MANILA, Philippines – Actress Valerie Concepcion married boyfriend Francis Sunga in an intimate ceremony on Saturday, December 28 in Cavite.

Photos of the couple were released online by Nice Print Photo and some of Valerie's close friends in showbiz. Among those who came were newlyweds Dianne Medina and Rodjun Cruz and couple Marco Alcaraz and Lara Quigaman.

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Best wishes and Congratulations Francis Sunga and Valerie Concepcion #franklyinlovewithv

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Valerie and Francis meet in 2017. The two got engaged in 2018.

Valerie, who appeared on TV shows such as as Ika-5 Utos and Mulawin versus Ravena, has one daughter, Heather Fiona from a previous relationship. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Singer and songwriter Joji will be performing at the 2020 edition of Wanderland, a Philippine music festival.   

Wanderland made the announcement on Sunday, December 29, via their social media pages. 

The 27-year-old Joji is a Japanese singer, songwriter, and producer who first rose to fame as a YouTube personality. He released his first studio album, BALLADS 1, in 2018.

Wanderland had earlier announced in November 2019 the first "wave" of artists who will be performing during the two-day festival. Joji joins a mix of foreign and local artists, including Foals, Sabrina Claudio, Ben&Ben, Ari Lennox, IV of Spades, Raveena, Bruno Major, Omar Apollo, Novo Amor, Flu, and Ysanygo. 

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Wanderland is set to happen on March 7 and 8, 2020, at the Filinvest City Events Grounds. The two-day festival features top artists from both the Philippines and abroad. The 2019 festival was headlined by Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks, and Honne.

The festival, by Karpos Multimedia, is also presented by Globe. Tickets are on sale at the Wanderland website. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – If you've been on social media, you'd know by now that actress and artist Solenn Heussaff and her husband, businessman Nico Bolzico, make for a very colorful pair on your feeds. 

An ongoing gag of theirs, for instance, is how often Nico plays pranks on Solenn. 

Over the 2019 holidays, however, it seems Solenn has finally found a way to stump Nico – and, in a way, test is he's ready for when she gives birth (spoiler alert: he has a lot to work on). 

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A post shared by Nico Bolzico (@nicobolzico) on Dec 28, 2019 at 6:56pm PST

In an IGTV video posted on Nico's account, Solenn, dressed in pambahay clothes, proudly declares that it's "payback time" for all the times her husband has pranked her. The gag? That her water's broke and that she's about to give birth. 

In true Nico Bolzico fashion, the Argentinian businessman is frazzled; a huge chunk of the video is Nico scrambling to look for the hospital bag – which Solenn has, of course, already packed and prepared. "The hospital bag is... things to bring to the hospital," Solenn, trying to conceal her laughter, tells Nico. 

Her husband eventually "finds" the bag – although it's arguably not the one she's prepared. 

"You're not prepared... obviously," said Solenn, in between fits of laughter. 

Solenn and Nico married in France in May 2016. They have been together since 2011. They announced that they were expecting their first child, a baby girl, in August. 

Nico had earlier talked about how much he's grown to admire Solenn even more as she goes through the ups and downs of pregnancy. 

Solenn is expected to give birth any time now. – Rappler.com

It is either a reckless decision or a devious act of propaganda.

The title Mindanao grabs attention. It screams politics. It promises culture. It carries with it not just the burden of responsibly depicting the diversities of the island but aptly portraying its sensitive political and cultural conflicts without being ignorant to the contexts of the ongoing strife.

Interestingly, Brillante Mendoza’s latest film seems to be less interested about the island it pilfers its title from, as it is with the mundanities that pervade the miserable lives of its main characters – a mother (Judy Ann Santos) taking care of her cancer-stricken daughter and her husband (Allen Dizon), who is off to battle rebels. 

Frustratingly slight

Sadly, Mindanao is frustratingly slight.

Its insights are petty, using the joint plights of its main characters to echo an antiquated sentiment on the struggle in the island. 

The problem here is not Mendoza’s political slant.

It is his refusal to be blunt, to be vocal about his side in such a divisive issue. Mendoza hides behind the veneer of soulless observational drama and lets his passé depictions of a strong-willed mother and a valiant soldier facing both poverty and violence to subtly echo his allegiances without betraying his artistic choices.

This isn’t the same Mendoza of Kinatay (2009) whose portrayal of corruption is done through shock and horror. This isn’t even the same Mendoza of Lola(2009) or Ma Rosa(2016) whose disdain for the injustice that is inherent in the country’s bureaucracy is enunciated by very human stories.

Mindanao shows us a Mendoza who is castrated by a glaring lack of anything to fight for. 

The film pleads for anger, passion, or at the very least a defiant opinion on the state of that part of the nation it pilfers its title from, but what Mendoza delivers is a piece that in its aim to please all sides with the safest of melodramas fails to amount to anything. Mindanao is dulled by its attempts at safe neutrality. 

The film is nothing more than a stilted soap opera, one whose prolonged expositions of the banal aspects of life are but bids at elevating what essentially is a pity party. Take away all the film’s obvious pretensions and what is left really is a decently-acted melodrama that puts to the forefront the sacrifices of noble parents. There’s nothing novel here.

False neutrality

But then, is Mindanao really neutral? 

The hard answer is no. The film blends its story of familial suffering with a fairy tale about brothers fighting evil dragons narrated by the mother and shown via crudely animated sequences that also serve as transitions between scenes. While it feels like the cartoonic element is attached to the fact that a child is involved in the story, what is apparent is that the mother is not narrating to her daughter.

She is narrating to the audience, turning each and every one of the viewers into children who are fed with a fable that reduces the island’s sufferings into a battle between good and evil.

It is also suggestive that in the film’s merging storylines of a mother with an ailing daughter and a father in the hinterlands fighting a war, Mendoza shows who the heroes are and what the evil dragons represent in real life. Mindanao, in its mistaken belief that it takes no sides, shows only one side, refusing to entertain the voices of the other side.

If it seems that the expectations for the film are too immense, it is only because Mendoza opted to exploit the name of the island, conjuring expectations. 

The least that Mendoza could have done is to aspire for truth, to immerse himself in the struggles he chooses to represent, but he only commits half-heartedly, filming most of the film outside of the island, making it really apparent that the film’s aspirations is not for authenticity but to create illusions. Mindanao isn’t clueless. It is insidious. 

Reckless half-truths

Mindanao feels like a betrayal.

Mendoza has established a career that hinges on depictions of reality. His latest film, however, is content in reckless half-truths, emotional manipulations and quasi-artistic endeavors. – Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas' Tirad Pass.

Since then, he's been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.

The best way to see Crisanto Aquino’s Write About Love is not as a romance but as a personal – but sometimes alienating – ode to love.

Dullest of love stories

The film centers on an aspiring writer (Miles Ocampo) whose screenplay gets greenlit but with the condition that she allows a more experienced writer (Rocco Nacino) to assist her with the revisions. Expectedly, work bridges them close enough to be romantic.

Sadly, the chemistry between Ocampo and Nacino is non-existent. 

The film doesn’t allow the two actors enough opportunities to make their possible romance believable or, at the very least, worth rooting for. Their conversations exploring the possibilities of elevating a formulaic rom-com are drab and wooden, a failed attempt to turn the creative process into emotional interludes.

Even sadder is how the film within the film, the very product of the main characters’ long nights of brainstorming, doesn’t contribute anything to its ambitions of fleshing out the complexities of love. The fictional romance of an engineer (Joem Bascon) and a singer (Yeng Constantino) is bereft of any new insight about relationships, undoing what should have been a clever conceit of a blossoming romance between two creatives resulting into a work that represents newly learned experiences and realizations.

Overwhelming earnestness

However, even with all its failures, it is difficult to dismiss the overwhelming earnestness that fuels Write About Love.

When the film doesn’t aspire for the common pleasures of a love story, it actually becomes quite sweet and meaningful. While it struggles to infuse romance into the creative process, its portrayal of the process being collaborative, of it being a melding of personalities, imagination, experiences, disagreements and compromise, is notable. Aquino amply reveals not just his vast experience in filmmaking but also his quiet understanding of what happens behind the scenes.

The film sounds good on paper but it fails to register fully. 

What resounds more than the film’s skin-deep discourse on love and relationships is its appreciation of the struggles of writing, of how unsung individuals expose much of themselves to create stories and characters out of thin air. Sure, Write About Love isn’t exactly successful in this department, but the respect for the creative process is palpable.

Some right notes

Walk into the film expecting a delightful love story, and you will probably end up disappointed. 

Thankfully, the film offers other things than bland romance. Write About Love isn’t all wrong. There are some right notes there hiding beneath all the blandness. – Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas' Tirad Pass.

Since then, he's been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.

MANILA, Philippines – At least two Filipino movies were among the "most popular releases of 2019" on streaming platform Netflix, the company said on Monday, December 30.

In a release to media, Netflix said the following titles were the most popular in the country:

1. 6 Underground
2. Murder Mystery
3. Eerie
4. The Perfect Date
5. Miss Granny
6. The Witcher
7. The Silence
8. Hotel del Luna
9. Isn't It Romantic
10. Always Be My Maybe

The list, however, factors in "viewing predictions." 6 Undergroundand  The Witcher, for instance, were only released in December 2019, while Always Be My Maybe was released back in May 2019.

Eerie, a film directed by Mikhail Red, is a thriller and horror film about a Catholic school guidance counselor (Bea Alonzo) who investigates the mysterious death of a student. The movie first made the rounds in film festivals before getting a commercial release in the Philippines. It was later picked up by Netflix.

Red would go on to direct Dead Kids, the first Philippine-made Netflix Original.

Miss Granny, starring Sarah Geronimo, was released in Philippine cinemas back in 2018. It's the Philippine remake of a South Korean film of the same name.

For the movie category, the following topped the Philippine list:

1. 6 Underground
2. Murder Mystery
3. Eerie
4. The Perfect Date
5. Miss Granny
6. The Silence
7. Isn't It Romantic
8. Always Be My Maybe
9. The Girl Allergic to Wi-Fi
10. Secret Obsession

The Girl Allergic to Wi-Fi (Ang Babaeng Allergic Sa Wi-Fi during its Philippine release), was a Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018 entry. The rom-com stars Sue Ramirez as a girl who is allergic to electromagnetic waves.

For TV series, the following topped the Philippine list:

1. The Witcher
2. Hotel Del Luna
3. Sex Education
4. Stranger Things 3
5. The Umbrella Academy
6. Kingdom
7. Black Summer
8. Love Alarm
9. Lucifer
10. Titans

Netflix is an on-demand streaming service. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fans of South Korean variety show Running Man, rejoice! The cast of the long-running show will be coming to Manila for a show on February 9, 2020, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The announcement was made through a video of the cast posted on concert producer Happee Sy-Go's YouTube channel. 

All 8 cast members will be coming to the show, their "first stop" for 2020. In the video, the cast told fans to expect "new performances." 

Running Man is one of the most popular shows in South Korea and has a growing fan base in the Philippines. 

Its cast members include main host Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Haha, Lee Kwang-soo, Song Ji-hyo, Jeon So-min, and Yang Se-chan. The show has also featured as guests several big Korean celebrities. – Rappler.com

At first glance, Carlo Ledesma’s Sunod feels like standard horror fare. 

Desperate parents

Its plot isn’t exactly new.

There are thousands of horror films that have opened with desperate parents venturing into the unknown for the sake of their children. In the case of Sunod, the desperate parent is Olivia (Carmina Villaroel), a middle-aged single mother who is forced to take an entry-level job in a call center for the sake of her very ill daughter Annelle (Krystel Bimner). However, her new job turns out to be an opening to bigger problems when it's revealed that the historic building where the call center is located has quite a few secrets.

Ledesma cleverly shrouds the mystery with the mundane. 

He melds the realistic anguish of a cornered and concerned mother and the supernatural, resulting in a horror that has its feet firmly on the ground. Sunod supplements its elegant scares with workplace woes, obscuring the elaborately paced ghost story with banal but valid workplace fears such as intolerable graveyard shifts and predatory bosses. Ledesma’s portrayal of call center culture may be stylized to fit the otherworldly bleakness of his horror film, but it all makes sinister sense.

It may not be obvious but Sunodacknowledges social classes, making it apparent that Olivia’s real and supernatural struggles are all linked to the fact that she is economically underprivileged and that she is last in the pecking order of the world. Ledesma’s horror is one that is aware of capital and labor, of the sins of greed and the privileges of the wealthy. 

Gaps to be filled

The lore around the ghosts of Sunod is vague. 

There are many gaps that could have been filled. While the film eventually succumbs to explaining its conceit, it never fully reveals the mythos that makes the entire thing work. Thankfully, the visuals make up for the lack of information. Mycko David firmly establishes a world of shadows where slivers of color aren’t signs of comfort but signals of danger. The production design is also noteworthy, especially since the effectivity of the scares relies on a certain air of malevolence in the decrepit building.

The film is also very well-acted. Villaroel is believable as a frantic woman whose folly and foolishness is due to her being a caring mother. Bimner is excellent as well, shifting from docile daughter to devil with admirable ease. The supports, from JC Santos to Susan Africa, add further color to the mystery.

Solid effort

Sunod is a solid effort.

It is polished from start to finish. It is compelling and serves more than just cheap shocks and predictable scares. – Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas' Tirad Pass.

Since then, he's been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.

Once you’ve seen a Vice Ganda-led comedy, you most probably have seen it all.

While the settings change or the genre it spoofs shift, the elements remain the same. The comedies are all anchored on mean-spirited hilarity, all utilizing a broad moral lesson to make its abject crassness palatable to the families it caters to.

Sins of capitalism

The Mall, the Merrier, directed by Barry Gonzales,is just more of the same – and messier.

If one really thinks about it, the conceit has all the makings of something brilliant. 

The mall has always been used by filmmakers to represent the sins of capitalism. In George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead(1978), the blending of hordes of zombies haunting the halls of a mall eerily reflects the growing culture of numb commercialism that has been spreading in America. While malls have been used as settings for many Filipino films, The Mall, the Merrieris most possibly the closest that a Filipino film attempted to make something out of the culture created from the preponderance of malls in the Filipino psyche.

In fact, it felt like The Mall, the Merrier was traversing the route of mixing discourse with Vice Ganda’s trademark silliness. 

The film opens showing how Tamol Mall has survived the winds of progress, with its shoe box-like structure remaining unchanged despite the skyscrapers sprouting around it. A musical number, most probably inspired by Greg Ternian and Conrad Vernon’s Sausage Party (2016), has Vice Ganda merrily singing and dancing around the mall, revealing in the span of a few minutes the humorous exaggerations of the rundown mall that becomes the setting of a sibling rivalry that gets mixed with the occult. 

Going through the motions

Sadly, the promise ends with the musical number. 

The Mall, the Merriercontinues to become like any other Vice Ganda-starrer, with the comedienne performing self-deprecating stunts, insulting her co-performers on the basis of gender, attractiveness and weight, and going through the motions of forwarding a plot that just doesn’t make any sense. Whatever discourse that could have been derived from the fact that the comedy is set and is about a mall is thrown out the window.

The film is a rabid ruckus. It is a weightless hodgepodge whose only goal is to sell, sell and sell.

There is just nothing discreet about The Mall, the Merrier.

It is loud and proud, but not exactly in the same way the best films of Vice Ganda are. While there will always be a certain charm to the unabashed vulgarity of Vice Ganda’s comedies, this one just feels routine and repetitive. What is really bothersome, however, is how the film came so close to being about something rather than being the typical spiritless extravaganza that is only good for a few chuckles. 

The film seems to be content on being shallow and absent any compelling agenda that is unique to Vice Ganda as a very successful and influential entertainer belonging to the LGBT community; it all feels like a waste of time.

Delight its target audience

It is inevitable that the filmwill delight its target audience, while alienating the rest who are still waiting for Vice Ganda to evolve her comedy.

The Mall, the Merrieris proof that innovation isn’t important to Vice Ganda. She’s just there to please her loyal constituents and make a few bucks in the process.– Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas' Tirad Pass.

Since then, he's been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.

MANILA, Philippines – Every December, a unique thing happens in the Philippines: from December 25 to the first week of the next year, only Filipino movies – in particular, entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) – are allowed to be screened in cinemas. 

The MMFF is among the biggest film festivals in the Philippines and features films in varying genres. 

Which films stood out and which aren't quite worth that watch this year? Check out our reviews here. We'll be updating the page as more reviews come in: 

• Mindanao review: A betrayal
• Write About Love review: More wrong than right
• Sunod review: More than standard horror fare
• The Mall, the Merrier review: More of the same, but messier

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Singer KZ Tandigan is engaged. On Monday, December 31, KZ's boyfriend, singer TJ Monterde popped the question after a performance.

The moment was captured on video and posted by fellow singer Zendee.

Following the proposal, TJ posted on Instagram: "And Thank You God, for my wife to be."

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A post shared by TJ Monterde (@tjmusicmonterde) on Dec 30, 2019 at 3:14am PST

KZ and TJ have been together for 5 years. KZ will be performing at Okada's 2020 countdown on December 31. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Former Pinoy Big Brother housemate and TV host Jinri Park shared photos of her "Korean wedding" with her partner, John.

Jinri posted on Instagram, Monday, December 30 photos of the ceremony. She has, thus far, withheld the family name of her partner.

She also clarified that ceremony is not yet her real wedding, which is scheduled in March 2020.

"Sharing my Korean wedding pictures welcome to our family John. Love you forever ! PS- this wasn’t an official wedding, just a small ceremony for my family in korea. Real official wedding is in March 2020."

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Last December, Jinri shared photos of herself and John shot outside the Sydney Opera House.

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Jinri and John got engaged last July.  – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The whole world is set to welcome a new decade in 2020. If you still don't know where to go and want an experience other than celebrating at home or the usual hotel staycation, here are 6 places you can check out to watch fireworks display and catch a favorite celebrity or two in Metro Manila:

1. New Year Countdown to 2020 at Eastwood City. If you're in the Quezon City area, head over to Eastwood City to catch the fireworks display and performances from Rico Blanco, Ebe Dancel, Ben and Ben, James Reid, and more.

2. 2020 Rising in BGC Taguig. ABS-CBN stars Robi Domingo and former Binibining Pilipinas titleholder Nicole Cordoves host the countdown. Among those expected to perform are Billy Crawford and the Itchyworms.

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3. New Year's Eve at Okada Manila. Guests in Okada Manila can celebrate New Year's Eve with Erik Santos, KZ Tandingan, Jason Dy, and the Company with a concert titled The 24 Karat Countdown the Grand Ballroom on December 31, 2019.

4. GMA's Countdown to 2020. For those at the Mall of Asia Arena on December 31, catch your favorite GMA 7 artists such as Alden Richards, Joyce Pring, and Kris Bernal as they welcome 2020 at Seaside Boulevard.

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5. Gary Valenciano and TNT Boys at Resorts World. Resorts World Manila will welcome 2020 as Gary Valenciano, his kids Gab and Kiana, Randy Santiago, and the TNT Boys lead the Grand Countdown to 2020 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

6. 2020 New Year's Eve Countdown at Solaire. Catch a performance by Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez at the Tent of Solaire with a concert called The Royal Affair.

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– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine entertainment industry lost icons in 2019. (READ: Newsmakers who died in 2019)

In January, the music industry mourned the death of rock icon Pepe Smith, who died at the age of 71. Smith had suffered a stroke in 2017 and had since reduced his public appearances. (READ: 'Rakenrol in heaven': Singers, celebrities mourn Pepe Smith's death)

Razorback drummer Brian Velasco died at the age of 41. 

In February, comedian Bentong died at age of 55. According to his wife Cecille, Bentong passed away due to heart attack. 

It was also in February that actress and movie producer Armida Siguion-Reyna, known for her show Aawitan Kita, died at 88.

In March, the laughter died down when comedian Chokoleit died. Chokoleit passed away after performing in a show in Abra. (READ: Stars mourn comedian Chokoleit's death)

Radio drama actor August Victa also died in March at the age of 87. 

In May, writer Clinton Palanca, considered one of the best writers of his generation, died at the age of 45.

Rodolfo Francisco, known for playing the grandfather in an iconic 90's McDonalds commercial with Karen delos Reyes, passed away at 96. Rodolfo is also the father of Frontrow co-founder and actor RS Francisco.  

Veteran production designer Cesar Hernando died on May 8. His works include Mike de Leon’s Citizen Jake, Batch ’81, and Sister Stella L, Raymond Red’s Bayani, and Lav Diaz’s Batang West Side.

In June, screen legend Eddie Garcia bid farewell at 90. The actor was taping for what would have been his TV comeback, Rosang Agimat, when he tripped on a cable and sustained a fracture on his cervical spine. He was rushed to the hospital and died on June 20.  

Comedian Gary Lising died at the age of 78. 

The pageant industry meanwhile the death of former beauty queen April Love Jordan at the age of 31. She competed in several local pageants, including Miss world Philippines 2012 and Mutya ng Pilipinas.

In July, radio station MOR 101.9 bid farewell to DJ Jasmin Basar, who passed away after battling a kidney condition and undergoing dialysis.

In August, fashion designer Eddie Baddeo died at the age of 57. In 2016, he was diagosed with colorectal cancer. Despite his condition, he continued to work.

Rising child star Sophia Corullo, who first rose to fame on the It's Showtime's segment "Mini Me" died at the age of 6. Her management did not specify the cause of her death, but mentioned that two of her sibling were suffering from a dengue infection. 

Veteran actress Mona Lisa, known for roles in Insiang, Giliw Ko, and Itim, died at 97. 

Sari Yap, who founded Mega Publishing, died on September 9. Sari battled cancer in the last years of her life.

Isah Red, one of the country's most well known entertainment editors, died in September. He worked for Daily Tribune and the Manila Standard.

Film director Mel Chionglo, known for Midnight Dancers and Burlesk King, died at the age of 73. 

Amalia Fuentes, known as the "Elizabeth Taylor of the Philippines," died at the age of 79 in October.

Veteran actor and theater educator Tony Mabesa, who appeared with Eddie Garcia in the movie Rainbow's Sunset died at the age of 79. 

Mico Palanca died at the age of 41. Mico is known for appearing in shows such as It Might Be You and Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay.

Comic creator Gerry Alanguilan died at the age of 51 on December 21. He was known for the comic Wasted and did some work for Marvel including Wetworks, X-Men, Superman: Birthright, Wolverine, and Fantastic Four. – Rappler.com

It is inevitable that Lee Hwan-kyu’s Miracle in Cell No. 7 would find a place in the hearts of many Filipinos.

The Korean prison drama about a kind-hearted but mentally challenged father who goes to jail for a crime he didn’t commit has been dubbed in Tagalog and has garnered quite a following. It isn’t strange at all. The storyline, while novel because of details that are specific to its Korean setting, is rife with issues that are pertinent to the Filipino experience. 

Familiar pace and grooves

Director Nuel Naval actually has very little to do in adapting the movie.

The story fits like a glove and perhaps finds further poignancy when told in a setting where the injustice that is the heart of its conceit does not feel like a narrative device but a stuff of reality. The adaptation doesn’t really need to veer much. Details are tweaked to suit the country, but only to an extent that would not derail the film’s tear-jerking intent without the social guilt, without pushing for the more compelling discourse that injustice is an adjunct of social inequity. 

This Miracle in Cell No. 7 still just points its fingers at the rotten eggs in government who abuse their power. It has clear villains and stops there. It skirts reflection.

This is all good. Naval doesn’t make any promises of social realism here. In fact, the grit depicted in his film is very much stylized, concentrating on the palatable and sometimes humorous aspects of prison life rather than real suffering. Again, this is all fine. Miracle in Cell No. 7 is, after all, more interested in the humanity of its characters than the inhumanity of the society that they live in. If the film touches on very relevant issues, it is most likely not a product of design.

What really matters is that despite the film’s hesitation to cross that line that would evolve the film’s discourse beyond predictable empathy, the film still works hard to achieve that right balance of levity and tragedy that resonates. Naval more or less pushes the right buttons, absolves himself of any pride of knowing better and mostly surrenders to the familiar pace and grooves of Lee’s original film.

Splendid performances

Aga Muhlach is fine here as Lito, the heartbreakingly innocent father who is penalized simply for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. While some subtlety would have benefited his performance, it can’t be denied that it very effective in the film’s ultimate goal of making the character easy to sympathize with.

Miracle in Cell No. 7really owes its affect to the supporting cast.

Xia Vigor, who plays Muhlach’s adorable daughter Yesha, is a bundle of joy. Her rapport with Muhlach is vivid and is largely the reason why the film works so well. John Arcilla, who plays the initially stern warden who later on becomes Lito’s champion in his fight for justice, is also impressive. 

What is clear, however, is that the reason Naval’s take on the film is so much fun is because the actors who play the Lito’s cellmates are splendid. 

Those characters could have all registered as negligible comic relief to the more pressing drama of Lito’s plight. However, Joel Torre, JC Santos, Soliman Cruz, Mon Confiado, and Jojit Lorenzo gift the characters with distinct personalities that make frivolity as indelible as the melancholy.

More profound

Believe it or not, Naval’s Miracle in Cell No. 7 is an improvement over the original.

The localization makes not just its charms but also its tragedy more profound. The film is far from original but it has its place. – Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas' Tirad Pass.

Since then, he's been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.

Beware of Coco Martin’s 3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon. 

It seems harmless. After all, with its reimagining of Martin as another selfless hero who is up against corrupt and powerful men, it's really just an overblown version of Martin’s never-ending television show Ang Probinsyano. It shouldn’t be too bad. If it has a glaring fault, it should just be the fact that it is a blatant cash grab. It’s unscrupulous but this is the season of very unscrupulous filmmaking.

A very toxic film

However, 3Pol Trobol, as it turns out, is much worse. 

The very scant entertainment it offers cannot make up for its stubbornness. It's hodgepodge of silly stunts and lazy comedy. Its plot borrows a lot from current events – which isn’t exactly a bad thing — but because it panders to politicians, it exposes quite a distasteful slant, a preference to appease the administration, using its reach to telegraph seemingly innocent but truly noxious ideas.

So how can a movie with Martin pretending to be a woman be so crooked?

Well, because it uses for comedy distasteful scenes involving Martin exploiting the opportunity to see another woman change her clothes or stealing a kiss. It utilizes as an act of valor the seduction and baiting of a man, sending wrong signals in the discourse of sexual abuse. Jennylyn Mercado, who plays the token damsel in distress, also cross-dresses in the movie, but that episode ends in another expression of outdated chivalry, with the woman having no role but to be helpless, screaming, and pleading for a man’s protection.

Obsolete ideals

3Pol Trobolpeddles the most obsolete of ideals.

The least Martin could have done is to exert a bit more effort and creativity in crafting his obnoxiously clueless flick. Sadly, everything feels shoddy and makeshift. The film looks horrendous with its unfocused visuals, its haphazard editing and its absolute lack of any real design. It feels like it was made in a hurry, in between shoots of Martin’s daily television show.

Then there is the wastage of talent. 

3Pol Trobol is probably the biggest assembly of fine actors in lousy roles. While it is good that the film has generated jobs for those actors, it could also have pushed the envelope further by making those jobs relevant to their skills and experience. As it is, their roles feel like dole-outs, with Martin appearing to be a generous overlord whose stature as a movie star is only improved by having veterans serving as extras in his vanity project.

Headache-inducing nightmare

3Pol Trobolis bad. It is a headache-inducing nightmare. – Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas' Tirad Pass.

Since then, he's been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.

LOS ANGELES, USA – Finding love is never easy, as actress Sharon Stone discovered when she was blocked on dating app Bumble after multiple users reported her account as fake.

"I went on the @bumble dating sight and they closed my account. Some users reported that it couldn't possibly be me!" the actress tweeted early Monday, December 30.

I went on the @bumble dating sight and they closed my account.
Some users reported that it couldn’t possibly be me!
Hey @bumble, is being me exclusionary ?
Don’t shut me out of the hive

— Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) December 30, 2019

"Is being me exclusionary? Don't shut me out of the hive," Stone joked, adding a bee emoji to play into Bumble's hexagonal honeycomb logo.

She also tweeted a screenshot of the message from Bumble, which said she was blocked after the website received "several reports" her profile was fake.

pic.twitter.com/wrsFpTkygp

— Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) December 30, 2019

Stone, 61, is known for her roles as a spy in Total Recall (1990) and a crime novelist/serial killer in Basic Instinct (1992).

Her tweet was met with a wave of support, as fans demanded that her profile be restored.

Bumble has since unblocked Stone and "ensured this won't happen again," according to the app's editorial director, who replied to the star's tweets.

But Stone may not need the app after all: in addition to support, her predicament also unleashed a flood of would-be suitors.

"Hello sharon," one man commented. "If youre ever in buffalo and kinda dig fat guys with mustaches my dms are open." – Rappler.com

LOS ANGELES, USA – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker continued to soar at North American theaters, taking $72.4 million over its second weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday, December 30.

The Disney film, marketed as a grand finale of the nine-film "Skywalker Saga," drew mixed reviews and was down considerably from last weekend's lofty $177.4 million opening.

But it has compiled a strong domestic total of $362.2 million.

It maintained a big lead over the No. 2 film, Sony's Jumanji: The Next Level, an action sequel starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart, which had $35.3 million in North American ticket sales for the Friday-through-Sunday period.

Also unchanged in third was Disney's Frozen II, with $16.9 million. The animated musical film has Broadway star Idina Menzel voicing Queen Elsa in her latest adventures.

Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women has been brought to the screen many times – no fewer than seven, by Variety's count – but the new version from director Greta Gerwig has drawn strong reviews and netted $16.8 million to place fourth in its debut this weekend.

The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson and Laura Dern in the story of the joys and struggles of four sisters during the US Civil War.

In fifth was new Fox/Disney release Spies in Disguise, at $13.4 million. The animated children's film features the voices of Will Smith and Tom Holland.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

• Knives Out ($9.9 million)
• Uncut Gems ($9.6 million)
• Cats ($4.8 million)
• Bombshell ($4.8 million)
• Richard Jewell ($3.1 million)

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – This time, it was definitely not a prank. 

Actress, artist, and TV host Solenn Heussaff gave birth to a healthy baby girl – days after she played a prank on husband Nico Bolzico. 

Solenn had been admitted to the hospital on Tuesday December 31, hours after she underwent a check-up, based on her Instagram stories. 

On January 1, Wednesday, Solenn posted a photo of herself while giving birth with Nico by her side. The couple didn't specify if the baby was born on December 31 or January 1. 

"Best way to welcome 2020. So inlove with you Thylane Katana," wrote Solenn. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Solenn Heussaff (@solenn) on Dec 31, 2019 at 9:03pm PST

Solenn and Nico married in France in May 2016. They have been together since 2011. They announced that they were expecting their first child, a baby girl, in August.

Nico had earlier talked about how much he's grown to admire Solenn even more as she goes through the ups and downs of pregnancy.

Before she gave birth, Solenn pulled a simple but nerve-wracking prank on Nico – that her water had already broke. – Rappler.com

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Siakol's guitarist Anthony “Miniong” Cervantes announced on Tuesday, December 31, that he was quitting the band, which has become synonymous to the rock scene that dominated the country in the '90s.

In a Facebook post, Cervantes, who has been Siakol guitarist since the group's founding in Parañaque in 1994, said he was quitting because his bandmates are always disagreeing.

“Paalam SIAKOL... Pahinga na muna si MINIONG...Salamat sa aking mga kabanda na hindi magkasundo.. At salamat mga Siakolista!,” Cervantes wrote on Facebook. He followed this with the hashtags #akonalangangaayaw #signingoff #miniong #ayawnyonatalagangmagayos #unhealthyna #burnout and #bahalanasiakolissiakol.

It has been an open book that things have not always been rosy in Siakol, especially between vocalist Noel Palomo and bassist Wowie Flores.

In May 2016, Palomo and Flores engaged in a fistfight while performing at the Club Velvet in Davao City.

The fistfight led to the cancelation of the gig.

In a subsequent video post, Palomo downplayed the incident, saying fistfights are part of Siakol's performance.

“What you saw was a product of imagination. Because there were many of us, the venue became so hot but it's part of the show,” he added.

In comments to his post, fans urged Cervantes, who had formed another band – Pseudo Red – to continue with Siakol, saying the tension would soon pass.

Other Siakol members have not responded to Cervantes' post as of yet. – Rappler.com