“Ready Player One” visionary novel gets spectacular movie treatment

Little more than 30 years ago, it seemed almost inconceivable that you could log onto a computer, create your own profile—true or not—and connect with people anywhere on the globe in real time. But what if, 30 years from now, you could log in, become your own personal avatar—true or not—and interact with people in an infinite virtual world? Consider the possibilities...and the perils.

That is the basic premise of Ernest Cline’s bestseller Ready Player One, which captured the imagination of one of the most revered and successful filmmakers of all time: Steven Spielberg. “It’s a huge, sprawling adventure that intercuts between two completely different worlds,” he says. “I think Ernest Cline is a visionary who wrote of a future that’s actually not so far away from where we’re heading with the evolution of virtual reality.”


(Check out the new trailer of “Ready Player One” titled Dreamer.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/vl.104549400226619/2007122575983940/?type=1


The author credits Spielberg with being one of his greatest influences in creating his first novel. “It’s hard to quantify what a profound effect Steven Spielberg’s work has had on my life and my interests, but I could not have written Ready Player One if I had not grown up on a steady diet of his films. Just as anyone who grew up with a passion for movies in the 1970s and `80s, his work is woven into the fabric of my life. So much of it ended up informing the story and the way I chose to write it, and the evidence of that is seen throughout the book.”

Warner Bros.' futuristic adventure “Ready Player One” is set in 2045, when people will have the ability to enter into a digital universe called the OASIS, where you go wherever you want, do whatever you like, be whomever or whatever you choose to be. With the population beset by unemployment, poverty, overcrowding, and utter hopelessness, “it’s a good time to escape into a virtual world where you can live an extraordinary life through your avatar,” says Spielberg. “All you need is an imagination, and that will take you far in the OASIS. But when you escape from reality, you’re also, in a way, divesting yourself of any real human contact. So, the story is entertaining, but there is also a bit of a social commentary.”


Cline reveals that his inspiration for the story came from some of the touchstones of his youth. “The initial idea came from the Atari game Adventure, which was the very first videogame to have an Easter egg in it—its designer, Warren Robinett, had created a secret room within the game that had his name inside it. It was my first time finding something inside a virtual world hidden by the creator of that world. It was a profound experience that really stuck with me. I was also a huge fan of Roald Dahl’s works, especially the Willy Wonka books, and one day the idea occurred to me: What if Willy Wonka had been a videogame designer instead of a candy maker? I started thinking about all the riddles and puzzles this eccentric billionaire could leave behind to find a worthy successor, and I knew I was on to something.”

Cline’s eccentric billionaire became the character of James Halliday, the reclusive co-creator of the OASIS, played by Mark Rylance. “The entire world lives within his dream—the dream from which he built an entire world,” says Spielberg. “But when he died he had no heirs, so he left behind a contest: the first to defeat three challenges, each rewarded with a key, and then find the Egg hidden somewhere inside the OASIS, will inherit everything.”


The buzz surrounding the book Ready Player One was already at a high pitch when it was first published in August 2011. It not only lived up to expectations; it surpassed them in spectacular fashion. A runaway hit, the #1 New York Times Best Seller has been published in more than 50 countries.

“I wondered if perhaps the book would only appeal to people around my age who were nostalgic for the `80s,” Cline continues. “But that has not been the case because it speaks to the way we live our lives now. Most of us have an actual identity and a virtual identity in the form of our social media profiles. And, not unlike the avatars in the story, you can shape those based on how you want other people to see you.”

In bringing the novel to the screen, it was vital to the filmmakers to be respectful of the source material, as well as its many fans. “But,” Spielberg acknowledges, “every book has to go through a process of adaptation when it goes from a literary work to a cinematic one. I think we ended up with just the right elements to tell a truly wonderful story.”


“Ready Player One” stars Tye Sheridan (“X-Men: Apocalypse”), Olivia Cooke (“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” “Bates Motel”), Ben Mendelsohn (“Rogue One – A Star Wars Story”) and T.J. Miller (“Deadpool”), with Simon Pegg (the “Star Trek” movies, the “Mission: Impossible” movies) and Oscar winner Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies,” “Dunkirk”).


“Ready Player One” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Yellow Cab Pizza adds more flavors to your favorite chicken pieces

What's your favorite food pairing? Mine is pizza and wings. They are always better together when paired. Love that I can always get them perfectly cooked and prepared at Yellow Cab Pizza. 

When I am craving for this delicious duos (New York's finest pizza and Hot wings). Yellow Cab Pizza is my to-go pizza place.!  My perfect comfort food. Yellow Cab is near my residence, so they are just a phone call away for delivery. But if I want to savor the flavor and relax a little, I dined with friends  and finished off with an order of strawberry or pistachio ice cream.

I am wishing that they will come up with chicken parts that I love like drum and thigh!  Then, I got an invite for a new product launch.

This is good news to chicken lovers as Yellow Cab Pizza launches Yellow Cab Drum & Thigh! on March 16 at Yellow Cab Ayala Mall, The 30th. We got to enjoy the launch as everyone had fun with games and food! We feasted on drum and thigh chicken! and ice cream on the side.

There is so much to choose from six explosive flavors, that is sure to satisfy your cravings.

Starting at PHP189, enjoy two huge servings of fried, flavored chicken. Take your pick from six explosive flavors: Sriracha, Salt & Pepper, Hot Chix, Korean BBQ, NY BBQ, and Garlic Parmesan. 

My personal favorite is the Garlic Parmesan Drum & Thigh flavor. It is garlic- spiked breading dip with a slight cheesiness to it. Perfect with Italian red rice.


You heard it right! Everyone’s favorite pizza joint is upping their chicken game with the  Yellow Cab Drum & Thigh! 

Yellow Cab Pizza Co. is back at it again, further fueling everyone’s hunger with the launch of the new Drum & Thigh! with a side of Italian Red Rice or Baked Potato Wedges.

There is no turning back when you get the crowd favorite, Sriracha, which boasts of having the perfect mix of heat and sweetness.

If you’re into the classics, try the Drum & Thigh in Salt & Pepper, a flavor that is perfect for those who like their chicken crispy, fried chicken speckled with cracked black pepper.

Order the Drum & Thigh Hot Chix if you are daring enough to bite into a spicy explosion of flavor that punches you right in the mouth.

Drum & Thigh Korean BBQ 

If you are looking for sweet and tangy, then the Drum & Thigh Korean BBQ made with a secret blend of sesame oil and spices is right for you.

But if you like it smoky, sweet, and dense, order the New York BBQ.

A signature Yellow Cab flavor, the Drum & Thigh Garlic Parmesan is tossed in garlic butter and topped with parmesan.

People head to Yellow Cab for the pizza, but true fans know that no order is complete without a side of wings or Hustlers. In line with the brand’s mission to #FuelTheHungry, Yellow Cab upped their chicken game to bring chicken lovers their signature wing flavors in sizes made for the big boys and girls.

The Drum & Thigh is available in all Yellow Cab branches nationwide starting at PHP189 for an ala carte meal and PHP239 with a side of Italian Red Rice or Baked Potato Wedges. 


*Korean BBQ photo by Orange Magazine TV

OPPO empowers the Youth through Unilab Foundation’s Ideas Positive

International smartphone brand OPPO believes in the power of the youth. With this in mind, the brand conducted its first CSR activity for 2018. OPPO Philippines teamed up with Ideas Positive, the country’s premier youth engagement program for healthier communities. Ideas Positive is a program of Unilab Foundation whose mission is to build a healthier Philippines.

OPPO Philippines donated OPPO F5 Youth units to the youth teams during the boot camp of at Camp Allen, Santa Cruz, Laguna. OPPO phones will be used by the participants in sharing their journey and capturing the best moments and experiences with their communities. The goal is to help the youth spread the word about the innovative health solutions that Ideas Positive are implementing in their communities through social media.

“We are grateful that OPPO partnered with Ideas Positive. For the past years, majority of our participants use their own mobile phones in documenting their projects. However, not all of them own good quality smartphones that can take quality photos and videos. OPPO’s support this year is a big help to the youth teams in documenting their project implementation,” said Alfred Dicto, Project Lead for Ideas Positive. 

Already on its eighth year, Ideas Positive holds a nationwide competition where youth teams can develop innovative solutions that address health issues in the community level. Among hundreds of entries, seventeen teams were chosen this year to participate in a three-day boot camp, where they learned the basics of project management, leadership, and communication. Each team will receive up to Php100,000 in funding to implement their project with their chosen community.

 “OPPO believes that the youth plays a huge role in nation-building. We are glad to partner with Ideas Positive in supporting and empowering the Filipino youth,” said Eason De Guzman, OPPO Philippines’ PR Manager. “We have seen how enthusiastic and passionate the participants are in helping the communities. We hope that with OPPO’s support, the teams will be able to capture their best moments and share their wonderful stories and experiences with their communities,” de Guzman added.

The teams with the best health outcomes will be announced in August 2018, and will be awarded with cash prizes and smartphones from OPPO Philippines. 
For more exciting updates, you may also visit the OPPO Philippines’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ and follow Ideas Positive via https://www.facebook.com/ideaspositiveph 

Get P1000 price off and free ink with your HP Deskjet GT All-in-One Printer purchase

Looking to save on high-volume printing costs? No worries! More users can now enjoy the convenience of printing thousands of pages at a low-cost with “HP’s DeskJet GT All-in-One Printer” promo.

With the HP DeskJet GT All-in-One Printer promo, every purchase of HP DeskJet GT 5810 All-in-One Printer or HP DeskJet GT 5820 All-in-One Printer guarantees customers a P1000 off the original price and a free bottle of HP GT51 Black Original Ink.

HP’s DeskJet GT printers offer hassle-free printing at an extremely low cost with its high-capacity ink tank system that delivers exceptional quality and reliability for everyone’s needs.

These all-in-one printers promise high-quality printouts of up to 8,000 pages using its tri-color bottle set and up to 5,000 pages using its black bottle set.


Likewise, consumers can easily monitor ink levels and enjoy efficient spill-free refills with its transparent ink tanks. Users can also connect their smart phone or tablet to the printer with the HP All-in-One Remote app that allows direct printing, scanning, and copying from any device so everyone can accomplish more tasks.

So hurry, go to any authorized HP reseller nationwide and get your own HP DeskJet GT All-in-One Printer at a discount with free HP Black Original Ink to enjoy quality printing. Promo runs until April 30, 2018. Visit www.8hp.com or see posters and print ads for more details.

Watch the psychological terror "Unsane" in SM Cinema theatres nationwide starting March 21.

After watching Unsane at the SM Director's Club Cinema, I googled the main character Claire Foy. She scared the wits out of me with her character Sawyer Valentini in "Unsane". This movie reminds me so much of Misery but with a twist. I never mind watching this again when it opens on March 21 at the SM Cinema theatres.

SM Cinema invited guests to get intimate with Sawyer Valentini and her fears at the exclusive media screening of Unsane, held at the Director’s Club Cinema in SM Megamall.

 Against the lush leather seats and delectable snacks of the luxe Director’s Club Cinema, movie-goers were engrossed in the psychological terror that was insanely, ‘Unsane.”

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Unsane is about a young woman who visits a psychiatrist, as she believes she is being stalked by her estranged boyfriend for the last two years. The real terror begins when she becomes involuntarily committed to a mental institution only to find out she’s been followed in by her greatest fear. Drugged and isolated, Valentini starts doubting herself—is everything her delusion?

Amazingly the movie is shot completely on an iPhone. Without compromising its grubby aesthetics and rich still frames, Unsane creates phenomenal tension to disconcert your composure and stimulate your senses as this psycho-thriller movie intensifies the paranoia not only of Valentini but also of the viewers.

If your taste in horror movies is more for psychological terror rather than ghosts and zombies, this movie is right up your alley. Bring your family and friends and test your limits with Unsane, screening exclusively in SM Cinema theatres nationwide starting March 21.

Book your tickets now through the new website, www.smcinema.com or for an even more convenient experience, get the SM Cinema app. Stay tuned to SM Cinema on facebook and @SM_Cinema on Instagram for more information.

SM Woman offers 50% off on great selections for the whole month of March at SM Store

SM Woman celebrates  Women's Month with the launch of What Women Want for the entire month of March. SM Woman  started off with a Summer 2018 fashion show held at SM Moa Atrium on March 8. Its a fashion for every women in mind.

The event was hosted by Gelli Victor and attended by celebrity Miss World 2013 Megan Young, and SM Woman ambassadors Frenchie Dy, Bituin Escalante, who paraded with other girls in their summer outfit and accessories.

There are just so many outfit to choose from, its about time to add some colors and style to your closet this summer.  It also come in all shapes and sizes.

Summer is high time for style and fashion powerhouse. SM Woman opens the season with the best in fashion and discount. Starting with up to 50% off on great selections, buy 1 get 1 on select items, and get freebies when purchasing from participating brands. You can get all this when you shop at SM Store.

Other offers include;

Extra 10% off on all items for SM Advantage Cardholders every Wednesday this month March 7,14,21,28.

Beat the heat with Goldilocks Saba con Hielo Thirst Quencher

As the summer season begins to heat up the country, Sun loving Filipinos are often seen doing their favourite summer activities. Some head to their favourite beaches, while others engage in a hiking expedition or merely attend a sports camp to pass the hot summer months.

Albeit fun, these events often heat up one’s body which leaves an insatiable need for something cold in order to cool down.

To combat this sudden rise in temperature Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, is proud to announce another cool addition to their Thirst Quenchers line-up, introducing the all new Saba con Hielo Thirst Quencher.

Made from top quality Goldilocks ingredients this “pinoy pampalamig” classic is guaranteed to hit the right spot after a long day of summer festivities. While those hoping to choose can opt for other Filipino favorites such as Sago Gulaman, Halo – Halo and Mais Con Hielo.

Grab these cool treats at any All Foodshop Store Nationwide and for more information, you may also follow Goldilocks on Twitter or Instagram at @GoldilocksPH, on the Goldilocks Facebook page, or at the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph

5 Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

I once worked as a BPO agent. I worked the night shift for 3 grueling years. The first 5 months was hard on me. I had to schedule my sleeping and eating habit.

It was hard to force yourself to sleep during daylight where everyone is moving and doing things inside and outside the house. I get startled and wake up at the slightest sound made around me.  It was a struggle sleeping during those time.

I was taking multivitamins and some supplements to induce me to sleep. That went on for 3 years and then my work shifted to morning and everything became normal again.

As much as possible, I make it appoint to sleep at least 7-8hrs a day to keep me up in the morning. If I have the time, I squeezed in some dozing time in the afternoon that is,  if I dont have an event to attend to. A thirty minutes siesta is fine to energize and make me productive during the day.

Sleep is a very important part of our lifestyles. Did you know that an adult should be getting about seven to eight hours of sleep every day to properly recharge? Getting an appropriate amount of rest has a number of benefits including improved memory function, a stronger immune system, better concentration, and even weight loss. On the other hand, losing an hour of sleep from the recommended number of hours significantly reduces an individual’s ability to function at their maximum capacity.

Humans generally spend 1/3 of their lives sleeping. Moreover, it is an activity considered to be just as important as following a healthy diet and exercise. On the other hand, trivia shows that humans are also the only mammal that willingly delays sleep.

True enough, getting proper zzz’s is something most of us often take for granted. A shocking worldwide statistic has ranked the Philippines as the fifth country with the worst sleepers, with individuals getting an average of only six hours and 22 minutes of sleep. Sleep deprivation in the country affects about 50 million Filipinos, making the problem a national issue.

Regular loss of proper sleep can lead to circadian rhythm disorders. The circadian rhythm is a term that refers to a person’s internal body clock that regulates the 24-hour cycle of biological processes. It’s the body’s very own timer that triggers the body’s natural sleep and wake cycle. For adults, a dip in energy commonly occurs in the middle of the night and after lunch time. Noticeable big dips on this routine commonly means that an individual is sleep-deprived and is not getting enough rest.

Circadian rhythm disorders happen when there is a mismatch on the internal body clock due to the continuous disruption of sleep patterns. One of the most common disorder falling in this category is delayed sleep, which causes a person to feel tired at a later time than the usual. Individuals with this kind of disorder are the night owls, or those who feel more productive, alert, and creative late at night.

The opposite of this is advanced sleep phase disorder which is characterized by regular early bedtimes (6PM to 9PM), a habit that is very common among the elderly. In the Philippines, however, one very common sleep problem is shift work disorder caused by irregular sleeping patterns from night shifts. Common among business processing outsource (call center) employees, the disorder arises when the circadian rhythm cannot properly adjust to changing sleep patterns. Shift work disorder can often lead to problems like excessive sleepiness and insomnia.

But what makes a good sleep? According to the World Association of Sleep Medicine, there are a number of ways one can do to improve their sleeping patterns. The following are tips you can follow:

1. Refraining from using your bed for regular activities (e.g. eating, working, etc.)
2. Avoiding intake of caffeine six hours before bedtime.
3. Eating a light meal for dinner.
4. Limiting naps to not more than 45 minutes.
5. Creating a comfortable sleeping environment (using the right mattress and bedding, keeping the room dark and well-ventilated).

With sleep deprivation being a real concern in the country, several big names in the industry have jumped into action to help solve the problem. Among the leaders in the pack are The Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine (PSSM) comprised of physicians and sleep doctors, and the World Sleep Society, an association of sleep specialists focused on advancing sleep health worldwide by encouraging education and promoting sleep-focused research. Partnering with them is Uratex, The Sleep Specialist, the leading manufacturer of innovative sleep solutions. The company has been focused in creating quality sleep innovations like specialized mattresses and pillows that can help improve an individual’s rest.

These names have been proactive in furthering sleep education and awareness in the country. This month, they are coming together once more for World Sleep Day, an annual event that celebrates sleep importance and tackles issues like better sleep education. Organized by the World Sleep Day Committee, the event will be held on March 16 and will feature talks on better prevention and management of sleep disorders.

Sleep deprivation should be considered a major national issue that should be swiftly addressed. With proper education and the support of thought leaders and action takers in the industry, the country is taking a progressive step towards achieving proper zzz’s.