“Asia’s Got Talent” to thrill Manila tonight 12 March 2015, 8.05pm on AXN!

To those anticipating for AXN's Asia's Got Talent, tonight's the night. Tune in and let those contestants win judges "yeses" by their brilliant performances. The show's hosts are Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez,  the pair of friends as contestants of “The Amazing Race Asia Season 2” and hosts of the talk show “The Duke”.

Debuting tonight on AXN,  Thursday, 12 March at 8.05pm with subsequent episodes airing in its regular Thursday 8.30pm slot, the brand new series is the biggest talent competition in the world featuring some of the region’s most breath-taking, jaw-dropping and mind-blowing performing  competing for the coveted winning title.

“Asia’s Got Talent” is the 63rd adaptation of the Guinness World Record-breaking hit “Got Talent” format, which was created by Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment and is co-produced by FremantleMedia. The “Got Talent” format is officially the most successful reality TV format in history and currently airs in 186 countries.

Each act competing in “Asia’s Got Talent” will have to win over at least three “Yeses” from the esteemed celebrity judging panel comprising 16 time Grammy-winning Canadian musician David Foster, UK pop sensation and former Spice Girl Melanie C., Indonesian rock icon Anggun, and Taiwanese-American pop idol and actor Van Ness Wu. 

Watch out for the glittering “Golden Buzzer moments”, where each judge has one opportunity to send a brilliant act straight to the semi-finals at Marina Bay Sands.

The four judges must select the most incredible and amazing performances from thousands of hopefuls from 15 territories across Asia. Those who make it to the semi-finals will contend with an even tougher judge, the home audience who will decide the winner of “Asia’s Got Talent”.
Prizes worth $100,000 USD are at stake, along with the opportunity to return and perform at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Asia’s leading entertainment destination – where the semi-finals and finale are to be held.

“Asia’s Got Talent” spans 10 weekly episodes, including five audition episodes, three semi-finals, a finale episode and a results gala. In addition to enjoying the fantastic performances, audiences will get to know their favourite acts as “Asia Got Talent” tells the life stories behind some of the most colourful individuals and groups in the competition.

“Asia’s Got Talent” is proudly presented by Marina Bay Sands, Big Cola, Pantene, Caltex, Jetstar, and GrabTaxi.

Marina Bay Sands is a premier partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”. As Asia’s leading entertainment destination and crossroads for global celebrities, Marina Bay Sands provides opportunities for local talent to shine on the world’s stage.

BIG is the exclusive beverage partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”. With BIG Cola, ‘if you can dream it, you can do it’. Contestants and fans across Asia will be encouraged to ‘Think Big’ and ‘Dream Bigger’ in pursuit of their dreams.

Pantene, the exclusive haircare partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”, makes hair stronger inside and shinier outside, to enable contestants to shine and be the world’s number one talent.

Caltex is the exclusive petroleum partner of “Asia’s Got Talent”. Caltex delivers a hassle-free experience to get people back on their journey quickly, so they can have more time and energy to do whatever matters most to them. By being a part of “Asia’s Got Talent”, Caltex wants to celebrate key moments of the contestants’ journey to stardom, providing viewers the opportunity to enjoy the journey with them.

Jetstar is proud to be the official airline of the very first edition of “Asia’s Got Talent”. With more than 600 weekly flights to 22 destinations across 13 countries in Asia Pacific, Jetstar enables talent to fly further, connect with families and fulfil dreams.

GrabTaxi (also known as MyTeksi in Malaysia) is the official on-demand transit partner for “Asia's Got Talent”. From humble beginnings, we have grown to be the region's number one on-demand transit app with over 70,000 vehicles in 18 cities across 6 countries. As a local startup that is now on the global stage, we too want to support our fellow Asian stars by providing them and their fans with safe and convenient rides to go grab their dreams!

Brought to you in the Philippines by: KFC, Globe, and Cherifer.

AXN is a leader of regionally produced original content in Asia, with notable ratings successes including four seasons of the International  Emmy-nominated “The Amazing Race Asia”; the Asian Television Award-winning “Cash Cab Asia”; “The Apprentice Asia”; “Cyril: Rio Magic”; “Cyril’s Family Vacation: Hawaii Edition”; and the Asian Television Award-nominated “Cyril: Simply Magic”.

“Asia’s Got Talent” debuts on 12 March 2015 at 8.05pm.
Subsequent episodes air on Thursdays at 8.30pm.
First on AXN

www.AXNAsia.com/AsiasGotTalent

Beauty in A Bar: The SVR Soap Bar

Even when Sofia V. Relosa was still studying at La Salle College in Antipolo, she kept on dreaming of having her own business. Her boyfriend then and husband now, Chino Relosa, enjoyed buying and selling stuff so they could afford to go out on dates.  She finished her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education but would continue, together with her boyfriend, to sell various items in bazaars. She was determined to start her own business while still working as Training and Recruitment Manager for Robinsons Communities for 2 years.

Sofia admits that she’s quite lazy when it comes to following beauty regimens. “ I don’t want to use a lot of stuff on my skin which was a huge influence in the process of creating our soap,” says Sofia. This was going to be the all-in-one soap to have beautiful skin.

Sofia started the business as a sideline and sold glutathione injections and other whitening products on Facebook. She will eventually leave her 9-to-6 job after 2 years of part-timing and pursue a full-time job as an entrepreneur. Her glutathione soap started when she gave it out to clients who availed of her glutathione injection packages. It was the time when there would be an influx of competitors for whitening products. “The first batch of the soap was not meant for selling. It was merely a come-on for our glutathione injections. After six months of giving it away for free, our clients finally convinced us to sell it separately,” shares Sofia. This eureka moment created the birth of the SVR Infinity Soap.

After much consideration and with the intention of making their clients happy, she launched Sofia's Glutathione Soap with Kojic and Collagen and sold it at one hundred pesos per bar. “ The main ingredients of our fabulous soap are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Glutathione, Collagen and Kojic Acid,” Sofia adds. SVR worked hard for their FDA approval. When they got it, it added the assurance of an increased quality in her glutathione soap with better skin lightening benefits.

Glutathione is a natural anti-oxidant that eradicates toxins or free radicals in the body and inhibits the melanin formation and eliminates melasma, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, freckles, and dark spots which results to a natural skin lightening.Collagen is anatural protein that binds skin tissues to avoid fine lines or wrinkles. Kojic Acid is another form of skin lightening element and is a natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungus that is found to cure melasma, dark spots, and acne.Vitamins E and Cpromote natural skin repair. Both neutralize free radicals and aids in the development of your body’s natural glutathione.

As more people found out about the soap, there was a lot of positive feedback from customers.  Sofia would take screen shots and post these on their Facebook page. “ It was a way for us to thank our clients for sharing their experience. Andfortunately with those posts, we would generate more orders. It became an effective marketing strategy on all our social media sites and networks,” relates Sofia.Today, SVR Infinity has more than 400 resellers and 50 distributors with Zalora.com and Dapat Generics Pharmacy as the latest addition to their growing family.

“Our lovely clients, resellers and distributor salways give us great feedback about their experience in using or selling our soap. Their words of appreciation and love are something we look forward to everyday. It’s the very reason why we work harder and stay happy,”Sofia adds.

For all those who want extra income---mompreneurs, online sellers, students, and whoever—you can easily join the SVR Infinity family of soap bar sellers with a minimal investment of PhP 2,150. You can contact them at info@svrinfinity.com or +63917 5618818; (02)358-8762; (02)622-8273; and website: www.svrinfinity.com.

Facebook: Sofiasbeautyandwellness and svrinfinitytrading
Instagram: @SVRINFINITY
Twitter: @SVRINFINITY

Shop at Super8 and Win a Brand New Toyota Wigo 1.0 M/T

Regular shoppers and long-time customers of Super8 Grocery Warehouse have already become accustomed to the unbeatably low prices, spot-on service, and quality merchandise that their numerous branches offer. Apart from these built-in advantages, however, the fast-growing grocery chain will be giving away an array of amazing prizes at their upcoming Funfest event.

During the three-day activity, raffle participants will have the chance to take home prizes ranging from Super8 gift certificates, Cherry Mobile phones, iPad Minis, a TCL LED TV, and a brand new Toyota Wigo 1.0 M/T. Every P 1,000 purchase entitles Super 8 Rewards Cardholders to one raffle ticket, with draws held daily for the duration of the event.

“We are so grateful to all our customers for their continued support, therefore we really try our best to make our annual Funfest exciting and beneficial for them,” noted Super8 Business Group Director Armand Mendoza. “Our theme this year is ‘BuhayBida, BuhayPelikula’, which embodies our efforts to treat each one of our customers like a bida, or as we’d prefer, a Super Bida” he further stated.

The Super8 Funfest will be held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. The first 2 days are exclusive to Rewards members and the 3rd day is open to the public. In addition to the daily raffle, various sales and product promos will likewise be available, as well as surprise guest appearances from several celebrity guests. For more details, visit one of the 42 Super8 branches, or visit the Super8 Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/super8.ph.
Per DTI FTEB SPD Permit No. 3113 Series of 2015

Complete list of prizes:

• 3 winners of TOYATA WIGO 1.0 E M/T (1 winner per day)
• 3 winners of TCL 24” 24B2800 LED TV (1 winner per day)
• 6 winners of IPAD Mini WIFI 16 GB (2 winners per day)
• 24 winners of Cherry Mobile B200 (8 winners per day)
• 24 winners of Super8 Gift Certificates worth P 1,000 (8 winners per day)

Giant Potato reported shopping in Makati!

A Giant potato was recently seen happily shopping at the Legazpi Sunday Market #PotatoInTheCity 


People at the Legazpi Sunday Market recently received a pleasant surprise as they shopped for their produce. Prancing and waltzing through the grounds was a smiling, giant potato, greeting and taking photos with everyone. We are left to wonder who this pleasant potato with a health-conscious streak is -- and if his appearance might bode something good later?
   

Visitors to the Legazpi Sunday Market bumped into the biggest (but cutest!) potato they have ever seen! #PotatoInTheCity

Spotted: A giant potato shopping for vegetables at the Legazpi Sunday Market! #PotatoInTheCity

This is so funny: a giant potato watching over its smaller brothers and sisters at the Legazpi Sunday Market! Just who is this #PotatoInTheCity?

How cute is this giant potato making a stop at the Legazpi Sunday Market, basket and all? #PotatoInTheCity

Who is this super spud seen surprising market-goers at the Legazpi Sunday Market? #PotatoInTheCity

This oh-so-cute potato made the rounds at the Legazpi Sunday Market and posed for photos with the market-goers pa! #PotatoInTheCity

Chased after this potato-lly cute and cuddly giant spud at the Legazpi Sunday Market just to take this photo! #PotatoInTheCity

Chased after this potato-lly cute and cuddly giant spud at the Legazpi Sunday Market just to take this photo! #PotatoInTheCity

Jim Parsons lends voice for "Oh" in the delightful and colorful film "Home"

Im glad my favorite movie trailer "Home" would finally hit the theaters this month. I have already love the character "Oh" and  I was surprised that Five-time Emmy winner Jim Parsons, also widely known as Sheldon from the hit television sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” stars as the voice of a purple alien called Oh, in the delightful and colourful family film,  “Home,” from DreamWorks Animation.

Oh’s race, the Boov are looking for a new home. They invade Earth, take over the planet and dispatch all the humans to a far-flung community. But Oh, who is quite different from the other Boov, makes a big mistake that could lead to an intergalactic catastrophe. Hiding out from the rest of his species, led by the weak and vain Captain Smek (Steve Martin), Oh encounters Tip (Rihanna), the last human girl on Earth. She has avoided capture but is separated from her mother Lucy (Jennifer Lopez). Both are on the run, team up and embark on a thrilling road trip … in a bright red flying car!

“Home” takes Oh, Tip – and the audience – on a worldwide journey, from the United States to France to China, and finally to Australia. It’s an epic expedition encompassing millions of Boovian spaceships, and technology that switches off gravity across the entire planet. An enormous Gorg mothership also lends impressive scale. “The goal from the start was to make HOME a big global adventure,” says director Tim Johnson.

“Tip is hostile toward Oh, but as they embark on a global journey, they realize they have more and more in common,” adds Jim Parsons, who voices Oh. “You never know where, and with whom, you’re going to find friendship,” continues the Emmy® winning star of the long-running series The Big Bang. “Making lasting friendships with people – or visitors from afar – who couldn’t be more different from you, and with whom you’d never expect to connect, is not only possible, it’s necessary.”


Oh and Tip are an intergalactic odd couple of friends. “They’re from two very different worlds and couldn’t be less alike,” says global music star and seven-time Grammy winner Rihanna, who voices Tip. “But they slowly discover common ground and become amazing friends.”

“The Boov are unilateral,” Parsons adds. “They’re all of one mind. Initially, Oh believes in that philosophy and he’s really enthusiastic about being the best Boov he can be. But unlike the rest of them, Oh wants to have a good time.”

Parsons makes his animated feature debut in “Home.” The classically trained actor embraced the challenges of working in the genre. “It’s the most interesting ‘playtime’ I’ve ever had as an actor,” he explains. “It feels like you’re going down a mysterious but joyful black hole, where you’re alone with the character. Once you relax, it’s really fun to see what happens. I never left the recording studio without being a sweaty mess!”

“Home” (2D and 3D)opens in cinemas this March 26 nationwide from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Liam Neeson is back again as a protective father for "Run All Night"

In Warner Bros. Pictures' new heartstopping thriller “Run All Night,” Liam Neeson stars as mob hitman Jimmy Conlon, who, over the course of just one night, must face off with his former mob boss in order to protect his son.

“I loved how the story is full of action while it also examines the fractured relationships between two men who are like brothers, and a father trying to make amends with his son for things that happened years ago. It was complex and rich, with thrills and spills, and a lot of ‘what ifs,’” says Neeson.

“What would have happened if Jimmy had taken this course instead of that course? But that’s the story of all our lives, isn’t it?”

Neeson once again teams up with director Jaume Collet-Serra (“Unknown,” “Non-Stop”), whom he describes as “like a brother,” and who the actor says, “sees action movies as symphonies.”

Collet-Serra reveals he immediately envisioned Neeson in the role of Jimmy. “It was a no-brainer. Not only does Liam have great range, but he has sons, and I knew he’d connect to the story on a whole other level.”

Neeson admits that the script hit a deeper chord with him, having sons who are at the age of discerning their own paths in life. “I can’t imagine losing their love or trust and I can relate to being willing to do anything—no matter what it takes—to get that back.”

Blood may be thicker than water but mafia ties outlast everything. Jimmy knows where the bodies are buried, because he put them there. But his secrets have cost him.

Neeson says of his character, “Jimmy’s part of a group that has a very unique set of morals and a code of ethics that they rigidly stand by. Loyalty is everything. And that’s his great conflict—and also what gets him into trouble. When push comes to shove, who does he choose?”

Collet-Serra points out, “Liam has obviously played a father before, but I think the difference with this character is that it’s not just about protecting or saving, it’s about earning back the title. For anybody who’s a father I would imagine losing that can be heartbreaking and you would do anything to reverse the situation.”

“Jimmy’s a remnant of a period that’s long gone, struggling to survive in a modern world that has no room for him anymore,” Neeson describes. “He gave everything up for his job and all he has left are his regrets. The closest thing he has to family now is his boss, Shawn. That’s who he goes to when he needs help, like money to pay the heating bill. That’s who has his back.”

“Jimmy carries a heavy burden, this loyalty to a crime family that is more like his family than his own, by his own choice. It’s a very honorable thing to try to keep that darkness away from his son. So he’s really caught in a bind,” says Collet-Serra. “Day one, first take, Liam brought all that to the character. That’s been my experience with him, on all the movies we’ve worked on. He’s a damn good actor and it’s always a pleasure.”

Trained to kill as a covert operations solider in the military, Jimmy came back home and when things didn’t work out, he fell back on what he knew how to do well.

Neeson offers, “Seeing what he’s seen and doing what he’s done, he could do what other people couldn’t do, so he took care of their dirty work. It’s been a few years now and he may be down, but he’s not out. He’s been involved in life-and-death issues, not just in Vietnam but in the concrete jungle of New York, so at the end of the day, he knows what to do to stay alive. He’s a survivor.”
In “Run All Night,” Brooklyn mobster and prolific hit man Jimmy Conlon (Neeson), once known as The Gravedigger, has seen better days. Lately, it seems Jimmy’s only solace can be found at the bottom of a whiskey glass.

But when Jimmy’s estranged son, Mike (Joel Kinnaman), becomes a target, Jimmy must make a choice between the crime family he chose and the real family he abandoned long ago. With Mike on the run, Jimmy’s only penance for his past mistakes may be to keep his son from the same fate Jimmy is certain he’ll face himself…at the wrong end of a gun. Now, with nowhere safe to turn, Jimmy just has one night to figure out exactly where his loyalties lie and to see if he can finally make things right.

Opening across the Philippines on Thursday, March 12, “Run All Night” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Ideal Vision Center offers matching sunglasses for you and your partner this summer

As summer approaches, couples are now avidly planning their next summer getaway. And they’re in for a treat once they see Ideal Vision Center’s (IVC) stylish collection of matching sunglasses.

“It's time to beat the heat in style with matching sunglasses,” says Dr. Joy Go, AVP for IVC Marketing. “With complementary glasses, you and your partner won’t only look good; you’ll also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.”

According to IVC—a leading expert in eye care—UV rays, glare, and eye fatigue are challenges that eyes encounter on a daily basis. Wearing glasses, Dr. Go emphasizes, can greatly help in protecting your eyes and reducing chances of eyestrain.

With IVC’s collection of matching shades, you can rest assured that you and your partner will look stylish while keeping your ophthalmological health in check throughout the hottest months of the year.

Looking for adventure?
If you’re planning on spending time outdoors, you’ll need shades that can keep up with you. Sunglasses from Diesel and Police are designed with brown and amber tints. These shades will protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, so your mind can focus on adventure.

Want to see something spectacular?
To appreciate historic sites or marvelous views, IVC recommends green or grey tints from Chopard and Givenchy because they reduce brightness without distorting colors. Dr. Go adds, “These shades are color-neutral, so you can see and appreciate the environment in its natural state.”

Take a ride
If you’re planning a road trip, you’ll need shades that are optimized for driving! Mirrored, flash or polarized sunglasses reduce glare to protect you from eyestrain. This lets you keep your eyes on the road, while letting you appreciate the scenery.
That said, Furla and Police are well known for these types of sunglasses

 

Health and style: the perfect pair
According to Dr. Joy, the perfect pair of sunglasses does not compromise style for functionality or vice versa. She describes, “Your eyewear needs to be geared for both.”

With Total Quality Vision Care at its core, IVC strives to provide its customers with premium eyewear products that are anchored on health and style. Dr. Joy concludes, “With all the sun you’ll be seeing this summer, you and your loved one will need protection from high-quality eye wear. And IVC helps you do this in matching styles.”

Catch legendary group Crosby, Stills & Nash at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

Catch rock’s legendary group perform its greatest hits when Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) visits Manila for an evening of soft-rock songs and beautiful harmonies during a concert on March 16, 8 pm, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The historic one-night musical event from Ovation Productions, dubbed “An Evening With Crosby, Stills & Nash,” is part of the legendary American trio’s 2015 Asian tour that also includes several key cities in Japan as well as Singapore.

It is expected to draw a huge turnout of rock fans, mostly Baby Boomers lured by the sound of the legendary act considered as rock’s first super group and widely credited for some of the most enduring songs and wonderful harmonies of the 1970s.

Concert-goers shall experience an exciting blast from the past as the powerhouse folk rock group presentsits fabulous collection of close, high harmonies and soft rock songs, such as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Marrakesh Express,” “Woodstock,” “Our House,” “Teach Your Children,” “Long Time Gone” and “Carry On.”

Other classic hits in its song list include “Just A Song Before I Go,” “Wooden Ships,” “Almost Cut My Hair” and “Love The One You’re With.”

Composed of David Crosby (vocals, guitar), Stephen Stills (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Graham Nash (vocals, guitar), Crosby, Stills & Nash brought harmony to the forefront of popular music with its unique three-part vocal blend that turned out hit songs that sold millions of albums and were imitated throughout the 1970s.

Moreover, with its emphasis on singing and songwriting above all else, it contributed to the evolution of the singer-songwriter movement during that era.

Born out of famous groups that placed a premium on harmony, Crosby, Stills & Nash boasted impressive individual credentials before its three members came together in 1969: Crosby sang and played rhythm guitar with The Byrds, Stills was a mainstay of Buffalo Springfield, while Nash provided the high harmonies that helped make pop sensation of The Hollies.

Stills and Crosby began writing songs together in 1968 after Buffalo Springfield broke up (The Byrds already split up a year earlier) until they were joined soon thereafter by Nash who had just quit The Hollies. The trio performed together for the first time at the Los Angeles home of Cass Elliot of the Mamas and Papas.

The three made an instant impact on the music industry in 1968 by helping steer rock to a more contemplative, song-oriented place with its classic debut album simply titled, “Crosby, Stills & Nash” early in the summer of 1969, a few months before the Woodstock Festival, where it played its first-ever concert as a trio.

The album quickly attained the stature of a mega-hit as it yielded such classics as “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Wooden Ships” and “Long Time Gone.” It was followed a year later by “Déjà vu,” a more eclectic and electric endeavorbrought about by the addition of the rhythm section of Dallas Taylor and Greg Reeves.

In 1977, CSN went on to release an album that yielded a Top Ten hit with Nash’s “Just A Song Before I Go,” while “Daylight Again” (1982) produced another Nash-penned hit, “Wasted On The Way.”

While each member has pursued a solo career – with Crosby and Nash teaming up as a duo for most of the ‘70s – Crosby, Stills & Nash has increasingly become an artistic home base for the trio.

In 1977, Crosby, Stills & Nash released the quadruple platinum, “CSN” which included “Just A Song Before I Go” (No. 7, 1977), followed the following summer by a tour as an acoustic trio.

In 1982, it released “Daylight Again,” for which Stills wrote most of the songs, and toured arenas once more. “Daylight Again” became a Top Ten LP and boasted two Top 20 singles: “Wasted On The Way” (No. 9) and “Southern Cross” (No. 18).In 1989, Crosby, Stills and Nash reconvened as a trio for 1990’s “Live It Up” (No. 58).

David Crosby, Stephen Stills andGraham Nash have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – first with CSN and later with The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Hollies, respectively.

They have also been inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in recognition of their achievements as a group with CSN and as individual members doing solo acts.

(“An Evening With Crosby, Stills & Nash” is presented by Ovation Productions. It is brought to you by Fox International Channels, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld and Retro 105.9 DCG FM. 96.3 Easy Rock, Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Fresh on DWBR 104.3, and Rakista Radio. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph)

Watch the last moments of Rizal in "PAHIMAKAS: Huling Sandali Ng Isang Bayani"

We all know the history of our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, little did we know what happened during the last 8 hours of his life.

ALDABAS Theater Friends and Company announces the staging of PAHIMAKAS: Huling Sandali ng Isang Bayani. It is based on the last moments of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal as he ponders on his life coming to an end in the morning of December 31,1896.

PAHIMAKAS: Huling Sandali Ng Isang  Bayani by Nathaniel Arciaga takes us to the innermost recesses of Dr. Jose Rizal's mind as he examines the crucial decisions he made in his short but eventfull life leading to his martyrdom. The play also takes a look at some of Rizal's writings and his relationship with the last people to see him alive through conversations with former mentor, family members, a young news paper boy, a newspaper man and a host of fictional characters he created.

PAHIMAKAS  is produced by ATFC under the direction of Don Umali.

Lead actor ROMEO ABAIGAR’s biggest acting challange in life is doing the difficult role of Dr. Jose Rizal. He is a familiar face  in television commercials and has appeared in countless films and TV anthologies.

Veteran theatre and movie actor Archie Adamos portray the role of Tavile de Andrade while Ces Aldaba the role of  Jesuit Father Balaguer and Padre Damaso.

Also in the cast of Pahimakas are
Banni Baldesseri as the Governador Heneral, Richard Manabat (who is also a stage director) alternates with Vic Romano as Don Rafael/Don Francisco, Andro Morgan as Mataix/Elias, production designer, muralist, sculptor and artist  Clarence Alvear playing the role of Pepito/ Basilio,  Loy Oladive as Pasyano/ Tasyo, Gina Villa in the role of Donya Teodora/Sisa, and Jeanette Queblatin as Trining.

The two main characters in  Rizal's book Simoun Ibarra and Crisostomo Ibarra are portrayed by Mon Osma as Simoun and TJ Roxas as Crisostomo. Luri Naluz, Erby Lopez and Jan Mart Lacdao portray Guardiya Sibil, and Echo Camacho as the Jesuit and Franciscan priest.

 PAHIMAKAS is scheduled on March 14, 2015 at St. Scholastica's College.

Aiko Melendez bagged the Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film in London for "Asintado"

Aiko Melendez has proven once more her acting caliber. She recently bagged the highly-coveted Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film award from the 7th International Filmmakers Festival of World Cinema in London for Direk Louie Ignacio’s Asintado (Between the Eyes). Aiko bested seven other actresses from different countries in the same category.

The movie, which is an official Cinemalaya entry last year, is Aiko’s first foray into indie film. In Asintado, Aiko plays Julia, a widowed mother of two who finds herself at the crossroads of choosing between saving her older son or risking her younger son’s safety. The story is situated in a town in Nueva Eciija and takes place during the Taong Putik festival.

Aiko was not able to attend the grand event in London because of prior showbiz commitments: she is part of the cast of ABS-CBN’s Inday Bote and an indie film titled Daluyong.

“This award somehow boosted my confidence and it made me love myself more,” says Aiko. “But the honor isn’t just mine alone. It’s for every Filipino.”

Aiko is a Backroom artist. For inquiries, call Backroom Inc at 4351108, 4351120 and 9280717 or email us at backroominc@hotmail.com. Like Backroom Inc. on facebook at www.facebook.com/backroominc and or follow Backroom Inc. on twitter at www.twitter.com/BackroomArtists.

SM SineAsia tells the story of Gangnam in Lee Min Ho starrer "Gangnam Blues"

A tale of two brothers who came from nothing, yet played crucial roles in developing what is now known as South Korea’s richest areas.

Korean superstar Lee Min Ho proves that he is more than just a pretty face -in Gangnam Blues, which opened at No. 1 in Korea early this year.

A film by star maker director Yoo Ha, it is the final installment in what is called Yoo Ha’s “Street Trilogy”, which began with Spirit of Jeet Keun Do in 2004, and followed by A Dirty Camival in 2006.

Just like its predecessors, Gangnam Blues is heavy on action. It shows Lee Min Ho doing difficult stunts and exhibiting hostile expressions.

From Boys Over Flowers this heartthrob has come a long way indeed with his first full length film.

Lee Min Ho takes on the role of Ragmen Jong-dae, an orphan who grows up in poverty, together with Yong-gi (played by Kim Rae-Won of the hit Koreanovela Love Story in Harvard), a friend who is more like an older brother to him.

When a new construction at their shantytown leaves them homeless, the two friends are recruited by a local gang for a sabotage plot, but
they get separated in the midst of chaos. Determined to leave behind his impoverished life, a more mature Jong-dae teams up with a local madame who has powerful political connections. The new partners are out to amass paddy fields in Gangnam before they become the new hub city of Korea. When their plan is discovered by another gang, Jong-dae meets his toughest rival — his long lost blood brother, Yong-gi.

“No matter what kind of film it is, action must exist to support the drama,” says director Yoo Ha about his method for directing action. In Gangnam Blues, the action sequences come out of the characters‘ need for survival. What can be considered a cut above the rest is the mud gang warfare scene which was created because Yoo Ha wanted ”to portray the fate of the two characters and their desperation as they fight and struggle in the mud. ”

For this scene, the crew members scouted for the right spot and covered the area with dirt. Importance was given to the scene’s authenticity, so it was shot with a steady camera, in long continuous takes.

For 12 hours a day for one whole week, 150 actors and stuntmen poured their hearts and souls into shooting this scene out in the rain. As the rain turned into mud, the shoot was excruciating for all involved. Without a stunt double, Lee Min Ho had injured his toe in the scene, and had to take morphine shots to be able to finish it.

To play the role of Yong-gi, Kim Rae Won had to lose 15kg, and successfully used his full body to express the sense of danger that his character exudes. The last time he starred in a gangster film was 8 years ago, in the movie Sunflower.

As Gangnam Biues hits Philippine theaters, viewers need not worry about language barrier because the movie is wonderfully dubbed in Tagalog.

Gangnam Blues is the first offering of “SineAsia, a joint project of‘Viva Entertainment, Inc. and SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. to provide filipinos with premiere and never-before-seen Asian films that are Tagalized for a more enjoyable, viewing experience.

Aside “from exclusive features -in SM Cinemas and ‘Walter Mart Cinemas, SineAsia will take on various platforms to present‘ its‘ newest and ‘most unique line-up of Tagalized films from South Korea, Japan, _China, Taiwan and other‘ partsof‘ Asia.

Moreover, a SineAsia Theater will open in SM branches, beginning with SM Megamall, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Fairview, SM Manila, and SM North EDSA on March 4, to be followed soon by SM Bacoor, SM Iloilo, and SM Cebu. Especially designed for SineAsia—-films,” the SineAsia Theater will have an exterior that will emanate the authenticity of the oriental flicks to be played on the big screen. This is the first’ Asian Tagalized theater in the country.

From ‘Viva International Pictures, MVP Entertainment, and SM. Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. Gangnam Blues opens on March 4, exclusively in SM Cinema and WM Cinemas. Don’t miss this chance to see a completely different Lee Min’Ho and find a new reason to admire him even more.