what's also nice is that it’s led to an upswing in kids' interest in museums - and the Natural History Museum. So that's a great thing that's happened and I think that is really because of Ben and Shawn and the way Shawn's able to mix the laughs with something that can be very touching. He just seems to have that touch.”

                One of the most gifted and versatile actors of his generation, Owen Wilson has starred in a slew of hit films. His early credits include “The Cable Guy,” “Armageddon” and “Permanent Midnight.” He further starred “Bottle Rocket,” “Rushmore,” “Zoolander,” “Marley & ME,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Meet The Parents,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “The Internship,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” (for which Wilson and Anderson received a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination), “The Darjeeling Limited,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and most recently, the highly praised film, “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
             
                “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” opens January 8 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Feel the thrill of Star Cinema’s Feng Shui in XD: 4D Cinema

The newest addition to SM Cinema Mall of Asia’s Specialized Theatres – the XD: 4D Cinema is a new 4D experience with enormous in-theatre effects including snow, wind, water, scent, fog and strobe/lightings. It also has seat impactors, motion seats, seat vibrators and even a leg tickler to add a breathtaking fourth dimension experience.

In this year’s upcoming 40th Metro Manila Film Festival, Star Cinema, in partnership with SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. will feature its official entry and Feng Shui, at the XD: 4D Cinema in Mall of Asia. Feng Shui, to be shown on December 25, 2014, will be the first Filipino movie rendered in 4D.

In this highly anticipated second installment of the multi-million Feng Shui film franchise, everything comes in twos with the return of Feng Shui to the big-screen: it’s double the excitement with the awesome tandem of Kris Aquino and Coco Martin; its double the fright with the terrible return of “Lotus Feet;” and it’s double the heart-stopping horror as double luck and double misfortune will befall anyone who will dare to accept anything from the horrific bagua.

Watch the greatest horror movie in the history of Philippine cinema and engage your senses in complete cinematic experience at Mall of Asia’s XD: 4D Cinema!

“INTO THE WOODS” JOURNEYS INTO THE BIG SCREEN

Twelve years ago, following the phenomenal success of the big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Chicago” (which won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture), director Rob Marshall sat down with Stephen Sondheim and expressed an interest in directing a film version of one of the legendary composer’s stage productions. At the top of Sondheim’s list: “Into the Woods,” one of his most acclaimed – and poignant – works, and one which he thought would be a perfect fit for Marshall.

Marshall and his producing partner, John DeLuca, had been fans of Sondheim and James Lapine’s landmark musical since it opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1987. In describing the piece Marshall says, “The story seamlessly intertwines Sondheim’s emotional, funny and brilliant score with Lapine’s intricate and masterful book, which is a modern twist on several beloved fairy tales, and is entertaining, while examining complex themes like the consequences of wishes, the parent/child relationship, greed, ambition, loss, and, perhaps most importantly, unconditional love and the power of the human spirit.”

Then in 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Marshall heard President Obama addressing the families of the victims. In an effort to console them, Obama said, “You are not alone...No one is alone.” The phrase “No One is Alone,” which is also one of the most moving and memorable songs from “Into the Woods,” struck a chord with Marshall, and in that moment he knew that the time was finally right to bring the beloved musical to the screen.

“In many ways, I think ‘Into the Woods’ is a fairy tale for the 21st century post 9/11 generation,” Marshall says. “Sondheim and Lapine were way ahead of their time when they wrote it. The comforting knowledge that we are not alone in this unstable world gives us all that glimmer of hope.”

For Sondheim, “’No One Is Alone’” was written as a community song. “I believe Arthur Wing Pinero said that in writing a play, you tell the audience what you’re going to do, you do it and then you tell them that you’ve done it. If you tell them that you’ve done it, then it makes a package,” he says.

“’No One Is Alone’ tells them that we’ve done it,” Sondheim explains. “This is what the show has been about. No one is alone: we are all connected in some way and we are all responsible for each other’s actions. It’s something I believe firmly and it’s something that’s worth writing about.”

Marshall and DeLuca took their passion project to Disney, and immediately knew they had found the perfect company to bring the stage musical to life. “We were thrilled that the company embraced the project the way that they did,” says Marshall. “They were truly interested in expanding the definition of what a ‘modern fairy tale’ film could be.”

Producer Marc Platt, who joined the duo in making the film, says, “Disney is a company that historically tells the classic fairy tales, so moving forward it should also be the company that finds new, contemporary and unexpected ways to tell these stories.”

So after 27 years, the long-awaited classic was set to begin its journey forward. “The Woods of our story is universal, and can mean so many things,” Marshall says. “It is the place you go to find your dreams, confront your fears, lose yourself, find yourself, grow up and learn to move forward. It’s all part of life. So ‘Into the Woods’ we go, again and again...”

“Into the Woods” is a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humorous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy)—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife (James Corden & Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep) who has put a curse on them.
The principal cast is led by Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and Johnny Depp.

Opening across the Philippines on January 28, 2015, “Into the Woods” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Huawei ramps up commitment to 4G/LTE, introduces Honor 6

Huawei releases its latest high-powered, future-proof smartphone at an affordable price – the Honor 6. It offers all the premium smartphone features, such as 4G LTE Cat6, octa-core Kirin 920 SoC, a 3100 mAh battery, and a 13MP fourth generation BSI camera, at a buying price of PhP 13,990 available at the online shopping portal Lazada.

“The Honor 6 is the manifestation of our strength as a connector. We believe we offer only the best technology for our consumers and we focus and continually improve on that. The Honor 6 allows brave, highly-mobile users to fuel their high-powered lifestyle without the hefty cost,” said Niño Carandang, Honor Business Unit Manager. 

For the Brave 

The Honor 6 is designed with the new mobile user in mind. “People the world over are rethinking their lifestyles and designing a life that is founded on their true strengths and passions. We believe that our mobile phones should also cater to the needs and wants of consumers. The Honor 6 does just that,” Carandang said.

High-powered connectivity 

The Honor 6 is the first smartphone in the world that supports 4G LTE Cat6 which enables a maximum download speed of 300Mbps. With this capability, the handset can download a two-hour, standard-definition movie at 1.5 gigabytes in less than 40 seconds; a two-hour, high-definition movie at 5 gigabytes can be downloaded in 2.2 minutes.

The handset is equipped with an octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 920 SoC, cutting-edge big.LITTLE architecture. This architecture allows the handset to deliver an improved performance at 200 percent while lowering power consumption at 35 percent. It also comes with high game compatibility, a superb gaming experience with a 400 percent improved high-performance GPU.

High endurance, boundless communication

The Honor 6 does not only redefine software architecture, it also does the same thing with battery endurance. Equipped with a 3100 mAh battery, the handset guarantees minimum battery life of 2.7 days on regular use and 1.2 days for heavy use. With a SmartPower 2.0 feature, the Honor 6 has hardware and software power saving technology with five power consumption reduction plans that can save power up to 30 percent.

Boundless communication is Huawei’s promise to customers and the Honor 6 delivers that. Equipped with Huawei-developed chips, RF circuits, and antennas, the handset provides optimal performance through higher call quality and smoother Internet surfing, even with poor network conditions.

Images, memories redefined 

True to Huawei mobile reputation, the Honor 6 captures high-quality crisp images on its 13MP fourth generation BSI camera. Worrying about lighting conditions will now be a thing of the past as the handset’s camera delivers excellent image quality, even at low light levels, with a professional image processing engine. And with faster transition from when the mobile screen is off, the Honor 6 ensures that users can capture any moment in as fast as 0.6 seconds.

For those who love taking videos, the Honor 6 offers the ultimate video experience. The handset’s rear camera clocks in 13MP and stacked with BSI sensor. It has a large F2.0 aperture, 5P aspheric lens, hardware-based HDR, and a dual LED flashlight. For those who love taking selfies, the Honor 6 comes with a back-illuminated 5MP front camera that has 1.4um pixel size and 88-degree angle view. Panoramic selfie options also make groufie shots easier.

Premium design 

All these are encased in a 5-inch, 2.86 mm ultrathin frame and a 75.7 screen-to-body ratio that features a top-quality FHD touchscreen with a vivid, in-cell display of 445 PPI. The body is made of composite materials used in outer space which are forged with a six-layer, high-tech complex technology. The Honor 6 also boasts of rounded corners that lend a sophisticated and classy look and feel that will appeal to the discerning set.

The Huawei Honor 6 is available on www.lazada.com.ph/honor-6 at PhP 13,990. For more information about the Honor 6, please like and/or follow these accounts:

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Huawei Honor 6 specs:
•        5-inch IPS LCD full HD display @ 1920 x 1080 resolution, 441ppi
•        Kirin 920 octa-core processor (four ARM Cortex A15 and four A7 cores)
•        Mali-T624 GPU
•        3GB RAM
•        16GB internal storage
•        up to 64GB via microSD card
•        HSPA+, LTE Cat. 6 300Mbps
•        WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-Band
•        13MP rear camera with Sony IMX214 sensor and f/2.0 aperture
•        Dual-LED flash
•        5MP front camera
•        GPS with aGPS support
•        Android 4.4.2 KitKat with Emotion UI 2.3
•        Li-Ion 3100mAh battery
•        139.8 x 68.8 x 6.5mm
•        135 grams