MANILA, Philippines – The star of what is, arguably, one of the most popular and enduring shows on Philippine television joined a protest against the threat of a shutdown of the country’s biggest media network.

Actor Coco Martin joined fellow ABS-CBN stars on Friday, February 21, as different groups – from labor unions, journalists, and human rights groups – staged a protest in front of one of the media giant’s gates.

Martin is the star of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, one of ABS-CBN’s longest running shows. In it, he plays a cop-turned-pseudo vigilante who works against government corruption.

“Kinakailangan namin ipakita ang aming suporta, hindi lang bilang mga taong nagtratrabaho sa ABS-CBN, kung hindi ang lahat ng mga Pilipino (We have to show our support not just as employees of ABS-CBN but as Filipinos),” Martin said in a live interview with ABS-CBN reporter Jeff Canoy on the network’s flagship news program TV Patrol.

“Hindi natin dapat pigilan ang tao makapagsalita…. Kailangan maging malaya pa rin tayo sa kung ano ang opinyon natin at saloobin natin. Kailangang mapanindigan natin at masabi natin kung ano ang nararamdaman natin tungkol sa nangyayari sa ating bansa,” he added.

(We should not stop people from speaking up..... We need to be free in expressing our opinions and thoughts. We need to stand up for what we believe in and be able to express what we feel about what’s happening in the country.)

It’s the first time for ABS-CBN’s biggest entertainment stars to join a protest calling for thei network's franchise renewal.

In the past weeks, the network’s biggest stars, Martin included, had come out on social media to defend ABS-CBN amid threats to either revoke its legislative franchise or deny its renewal.

ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise will be expiring by late March 2020 but Congress has yet to act on bills that would renew it. Under the law, broadcast companies such as radio and television networks must obtain a franchise from Congress. The franchise bill needs approval by the House of Representatives before it is forwarded to the Senate. A version of the bill approved by both the House and the Senate will still require presidential approval.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself has threatened to stop the ABS-CBN franchise renewal several times, though Malacañang has repeatedly denied that the President has a hand in the House of Representative's foot-dragging on the measure.

Early in his administration Duterte accused the network of not airing his political ads during the 2016 elections, which he won by a landslide. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Walang Kasarian Ang Digmaang Bayan (The Revolution Knows No Gender) has been pulled from the lineup of the 2020 Sinag Maynila Film Festival.

The film follows the story of a young filmmaker on his journey from artist, to activist, to fighter.

The film also takes a critical look at President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war and the human rights abuses under his administration. In the film's trailer, a grieving woman, played by Rita Avila, says “Kung sana naging mas matapang ako, ako mismo ang papatay kay Duterte (If I were braver, I'd kill Duterte myself).”

The film was originally meant to run in select cinemas from March 17 to 24 as a finalist for the festival’s full length category. However, Sinag Maynila announced on Friday, February 21, that they were withdrawing the film from the festival.

“The executive committee, after thorough review, found that there is substantial deviation from the submitted and approved script and that the film is no longer a faithful representation of the approved screenplay,” Sinag Maynila said in the announcement posted on their Facebook page on Friday.

“Furthermore Sinag Maynila reserves the right to disqualify as an entry for failure to comply with its rules and regulations as well as the terms and conditions of its agreement with the filmmakers,” Sina Maynila added.

Sinag Maynila is a film festival created by Solar Entertainment Corporation president Wilson Tieng, and director Brillante Mendoza that “aims to support local independent cinema.”

The film’s director Jay Altarejos spoke up on the issue on Facebook.

"The reason that Brillante Mendoza and Sinag Maynila cited for their removal of Walang Kasarian Ang Digmaang Bayan from the festival is a flimsy way out to get rid of me and the film," he said.

Altarejos addressed Mendoza, and referred to a meeting they had on February 20, presumably when they discussed the film being disqualified. Altarejos reminded Mendoza of his one request at that meeting: for them to tell the truth about the reasons for the film's disqualification.

"Nagsasalita ako ngayon at patuloy pa na magsasalita sa mga susunod na araw dahil nagsinungaling kayo (I'm speaking out now, and will continue to speak out in the coming days because you lied)," the director said.

He then invited Mendoza and Sinag Maynila to meet with him in the presence of media to explain what happened between the Sinag Maynila press conference on February 17 – where the trailer of the film was shown – and their February 20 meeting.

"Tayo ba ay Martial Law na at ikaw ang tagapagpaganap sa sektor ng pelikula, Brillante (Are we under Martial Law already and are you implementer in the film industry, Brillante)?" he asked

"Patuloy kaming makikipaglaban para sa tunay na kalayaan. Kalayaan sa pagpapahayag at kalayaan sa pamamahayag. Makakaasa kayo na sa bawat kasinungaling ilalabas 'nyo, babalikan ko kayo ng tatlong katotohanan," Altarejos added.

(We will continue to fight for true freedom. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press. You can bet that with every lie you come up with, we will respond with 3 truths.) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Japanese live-action period adventure of Rurouni Kenshin continues, as the Japanese franchise dropped on Thursday, February 20, the latest teaser trailer for their two upcoming films.

【特 報 解 禁】

最 後 の 敵 は
“ 十 字 傷 の 謎 ” を 知 る 男 ― ！

究極のクライマックスへ

『#るろうに剣心最終章 The Final／The Beginning』
7/3(金)＆8/7(金) 2部作連続公開！ pic.twitter.com/WyXP0DPGfG

— 映画『るろうに剣心』公式アカウント (@ruroken_movie) February 20, 2020

The Final and The Beginning are slated for a July 3 and August 7, 2020 release, respectively. The franchise's last two films will star reprising actor Takeru Satoh as the lead wandering swordsman Kenshin Himura. Emi Takei also returns as Kaoru Kamiya, as well as original director Keishi Otomo.

Joining the cast is Japanese-American actor Mackenyu, who will be playing the new lead villain, Enishi Yukishiro.

The two-part film series will reportedly reveal the mystery behind Kenshin Himura's cross wound/x-mark on his cheek and culminate the Rurouni Kenshin saga.

The first Rurouni Kenshin movie premiered in 2012 in Japan, followed by the two sequels – Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno andRurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends in August and September 2014, respectively. The highly-successful movie trilogy, which is based on Nobuhiro Watsuki's manga series, earned more than $160 million US dollars globally.

The cast of Rurouni Kenshin visited Manila in August 2014. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Ben&Ben released a music video for their single "Masyado Pang Maaga"on Friday, February 21 – the band's second music video release in a week. (READ: Happy Valentine's Day, here's Ben&Ben's new music video)

Like other Ben&Ben videos, this one tells a love story in flashbacks and time jumps. It starts off with a woman – played by Sue Ramirez – seemingly nursing a heartache. The rest of the video unfolds, then revealing how that heartache came to be.

"Masyado Pang Maaga" was released on Spotify on November 1 as a standalone single. The song was inspired by "a very personal experience" of guitarist and vocalist Miguel Guico.

"Why do people decide to be silent and walk away instead of confront each other and talk about things? Hopefully the song can accompany people who go through the same thing, whether it be in their own personal experience or in their family and friends' experiences," he said.

The band earlier said that the song may be included in a deluxe version of their debut album Limasawa Street, which dropped in May 2019. – Rappler.com

BERLIN, Germany – Pixar's new film Onward hits screens around the world at the end of the month with the much-loved animation company hoping that it will restore a little glitter to a brand that has dulled in recent years.

Onward, which screened at the Berlinale on Friday, February 21, is Pixar Animation Studios' first original animated feature since Coco in 2017 and is closer to the world of Harry Potter than Buzz Lightyear.

It is a tale of unicorns and magic in which two brothers – Ian and Barley Lightfoot voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt – have 24 hours to reconnect with their father who died many years earlier, before Ian, the younger of the two, was even born. 

It is a buddy movie that opens up fraternal relations as well as the father-son relation. 

But things do not quite go as planned, as one might expect in a Pixar quest movie, and the two brothers stumble through a fantasy universe with magic wands, spells, dragons, and unicorns. 

In some respects it unfurls like a video game, a world unfamiliar to director Dan Scanlon who previously teamed up with Onward producer Kori Dae on the 2013 film Monsters University.

"I didn't know very much about that but luckily we are working with Pixar and they brought their love of these games, and they taught us a lot," Scanlon told a news conference prior to the Berlin screening on Friday.

The story came from Scanlon who lost his own father when he was a child.

"After 'Monsters University', we wanted to make something more personal, from an honest place," said Scanlon.

"I told Kori about my own experience, having lost my father when I was a one-year-old and my brother only three.

"We had so many questions about what he was like and how we were like him, we did not remember him at all". 

"That becomes kind of the seed of the story."

Pixar certainly has high hopes for Onward. The success of Toy Story 4 at this year's Oscars meant the company had racked up 10 Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature since the category was created in 2001. 

However, they have come under fire for the fact that 4 of their last 5 films have been sequels. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Who is Mommy Divine? AshMatt fans and Popsters would know – she is, after all, the mother of Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo . 

Mommy Divine is back on Popsters' radars, after Matteo Guidicelli reportedly punched wife Sarah Geronimo's bodyguard, because he allegedly told Mommy Divine about the couple's "secret" civil wedding on Friday, February 21. 

"Divine intervention," is what many people are calling it – although it's not exactly a flattering thing. 

So who is Mommy Divine in pop star Sarah's life? 

She's the 'number one critic' of Sarah's performing career.

In an April 2018 live session with PEP.ph, Sarah revealed her mother's role in her showbiz career as her 'number one critic' and supporter. When asked if Mommy Divine had a say in her performances, Sarah said yes. 

"Siya yung No. 1 nagki-critique sa akin, nagre-remind sa akin na, 'O, Sarah, alagaan mo yung career mo, yung boses mo. Yung mga supporters mo, huwag mo sila pababayaan. (She's my number one critic. She always reminds me to take care of my career and voice, and to never leave my supporters behind)," she said.

Sarah said then that at 29 years old, she now has "more freedom" to choose which songs to perform in her concerts – which may make one wonder how much less "freedom" she had prior.

She is not 'overprotective,' just 'devoted to her family.'

In an interview with YES!in February 2011, Mommy Divine said that she was aware of people's criticism of her "overprotectiveness," which she considers just "devotion to her family."

However, she admitted that she did not think Sarah was ready to entertain suitors, who was 23 years old at that time and dating Rayver Cruz, Sarah's "first heartbreak."

Rayver revealed it was not a "normal relationship," as they were only allowed to communicate via text, Skype, and through passing looks in the ABS-CBN building. In one year of dating, they were only by themselves twice – one for 30 seconds, and another for 30 minutes. 

To Mommy Divine, Sarah didn't have the right "relationship experience" her peers had, due to her daughter's "naive, trusting" personality. Thus, she believed her daughter "needed her guidance."

 “Sa nakikita ko sa kanya, hindi siya talaga puwedeng pabayaang mag-isa. ‘Yon ang nakikita ko kung bakit palagi ko siyang ginagabayan sa ngayon," (To me, I can't leave her alone, that's why I watch over her right now), she said. 

She said that the "right guy" will be God-sent; a man willing to wait for daughter. 

"Ang lalaki, kung okay siya, willing siyang maghintay. Hindi niya sisirain ang buhay ng anak ko, hindi niya sisirain ang pangarap ng anak ko," (If the guy is okay, he will be willing to wait. He won't ruin my daughter's life nor her dreams.)

In an August 2014 ABS-CBN report, Mommy Divine came to her own defense after accusations that she still continued to meddle with her 26-year-old daughter's love life. Sarah was publicly dating Matteo then.

She said that she merely encouraged her daughter to continue praying for the right man, but it would still be Sarah's decision that they would follow.

“Lagi lang naming sinasabi na sana 'yung lalaking pipiliin niya ay 'yung masasandalan niya hamabuhay. Hindi 'yung puro emosyon na lang. Pakonswelo na lang ang pisikal, ang appearance,’” she added. (We always tell her that the man she chooses should be one she can count on forever. It shouldn't just be emotions. The physical appearance is just a bonus.) – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON DC, USA – Clint Eastwood, the iconic actor and director who infamously delivered a speech to an empty chair at the 2012 Republican convention, is endorsing Michael Bloomberg for president and not Donald Trump, whom he supported four years ago.

In a wide-ranging interview, the 89-year-old multiple Oscar winner told The Wall Street Journal that while he appreciates some of the good that Trump has done, he laments the bad and the ugly nature of today's "ornery" politics in America.

Trump should act "in a more genteel way, without tweeting and calling people names," said Eastwood, who endorsed the brash billionaire over Hillary Clinton in 2016 because, as he said at the time, he feared she would "follow in (president Barack) Obama's footsteps."

"The best thing we could do is just get Mike Bloomberg in there," he said in the interview released late Friday, referring to the US media tycoon who jumped into the Democratic presidential nomination race in November.

Bloomberg, 78, is the former mayor of New York, meaning the two men have a sliver of political experience in common.

While Eastwood is best known for his Hollywood career – starring in popular westerns and as the rogue cop "Dirty Harry" Callahan, and directing Unforgiven, Gran Torino, and last year's Richard Jewell – he also served for two years as mayor of Carmel, California.

He puzzled the American political establishment in 2012 when he took the stage at the Republican National Convention, where the party was nominating Mitt Romney, and struck up a conversation with an empty chair featuring an imaginary Barack Obama. – Rappler.com

After the murder of her husband by vigilante killers targeting drug peddlers, Maria (Alessandra de Rossi) is left on her own to both provide for her three children and keep them safe from the constant raids and rub-outs in the slums they live in.

Desperate, she decides to align herself with Ventura (Jake Macapagal), a cop of dubious motives, who assigns her as a partner of Alvin (Art Acuna) in his many missions to eliminate suspected pushers.

Rarely feels like propaganda

Ben Rekhi’s Watch List is grounded on a cliché that one can only hope becomes obsolete. 

However, films that tackle drugs and extra-judicial killings are still churned out, either to reinforce the twisted logic behind the blatantly atrocious government initiative in the case of films like Carlo J. Caparas’ Kamandag ng Droga (2017) and Njel de Mesa’s KontrAdiksyon, or to valiantly put a spotlight on its obvious and disconcerting amorality like what Treb Monteras’ Respeto have done. The proliferation of films that tackle the drug war is a confounding phenomenon, with near-empty cinemas turned into battlegrounds by filmmakers to impassionedly espouse their opposing advocacies.

That said, Rekhi’s film seems nothing new.  

Its plot twists and character turns are far from surprising. What sets it apart, however, is its unflinching grip on the humanity of its characters, and not on the stubborn tropes of its unfortunate genre. 

Watch List rarely feels like propaganda, even though many of its passages are as blunt as a sledgehammer in echoing the injustices from corrupted powers. It is first and foremost a compelling drama that is carved out of the misfortunes of a mother struggling to survive in a society that oppresses her kind with intimidation, violence, and death. 

The film draws you into its suffocating and bleak world that seems bereft of second chances by humanizing the plight of its most immediate victims.

Mannered defiance

De Rossi is magnificent here.

The easiest thing to do for De Rossi here is to portray her character as a hapless victim, as a perpetually tired woman who has been left to fend for herself by a policy that by its very nature, shows the monstrosities of an unmitigated patriarchy. That would have suited the film’s goal of criticizing the ills of society. However, De Rossi exudes a mannered defiance, a me-against-the-world stance that makes the inevitability of her grim fate all the more heartbreaking. 

Watch List is bold and brave. 

It knows it treads very familiar grounds. It also knows that its goal is not novel, and that its place in the world is simply to reverberate the opposition to the reckless killings from the "drug war." Despite that, its focused attention on the agonizing tragedy of a mother cornered by her station in life adds heart and soul to the controversy, furthering the argument that there is absolutely no rhyme or reason for the devaluing of life. 

Final frame

The final frame of Watch List, of a boy who was set free and given a second lease at life, is harrowing. 

What would normally symbolize hope is stripped of anything positive. The overwhelming emotion echoed by the frame is despair and trauma. Watch List boldly documents the far-reaching consequences of the normalized violence and brutality brought about by the drug war. – 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 – Shanti Dope has made his 2020 comeback with “Normalan,” which the rapper released on February 20, 2020.

The song is a sequel of sorts to his hit debut “Nadarang.” In it, the rapper talks about keeping relationships casual until he finds the right one.

The song is his first single since “Pati Pato,” his collaboration with Gloc-9 and Chito Miranda. The lyric video for the song, posted on YouTube, gained 250,000 views shortly after its release, keeping the song on the #30 spot on the platform’s Philippines trending list.

The song is available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Onstage, SB19 are hard-hitting performers who make sure they don’t miss a beat as they sing and dance for their beloved fans. The group came together in 2018, and stayed relatively unknown for quite some time, until one of their dance videos went viral in September 2019.

Soon SB19 became the talk of the town – with their music making the Billboard Social 50 Chart weekly, and them trending on Twitter almost every day. By now, even casual fans will know their songs – and know that they have a tendency to set stages on fire with their performances.

But what are they like off stage?

In this video, we get to know Stell, Sejun, Justin, Josh, and Ken a little bit more as they spill the tea on who’s who in their group. Who’s the perennial latecomer? Who’s the biggest perfectionist? Who would they want to be stuck with on a desert island? The boys answer all these questions and more – with a lot of kulitan in-between.

Check out the video above and get to know these stars-on-the-rise beyond their impressive song-and-dance performances. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – GMA 7 actress Sheena Halili wed longtime boyfriend Jeron Manzanero on Sunday, February 23 at the The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Quezon City.

Among the guests who came to witness their special day were Sheena's friends from showbiz including Jolina Magdangal, Marian Rivera, Jennylyn Mercado, and Camille Prats.

Pasig mayor Vico Sotto, ABS-CBN broadcaster Julius Babao and his wife Cristine, and Maine Mendoza and Arjo Atayde were also spotted at the wedding.

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A post shared by Chynna Ortaleza Cipriano (@chynsortaleza) on Feb 23, 2020 at 2:31am PST

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A post shared by Julius Babao (@juliusbabao) on Feb 23, 2020 at 4:54am PST

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Sheena, who started her career in the reality talent show Starstruck, got engaged to Jeron back in 2018, when he proposed to her at a cinema in Greenhills. 

Sheen posted a clip of the proposal saying: "Siya ang panalangin ko." (He's my answered prayer)

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A post shared by Sheena Yvette Halili (@mysheenahalili) on Aug 26, 2018 at 2:36pm PDT

Sheena's shows include Marimar, Impostora, Destiny Rose, and Rosalinda, among others. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Actress Rita Avila took to Instagram on Saturday, February 22 to explain the lines from the movie Walang Kasarian Ang Digmaang Bayan (The Revolution Knows No Gender), which was disqualified from Sinag Maynila.

The actress is one of the stars of the film directed by Jay Altarejos. Rita plays Virgie in the movie, and says the line:  “Kung sana naging mas matapang ako, ako mismo ang papatay kay Duterte (If I were braver, I'd kill Duterte myself).”

In a statement, Sinag Maynila confirmed that they disqualified the film, saying the film deviated from the original story that was submitted.

Important Announcement. #SinagMaynila2020pic.twitter.com/2FIWbOCatk

— Sinag Maynila (@sinagmaynila) February 21, 2020

In her first post, which accompanied a screenshot of an article from Pep, Rita wrote: "As an actress, I have the professional obligation to do this movie as this is part 2 of Kasal. I played mom to the lead actor."

"Ganito na lang po: pag yang linya kong yan ay sinabi ko sa tutoong buhay... MATAKOT NA... ako. AKO. AKO PO. (Put it this way: if I said those lines in real life, I should be afraid for myself.)

"Ni hindi ko makukurot ang Presidente. Ni hindi ko sha mamumura sa tutoong buhay.  Parang ung mga high sa drugs lang ang matatakot sa isang linya sa pelikula. Isip isip naman po mga kapatid. Sensibilidad po." (I could not even pinch the president. I cannot curse him in real life. Those high on drugs should be afraid of that line in the movie. Use your brains. Be sensible.)

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A post shared by Rita Avila (@msritaavila) on Feb 21, 2020 at 8:44pm PST

In a follow-up post, Rita wrote: "Someone who is doing a great and proper job won’t take a movie about the present time personally. 

"Matalino naman ang ating Presidente para mayanig sa isang pelikula. Di ba po?" (The president is too smart to be bothered by a movie. Am I not right?)

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A post shared by Rita Avila (@msritaavila) on Feb 22, 2020 at 3:17am PST

In her third post, Rita asked followers to watch the movie and understand why her character said that line in the film. 

"Headlines call attention. Fools read the headline and then without thinking, they speak dirty. Watch the movie, understand why my character said the line." 

She also called a basher out for cursing her.

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A post shared by Rita Avila (@msritaavila) on Feb 22, 2020 at 5:40am PST

The film follows a young filmmaker on his journey from artist, to activist, to fighter.

The film was originally meant to run in select cinemas from March 17 to 24 as a finalist for the festival’s full length category.

Director Jay Altarejos earlier said they will continue to fight for the truth. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Pussycats Dolls will be dropping by Manila in May. 

Concert producer Wilbros live announced that the group – composed of Nicole Scherzinger, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts, and Carmit Bachar – are coming for a concert on May 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The 5 recently reunited to release a new single, "React." They've also announced dates for their Unfinished Business tour in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Tickets will go on sale starting February 29 through SM Tickets

This will be the second time for the group to perform in Manila. They held their first Manila concert in 2009.

The Pussycat Dolls originated as a burlesque troupe in 1995, founded by choreographer Robin Antin. In 2003, they rose to hit musical girl group status and were known for their catchy, sexy-pop song-and-dance performances. 

Their hit singles include "Don't Cha," "Stickwitu," "Wait A Minute," "Beep," "When I Grow Up," "I Don't Need A Man," and "Hush Hush." – Rappler.com

Sigrid Bernardo’s UnTrue is a film that ingeniously skirts being boxed.

Potential meet-cute

The film opens with crimson-haired Mara (Cristine Reyes), whose face is gravely bruised and bloodied, interrogated by a cop.

Her narration of the events that led to her sorry state starts with a potential meet-cute. While hurrying to go to work, she bumps Joachim (Xian Lim), causing him to drop a bottle of wine. They meet again in the restaurant where Mara works as a waitress and whose owner is Joachim’s friend. The film shifts mood, overtly employing clichés that define thrillers.

Mara, on her way home, starts to feel like she’s being followed. Joachim is following her, and eventually woos her to let him into her life, briskly becoming her boyfriend, then her husband, while showing signs of a split personality. 

Just when the film positions Mara as its protagonist, it again shifts perspective, this time, with Joachim recounting the same events but with him as the victim instead of the predator. 

UnTrue thrives in blurring perceptions. Bernardo deftly orchestrates the tropes of the genres she attempts to navigate to keep her audience in a state of invested confusion. She absolutely knows her film teeters towards being utterly preposterous but instead of veiling it with drab subtlety, she pushes the envelope, thrusting her characters in situations that are too crazed to make any sense. The most fascinating thing here is that it all works. The film embraces its many excesses resulting in a work that is deranged and pulpy, which is refreshing in a market where thrillers have become bereft of any surprises.

Strange and foreign land

Bernardo makes the most of her exotic setting.

UnTruebenefits from the feeling of utter isolation that two Filipinos alone in a strange and foreign land evoke. There is a sense that the two characters, no matter how violent or abusive they are to each other, are inseparable, seemingly linked by some cruel twist of fate. It also helps that the film does not try to romanticize its setting, and while it showcases picturesque cityscapes and flatlands, it is careful to always shoot the vistas with a tinge of mystery.

The performances of Reyes and Lim are aptly blunt, sometimes to the point of being caricature-like.

Instead of being a liability, the exaggerated gestures and emotionality of Reyes and Lim fit the deranged nature of Bernardo’s picture. There is no room for pleasantries in the film. It is brusque and often awkward, endeavoring for bewilderment instead of art and boring good taste. This is probably Bernardo’s most reckless yet exciting film. While it is obviously designed, the film is defiantly as unhinged as its characters. 

Defying expectations

It won’t be accurate to say that UnTrueis a good film because it insists on defying expectations. It is, however, consistently stupefying. 

UnTrue is never dull and drab. Just when it seems to become predictable, it pulls a fast one, making it an intriguing experience from first frame to last. – 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 – The on-screen stars and employees of ABS-CBN took part in a "walk of faith" on Monday, February 24 as the network's executives faced the Senate on a hearing about the issues surrounding its franchise renewal.

Among the celebrities who took part in the walk were Jolina Magdangal, Karla Estrada, Melai Cantiveros, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, JM de Guzman, and Maris Racal.

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A post shared by Jolina Magdangal Escueta (@mariajolina_ig) on Feb 23, 2020 at 5:07pm PST

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A post shared by Ogie Alcasid (@ogiealcasid) on Feb 23, 2020 at 6:26pm PST

Employees and the celebrities walked around ABS-CBN for 7 times. In between prayers, the employees listened for updates from the hearing.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Director Joel Lamangan made an emotional plea against threats to revoke the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN during a Senate committee hearing on Monday, February 24.

“Ako po ang nalulungkot dahil, sa pagpupulong na ito, ating dini-discuss ang pagpatay sa isang plataporma na nagbibigay, naglulunsad ng kalayaan sa pananalita, kalayaan sa pamamahayag, at kalayaan sa pagpapahayag,” Lamangan said during a Senate committee on public services hearing. (READ: DOJ: Congress may authorize NTC to grant ABS-CBN provisional permit)

(I am saddened because, in this hearing, we’re discussing shutting down a platform that promotes freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of expression.)

Lamangan represented the Directors' Guild of the Philippines in the hearing. 

He later added: “’Pag nawala ang napakalaking plataporma…nakakatakot kung magagawa ito sa ABS-CBN, maaaring magawa ito sa mga maliliit na prangkisa. Sino na ang magkukuwento ng istorya natin? Baka dumating ang panahon, istorya natin ikukuwento na lang ng Beijing, ng HBO, ng CNN. Sana ’wag dumating ang panahon na iyon.”

(If we lose that big a platform…it’s harrowing to think that if this can happen to ABS-CBN, this can also happen to much smaller franchises. Who will tell our story then? The day might come that our story will be told by Beijing, HBO, or CNN. I hope it does not reach that point.)

The committee, headed by Senator Grace Poe, is conducting an investigation into the ABS-CBN’s compliance with the terms of its franchise, which is set to expire by May 4, 2020. It’s not the only threat against the network’s franchise. Solicitor General Jose Calida also filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to nullify the network’s franchise, followed by a petition for a gag order that would affect the network’s coverage of the case.

Speaking off-the-cuff, Lamangan said directors draw inspiration from real-life stories, “ang araw-araw na katotohanan na nakikita namin sa langsangan (the truths we see daily out on the streets.”

The veteran director then added: “Ang pinakamalawak na plataporma ng aming obra ay ang ABS-CBN. Ang anu mang pagkitil sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN ay malawak na pagyurak sa karapatan sa pagpapahayag, sa pamamahayag, at karapatan ng malayang pananalita.”

(The biggest platform for our work is ABS-CBN. Denying ABS-CBN of their franchise is a curtailment everyone’s right to freedom of expression.)

Lamangan's most recent work include a web-exclusive series for ABS-CBN's iWant and a Viva movie. 

Due process 

Lamangan added that if there were irregularities in the way ABS-CBN had run its business, as alleged in Calida’s quo warranto petition, the network should be given “due process” and be allowed to answer it before the proper courts.

“Tayo’y demokratiko, nakaukit sa ating Saligang Batas ang karapatang ito ng pamamahayag at pagpapahayag…. Ang aming istorya, ang aming kuwento ay tinatawag natin na artistikong expression. Ang artistikong expression ng pelikula, ng dula, ng mga panulat, ng visual art, at lahat ng iba pang sining ay kaluluwa ng bayan. Kung hindi mabigyan ng pagkakataon itong marinig at makita ng buong Pilipinas at ng ating mga kababayan sa ibang bansa, kalungkot-lungkot,” he added.

(We live in a democracy. In our Constitution, we enshrine the right to freedom of expression and freedom of speech. Our stories are a form of artistic expression. The artistic expression in film, in theater, in visual arts, and in other forms of art constitute this country’s soul. If we do not give everyone in the country and our fellowmen abroad the chance to hear and see these forms of art, it would be a sad day.)

ABS-CBN estimates that at least 11,000 individuals – more than half of them full-time employees – stand to lose their jobs should the network lose its legislative franchise. ABS-CBN is one of the Philippines’ biggest media companies. Under its belt is the ABS-CBN channel, the news channel ANC, as well as other channels devoted to music and movies. – Rappler.com

Jeff Fowler’s Sonic the Hedgehog is harmless fun for kids. 

For most adults, it can be grating and taxing, depending on one’s tolerance for ceaseless juvenilia.

Quite a talkative fellow

See, the titular character here is quite a talkative fellow. 

It would’ve been fine had screenwriters Patrick Casey and Josh Miller written dialogue that didn’t feel like middle-aged fogey desperately trying to be a millennial with clichéd wisecracks. As a result, most of the movie is noise and blabber. Simply put, Sonic the Hedgehog gets annoying quicker than it gets interesting.

The plot is standard kid’s fare. 

Sonic (Ben Schwartz) has made a small town in Montana his home ever since he narrowly escaped being captured in his home world. Living anonymously among its townspeople and getting mightily attached to Tom Wochowski, his little town’s bored main cop (James Marsden) who he imagines to be his best friend, he suddenly realizes that he is lonely, forcing him to run around in a rampage, releasing a blast of energy that caused a massive power outage. 

The government sends Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) to chase after Sonic, forcing the blue hedgehog to reveal himself, team up with Tom, and drive to San Francisco to retrieve some magical rings that would allow him to escape Earth to another planet.

No surprises

There are no surprises here.

Sonic the Hedgehogis as basic as kid’s fare can get. Carey is perhaps its most outrageous element, and even Carey here is frustratingly subdued, with his jokes and antics seemingly clipped for the sake of drab amiability. It is colorful. It is glossy. When it gets rowdy, it resembles an awkward cartoon clip. Sure, the movie has funny moments but they never last long enough to distract from its many irritating moments.

The movie needs to be more kinetic, but it insists on unnecessary stops to throw a lousy punchline or to project an insincere piece of sentimentality.

It only picks up near the end, but by that time, the movie would have lost any hint of novelty with its assembly of rehashed action scenes and gimmicks that have been done before with more wit and originality. 

Better off as a videogame

This movie does not need to exist.

The property is better off as a videogame where if the character gets too bothersome with its antics, one can simply put a stop with the push of a button. – 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 – Sarah Geronimo's body guard, Jerry Tamara, divulged more details of his side of the story from the night the "popstar royalty" wed Matteo Guidicelli.

In true 2020 fashion, Tamara aired his side of the story in an interview with Raffy Tulfo that aired on Monday, February 24.

Tulfo, a TV personality, hosts a show wherein Filipinos can air their grievances against certain parties – usually as a last resort. Tamara had filed a police report against Guidicelli the night of the incident and reportedly plans on filing charges.

Tamara, who was with Geronimo on the night of February 21, said he wasn't exactly sure where the civil wedding took place but said they first went to Victory Fort Bonifacio in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

When they were there, he said, the 2nd floor was locked down – something that Tamara found curious. They then moved to a restaurant at a hotel also within the BGC area, where Sarah and Matteo had dinner with the Guidicelli family.

At around 10:30 pm, Tamara was told by the hotel reception that Sarah and the Guidicellis had gotten the cheque for the meal. Around the same time, Sarah's driver asked Tamara about a text from the singer. She had apparently told him they could leave ahead of her.

Tamara told Tulfo he planned on asking Sarah herself what was going on, since they did not want to be reprimanded by Sarah's mother, Divine, if they went home without their ward. When he texted Divine to tell her that they were told to leave ahead of Sarah, Divine allegedly replied by saying they were already on their way.

When Divine arrived in the hotel minutes later, "hurtful words" were exchanged between Divine and Matteo's parents, said Tamara. According to Tamara, Divine said she had been "betrayed" by Sarah and Matteo. Divine was not invited to the wedding or the dinner after. 

Sarah and Divine eventually stepped into a room to speak to each other. Later on, no less than Vic del Rosario, chairman of Viva Entertainment, arrived and later spoke to Divine without Sarah in the room. Sarah, meanwhile, talked to Matteo's family.

Del Rosario, in a separate interview with Tulfo, said Matteo himself had called him to ask for help. Del Rosario said he tried to pacify Divine, explaining to her that the marriage was Matteo and Sarah's decision. He also expressed confidence that Sarah and Divine would patch things up soon. 

It was then, Tamara said, that he noticed that Sarah and the Guidicellis were trying to leave the restaurant via the fire exit. When he told Divine about this, she instructed him to follow Sarah.

Tamara said he did as was told and tried to ask Sarah not to leave and to speak to her mother. Tamara, with Tufo's urging, explained that he reported to Divine because it was Sarah's mother who gave their salaries. 

Tamara claimed Matteo punched him on the throat. Matteo has denied these allegations. Del Rosario, speaking on behalf of Sarah, also denied any claims that Matteo hurt Tamara. 

Sarah and Matteo, who have been a couple since 2014, tied the knot in a secret ceremony on February 21. The planned secret wedding, however, had been divulged by the Philippine Star's Ricky Lo in a column published the morning of the 21st. 

Sarah herself has yet to release a statement on the incident.

A portion of Tulfo's show also featured a phone interview with Colonel Ramon Zagala, Army spokesman.

Zagala said no personnel from the military have been assigned to secure Matteo, contrary to Tamara's claims. Tulfo also asked if Matteo would be sanctioned over the incident, since he's a military reservist. 

"Normally we have a process. Itong pangyayari sa kanila (This indicent that happened to them), it is outside the Philippine Army," Zagala said.

"I believe it's a private event, it's a family matter, and it did not involve the Philippine Army as an organization. Kung naka uniform siya sana or he used his rank, p'wede pa sana (We can only impose sanctions if he was in his uniform or he used his rank during the incident)," he added, saying the courts – should Tamara press charges – would be able to resolve the issue. – Rappler.com

SEOUL, South Korea– South Korea's coronavirus outbreak forced K-pop superstars BTS to livestream a conference promoting their new album from an empty hall Monday, February 24 with members urging fans to take care of themselves.

The country has so far confirmed more than 800 cases of the novel coronavirus, by far the largest national total outside China, the origin of the disease.

In light of the outbreak BTS streamed the conference on Youtube, the band's management said, with the 7 members waving and bowing to a virtually empty hall and answering previously selected questions from journalists.

"Health is always on our mind these days and our messages of facing your inner self and loving yourself is ultimately possible when you're healthy," said singer Jimin.

"Especially since it is very risky outside these days, I hope you take care of your health."

BTS – or Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates as Bulletproof Boy Scouts – are the first K-pop group to top charts in the US and Britain.

Their latest effort was given a simultaneous worldwide release online on Friday, unleashing a flood of BTS chatter on social media.

Map of the Soul: 7 was the most pre-ordered South Korean album of all time, with more than four million copies sold before its release.

The group had rolled out a 30-second preview "ON" exclusively on TikTok Thursday, momentarily causing the short-form video app to crash.

BTS has topped the Billboard 200 on three occasions – a record for a South Korean group – and if their new album becomes number one, they will become the first group to lead the chart on four occasions in two years since the Beatles. – Rappler.com

NEW YORK, USA – Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was convicted Monday, February 24, of sexual assault and rape but cleared of the most serious predatory sexual assault charges.

The jury of 7 men and 5 women found the producer guilty of criminal sexual acts in the first degree and rape in the third degree, a partial victory for the #MeToo movement that considered the case a watershed moment.

The 67-year-old was found not guilty however of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault charges that could have seen him jailed for life.

The verdict marks the most high-profile sex assault conviction in the United States since Bill Cosby was found guilty in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman 15 years ago.

The decision was announced in a packed New York courtroom where some 100 people had gathered. The defendant, who attended the trial hunched over a walker, was shielded from view by police officers.

More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since allegations against him ignited the #MeToo global reckoning against men abusing positions of power in October 2017.

But the jury was considering charges related to just two: ex-actress Jessica Mann and former production assistant Mimi Haleyi, with many claims too old to prosecute.

One of the predatory sexual assault charges also included testimony from the Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who said Weinstein raped her in her New York apartment in the winter of 1993-94.

Six women took the stand from the opening of testimony on January 22, to say they had been sexually assaulted by Weinstein.

Weinstein's team subjected the women to ferocious cross-examination, as they argued that his relationships were consensual and transactional.

The prosecution presented no forensic evidence or third-party witness accounts. The state's case rested on asking the jury to believe the women. – Rappler.com