A new life for KC Concepcion

After the ups and downs of KC Concepcion this year 2011, she is set to take higher heights for her career. She wrapped up the drama and rediscovered her self with new look, KC renewed her contract with ABSCBN under the management of VIVA.  Lots of exciting projects are set for this lovely lady. She is part of the much anticipated primetime drama ‘Alta’ with Angelica Panganiban and Gretchen Barreto. She also shared via Bandila that she will be doing a new talk show and hosting stints. She is eager to pursue her hosting career and she will be regularly seen on ASAP every Sunday.

But aside from these exciting new projects, KC will be also hosting the newest talent show of ABSCBN. She will be hosting the Philippines’ grandest and newest reality show “The X Factor Philippines”. The show is set to be aired in the first half of 2012 and joined by four judges and mentors. Kc will be visiting various cities in the Philippines for the preliminary auditions.

So with the success of America’s X Factor where Melanie Amaro was hailed as the first grand champion, it’s time that Philippines have to show the world our talent. With a very lovely and witty host, I am pretty sure that this will be a big hit. Congratulations Kc and we will see more of you this 2012.

Credit:

Mr. Jeman Bunyi Villanueva of http://blog.orangemagazinetv.com/

Star Cinema's Segunda Mano

Ever wondered who was the owner of your bag you bought in Greenhills or Ukay?

Have it ever crossed in your mind how things around the house originated, especially antiques?

This December, be terrified with Star Cinema’s suspense horror film.

 Segunda Mano, a movie of Star Cinema for 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival is one of the much awaited movies this year. A dream come true project, this is how can I describe the movie. This is the combination of gigantic talents of two rival networks, GMA-7 and ABSCBN-2. Starring the gems of ABSCBN, Angelica Panganiban and Multimedia Queen, Kris Aquino and joined by GMA’s premiere leading man, Dingdong Dantes. This is also the comeback of Movie Queen Ms. Helen Gamboa.

Ms. Helen plays the character of Adela, mother of Mabel (Kris Aquino). After the tragic death of her young daughter Marie, Adela grieved so much that she unintentionally lost affection for her other child Mabel. Adela knows that she can’t stand to lose her remaining daughter now that Mabel is haunted by a seemingly vengeful ghost.

Dingdong, on the other hand plays the character of Ivan Galvez, a rich and successful architect and recuperating from past heartache. Mabel and Ivan found love in a hopeless place. After he proposes to her, she started to experience thrilling encounters with a violent ghost that smash chaos on her and the people around her. Meanwhile, Angelica plays a very mysterious role that will make the audience think until the end of the film.

Director of the movie, Binibining Joyce Bernal attended the blog conference of the movie held at Tea Cup, Mother Ignacia. She shared motivations and visuals on how she came up with this film. She shared her personal experiences on encountering elements or ghost back in Sampaguita Pictures. Writer Joel Mercado explains how they came up with the concept of horror with the elements of a second hand items. He said that Filipinos are fond of buying signatures items but they don’t want to spend much that why many people settle for less expensive and second hand items.

I had a chance to ask Bb. Joyce about what makes Kris Aquino very appealing to horror films. In her reply, she describes Kris’ expression very communicative. She has the gift of convincing people how a certain scenario could be terrifying.

This Christmas, give you self and young loved ones a thrill on their spines and have a spooky holiday. I am inviting everyone to catch Star Cinema’s sure hit, Segunda Mano starring Kris Aquino, Dingdong Dantes, Angelica Panganiban and Ms. Helen Gamboa. 

Christian Bautista Blogger's Conference

Sunday, November 13, 2011, on a Manny Pacquiao day – wherein people who just stay at home and watch Manny Pacquaio battle with Juan Manuel Marquez, chosen bloggers were gathered in a one musical Asiansation event – The Christian Bautista Bloggers Conference. Christian entered the room so proud to announce that he is awarded as Asean Youth Achiever for Entertainment and Arts.

In lieu with Christian Bautista’s newest record – ‘Outbound’, Universal Records in cooperation with Pinoy OPM Magazine, BANDS, and Orange Magazine TV organized a Blogger’s Conference. Christian, who recently starred in Singaporean musical drama ‘The Kitchen Musical’ and seen across 19 countries, made a drastic change in his career. Christian took new and bolder sounds for his album ‘Outbound’ under Universal Records.

In an interview Christian said that this is the right time for him to explore and experiment on venturing to a new sound for him. Outbound has 8 tracks – new, bolder sounds and further proves that he is more than just a balladeer. Some tracks have good mix of slow and upbeat ballads. Christian collaborated with music producers and artists from US, Korea, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia. He worked with caliber personality in music industry, and to name few – Jim Brickman, One Way and Baby M.

Christian’s past music videos were so remarkable. It showcased beautiful and gorgeous faces in local and international scene – ( Georgina Wilson, Anne Curtis, Angel Locsin and Solenn Heusaff ) in Beautiful Girl, (  Christine Reyes ) in I Remember The Girl, ( Paula Taylor ) in Tell Me Your Name, ( Carmen Soo ) in Afraid For Love To Fade, ( Angelica Panganiban ) in Nakaraang Pasko and ( Sarah Geronimo ) in Please Be Careful With My Heart. In his current record, he features CosPlay Queen Alodia Gosiengfiao for ‘All That’s Left’.

Aside from his current album, Christian is pleased to announce that he loves BlackBerry. Christian showcased the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 Smartphone and BlackBerry Playbook in his video ‘All That’s Left’. Christian said that he is an avid BBM user. It works in real time, enabling people to share their experiences instantly with individuals or group of contacts. Christian knows that for Filipinos abroad, BBM is cost efficient and fun way to share everyday life’s experiences with loved ones around the world.

‘Outbound’ is now out in all major record stores nationwide under Universal Records.

To have Christian Bautista’s ‘All That’s Left’ as your ringback tone, just text UD344 to 2332 for Globe users and FALT to 2728 for Smart users. Text GetSong _6151903 to 2728 for Sun users.


Stay tune for my album review on Christian's new record. :D
xoxo .. urzula

Da Best Ang Pasko Ng Pilipino - ABSCBN 2011 Christmas Station ID

ABSCBN launched their 2011 Christmas station ID. “Da Best Ang Pasko Ng Pilipino” is their theme and sung by YouTube sensation Maria Aragon together with the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, and joined by more than a hundred Kapamilya stars from ABS-CBN Entertainment, News and Current Affairs, Regional Network Group TV personalities, DZMM anchors and Tambayan 101.9 DJs as well as Kapamilyas from The Filipino Community worldwide. The video was shot in different places in the Philippines including other countries like United States, London in Europe, in the Middle East or even in neighboring Tokyo Japan.  Indeed, this Christmas persuades that no Filipino will be lonely anywhere he is in the world.

11 Years Old Maria Aragon

In the video, Piolo Pascual soothes a kababayan at the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan. While John Lloyd Cruz, Coco Martin, Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes blow a family in Los Angeles, California. Jed Madela, first “Star Power” Female Pop Superstar Angeline Quinto, and “Pilipinas Got Talent” Season 2 Champion Marcelito Pomoy serenade the Filipino community in Los Angeles.

The theme song “Da Best Ang Pasko ng Pilipino” was written by Creative Communications Management head Robert Labayen, while the music was composed and produced by Jimmy Antiporda for Star Records.

This very much anticipated station ID launch, which will also debut simultaneously with ABS-CBN on Studio 23, Hero TV, Lifestyle Network  DZMM, TeleRadyo, Velvet, Cinema One, ANC, Myx, Balls, and even abroad via The Filipino Channel, kicks off ABS-CBN Christmas campaign for 2011.

courtesy of ABSCBN.com

Cinemalaya 2011 Opening Film - Maskara

I attended the opening of 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, one of the most celebrated events for film and arts in the Philippines. This is the ‘nth’ time I have attended this event since I was in College. The highlight of this year’s event includes new sections on Asian films and documentaries and a retrospective of films written or directed by Ronwaldo Reyes, better known as Fernando Poe Jr.

Cinemalaya Film Congress takes a major part of the Festival, and this year’s theme is “Building Bridges for Independent Filmmaking in Asia.” Aside from showcasing films that are boldly expressive and freely constructed the Filipino way, Cinemalaya will also display films from Malaysia, China, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and Singapore for the segment – Focus Asia.

2011 Entries

This year, film entries will be screened at the CCP and Greenbelt 3 in Makati on July 15-24, 2011 to accommodate more viewers. This is the first time that Cinemalaya entries will be also showed outside the CCP. Celebrities graced the opening of this event and gathered to support the independent film making. Popular celebrities I have seen were Ina Feleo, Rez Cortez, Ricky Davao, and other stars. Gretchen Barreto attended the event to represent her partner Business Tycoon Tony Boy Cojuanco.

Cinemalaya 2011 opens with the premiere of multi awarded director Laurice Guillen’s film – Maskara (Mask) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater). Maskara is an actor’s tale unfolded letters revealed by his wife forty days after he dies. The letters lead his wife, Ellen, on a journey into a life more private than that which he shared with his family and friends, and ultimately to a meeting with his secret daughter.

The cast of Maskara is led by Tirso Cruz III, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino and Ina Feleo, who also wrote the screenplay. This film was in loving memory of Director Guillen’s loving husband – Johnny Delgado. Actors and Actresses did cameo roles in support of this film, including Fanny Serrano, Isabel Rivas, Ali Soto, Mark Gil, Makisig Morales, Miles Ocampo, Angelica Panganiban and others.

I was totally attached to the scenes of this movie. I found the conversation scenes very realistic as if they are describing ‘Dada’ as an actor and as a person and how their lives moved. I felt the pain of the character portrayed by Ms. Shamaine and how a daughter Ina Feleo struggle a life without a father all his life. This film unmasked the real world of an actor – different on how we look at them in our own television screens. Actors and actresses have their own struggles and burdens like any other human have. They have secrets and dramas behind their comic personality. And if you will notice, camera shots were shot shaky to maintain the undergroundness of the genre of the film. Remember that this film was made not for mainstream audiences.

Kudos to the people behind Cinemalaya 2011 and to Director Laurice Guillen. This weekends, I hope to watch more of the Cinemalaya entries and put it on my blog. For more information regarding to the Cinemalaya 2011 please go to : http://www.cinemalaya.org/