Quantcast
Channel: Entertainment
Viewing all 20118 articles
Browse latest View live

Philippine Airlines responds to Karlie Kloss' complaint

$
0
0

KARLIE KLOSS. PAL apologizes to Karlie Kloss and explains why she missed her flight to Vancouver. File photo by Ian Langsdon/EPA

MANILA, Philippines – After top model Karlie Kloss slammed Philippine Airlines (PAL) on social media, the airline issued a statement Wednesday, June 8, and said that Karlie missed her flight because she came late to the check-in counter at JFK International Airport.

In a statement sent to media, PAL said that check-in counters close an hour before the estimated time of departure: "Flight departure was at 12:15 am, June 7, and counters closed at 11:15 pm, June 6; Ms. Kloss arrived at 11:40 pm."

After Karlie slammed the airline on social media, saying that they had the "worst customer service of all time," PAL apologized to her on Twitter. Karlie replied, tweeting that she would send them a private message.

In the press statement, PAL said that they're now communicating with Karlie to help her refund her ticket and rebook her flight to Vancouver:

"We are happy to note that Ms Kloss has gracefully responded to PAL's initial communication. The airline has likewise sent her a formal letter stating that there was no deliberate intention to cause her any disservice. To show the heart of the Filipino, we are extending her assistance to facilitate the refund of her unused ticket or to facilitate the rebooking of her flight."

News about Karlie's experience with PAL made headlines after the model documented it on Snapchat. Karlie went straight to the airport from the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards where she was a presenter.

In one of the videos she recorded, she said, "I travel international on a weekly basis. I have never had a worse customer experience than I have tonight. Thanks Philippine Air."– Rappler.com


LOOK: 'Game of Thrones' actor visits 'Encantadia' 2016 set

$
0
0

Screengrab from Instagram/nacinorocco

MANILA, Philippines – Westeros meets the realm of Encantadia as a former Game of Thrones actor made his way on the set of the upcoming reboot of the GMA fantaserye. (WATCH: Encantadia 2016: Sang'gres unleash their powers in promo video)

In an Instagram post from actor Rocco Nacino, who will play Aquil in the upcoming new series, he posed with the towering Conan Stevens who first played Ser Gregor Clegane (a.k.a. "The Mountain That Rides" or simply, the Mountain) on Game of Thrones. Director Mark Reyes also joined them for the picture. (LOOK: The new 'Encantadia': Concept art, costumes unveiled)

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGWIHFfmmXV/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">So the mountain from the Game of Thrones visited us today. What would happen if i fought him one on one kaya? great meeting you Conan! #GameofThronesMeetsEncantadia </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Rocco Nacino (@nacinorocco) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-07T07:58:46+00:00">Jun 7, 2016 at 12:58am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>

<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

Nacino captioned his post: "So the mountain from the Game of Thrones visited us today. What would happen if i fought him one on one kaya?" (READ: Meet the 4 new sang'gres of the 'Encantadia' 2016 reboot)

Here is another photo with Gabbi Garcia, who will play Alena:

{source}

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGYhYUpGkHc/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Alena also met Gregor &#34;The Mountain&#34; Clegane from @gameofthrones during yesterday&#39;s taping. #GameOfThronesMeetsEncantadia #Encantadia2016</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Encantadia 2016 (@gmaencantadia) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-08T06:18:04+00:00">Jun 7, 2016 at 11:18pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

According to the post above, Stevens visited during a taping session yesterday, June 8. 

Stevens, according to his website, is 7 feet tall, and hails from Australia. Aside from acting, he is a "scriptwriter, computer geek, non-competitive bodybuilder and ex-professional wrestling champion." 

He was replaced by Ian Whyte in the role of the Mountain in season 2, before the current actor, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, who has been playing the character since season 4. 

In the series' fourth season, the character infamously crushed Oberyn Martell's (Pedro Pascal) skull in Tyrion Lannister's (Peter Dinklage) trial by combat – in the process, however, he gets poisoned with Manticore venom. He was turned into the Frankenstein-like Ser Robert Strong by Qyburn, a maester who conducts illicit experiments.

Ser Gregor Clegane is the older brother of Sandor Clegane a.k.a. the Hound, who just made a shocking return to the series when he was thought to be left for dead. 

Director Mark Reyes branded the upcoming reboot series as a "requel," or a retelling of the Encantadia saga. 

He said at NexCon 2016 last April, as quoted by GMA News: "It's based on the mythology of Encantadia, but we're going to fix things that we thought needed fixing in the original run."

Check out a few behind-the-scenes photos:

{source}

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGTXhiEmmfn/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Imaw&#39;s first day of taping! Welcome Pinunong Imaw! #Encantadia2016</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Rocco Nacino (@nacinorocco) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-06T06:15:44+00:00">Jun 5, 2016 at 11:15pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGUBUnZmkEK/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Siguradong maganda ang mga kaganapan sa Lireo! Isang magandang gabi sa lahat ng Encantadiks. #Encantadia2016</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Encantadia 2016 (@gmaencantadia) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-06T12:20:58+00:00">Jun 6, 2016 at 5:20am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGTOVJ1GkMG/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">&#34;11 years ago. We had a traditional hand and cable puppet in #Encantadia named Imaw. Now, 11 years after, the cables are gone and is now replaced by radio controlled servos. He&#39;s now a fully animatronic head puppet worn by a performance artist. #LeapsAndBound #Milestones #Encantadia2016 #Encantadiks&#34; - Direk Mark Reyes (Photo from instagram.com/direkmark)</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Encantadia 2016 (@gmaencantadia) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-06T04:55:24+00:00">Jun 5, 2016 at 9:55pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

 – Rappler.com

IN PHOTOS: 'Ma' Rosa' cast at French Film Festival 2016

$
0
0

Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – After Jaclyn Jose's best actress win at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, the cast of Ma' Rosa graced the red carpet of the 21st French Film Festival.

Ma' Rosa's cast and crew were the event's guests of honor at the festival's opening on June 8, Wednesday at Central Square, BGC.

Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

Aside from Jaclyn Jose, actress Isabel Lopez was there too in her green Albert Andrada gown that stole the show at Cannes red carpet.

Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

Among the stars at the festival opening was Baron Geisler.

Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

Aside from the stars, French ambassador to the Philippines Thierry Mathou was another high-profile guest at the event.

Photo by Martin San Diego/Rappler

The 21st French Film Festival runs from June 8 to 14 at Greenbelt 3, Bonifacio High Street, and Cinematheque Centre Manila cinemas. – Rappler.com

4 horror movies, 10 terrifying real-life scary stories

$
0
0

ANNABELLE. Scary things happened while the film was being shot. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

MANILA, Philippines – Theatergoers might be watching horror movies safely from their seats, but some of the cast members and crews of these films have gotten into spooky situations while making them.

Among the creepy real-life experiences of horror movie crews are from the people who worked on The Conjuring films, which are based on paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren's experiences. 

Whether it's mysterious scratching sounds or actual claw marks on actress Vera Farmiga's body, here are a few creepy facts and real stories from the people who worked on these films. 

1. Claw marks on the screen 

The Conjuring actress Vera Farmiga was considering signing onto the movie. She was researching her character, Lorraine Warren, when she closed her laptop to talk to director James Wan. When she opened her laptop again, there were "three digital claw marks, from the upper right diagonal to the lower left," she said in an interview.

Check out this interview posted by checalamovie on YouTube:

{source}<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4WvDfLYr74" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}

 

2. On the body

Screengrab from YouTube/Warner Bros. Pictures

Vera also encountered claw marks again after finishing the movie and returning home to New York. She woke up with "three claw mark bruises across [her] thigh," which weren't too painful she said, but were very distinct.

3. Pet sees things

James Wan. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The Conjuring director James Wan was working on a script for the movie before filming when his dog began growling at an unseen presence in the corner of his office. According to James in an interview with New York Daily News, she did it several nights in a row.

4. 'Annabelle' accident 

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

According to the a release, a huge light fixture fell on actor Christopher Shaw, who plays Fuller in the movie Annabelle, as he was walking behind fellow actor Joe Bishara, who plays the demon. At the time, Joe was in full head-to-toe makeup to shoot a scene.

This is the creepiest part: producer Peter Safran recalls, "After making sure Chris was okay, my first thought was that in the original script, the demon kills the character Fuller in the hallway at that moment."

5. Annabelle's home

Annabelle is based on a true story about a doll of the same name. Unlike the one in the movie, the real Annabelle doll is not porcelain, but a Raggedy Ann. It's currently in the possession of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and can be seen at the Warren's Occult Museum in Conneticut.

It's said that the doll moves on its own and that it has done bodily harm to humans. 

6. Blessing 

The set of The Conjuring 2 was blessed by Roman Catholic Church-sanctioned exorcist Father Steven Sanchez, as filmmakers didn't want to take a chance given the subject matter. 

The priest also invited anyone there to receive a personal blessing before moving through the set to bless each room using holy water and anointing oil. 

7. Mysterious incidents 

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Still, "there were doors opening on their own, items going missing, shadowy figures seen or felt when no one was actually there, and lights going out unexpectedly" during production, according to the film's production notes. 

8. Scratching 

Casting sessions were interrupted by loud scratching sounds which seemed to be coming from under the floorboards of the converted Victorian house where they were held.The house in the movie was built in Stage 4 of the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, California. It's said to be haunted, too. 

9. Filming a real exorcism after 'The Exorcist'

Photo from Facebook/TheExorcist.Official

Aside from The Conjuring movies, there are some creepy stories about The Exorcist, which some have called the scariest movie of all time. Here are a few:

The Exorcist director William Friedkin said the Vatican allowed him to film a real exorcism in May and that the ceremony was similar to the one in his movie. "I was pretty astonished by that. I don't think I will ever be the same having seen this astonishing thing. I am not talking about some cult, I am talking about an exorcism by the Catholic Church in Rome," he said. The Vatican, however, denied made such an invitation.

{source}<iframe width="100%" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TD0RJ_iuBPo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}

 

10. Haunted? Director says...

Some say that the film was affected by a curse as some misfortune befell some members of the cast and crew (one of the supporting actors, Jack MacGowran, died before the movie hit theaters, while star Max von Sydow's brother died on his first day of filming, for example), plus there was a fire on set. 

But in this story by Entertainment Weekly, director William Friedkin said he didn't think the set was haunted. 

Photo from Facebook/TheExorcist.Official

Bonus trivia: In 'The Exorcist,' a white face flashes briefly during Father Karras’ dream sequence. The face was an initial proposal for the possessed girl's look, but was later rejected as a final product – but makes it into the film via that said sequence.

What's your favorite scary movie? Let us know in the comments below. – Rappler.com

LOOK: 'Game of Thrones' Hodor actor Kristian Nairn arrives in Manila

$
0
0

Screengrab from Instagram/solaireresort

MANILA, Philippines – Don't just hold the door, Manila – open it wide and welcome Hodor to town!

Kristian Nairn, the Game of Thrones actor who recently met a tragic "end" on the ongoing season of the show, is in Manila to meet his fans at this year's ToyCon Philippines, which will run from June 10 to 12. (READ: 'Game of Thrones' Hodor actor Kristian Nairn is coming to Manila)

At the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Kristian will join other international guests like Thai actor Mario Maurer, Twilight saga actors Bronson Pelletier and Kiowa Gordon, and singer Frankie J.

Solaire Resort posted this photo of Kristian at their lobby, captioning it: "Welcoming 'Hodor' at the door."

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGbj6LvqPR9/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Welcoming &#34;Hodor&#34; at the door. @kristiannairn #GameOfThrones #GOT</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Solaire Resort &amp; Casino (@solaireresort) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-09T10:37:53+00:00">Jun 9, 2016 at 3:37am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>

<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

Earlier, en route to Manila, he posted a screenshot of the predicted weather of his destination, saying: "Looks like a wet, warm and shocking week ahead."

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGZBgPqj70O/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">On my way to Manila !  Looks like a wet , warm  and shocking week ahead :)</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by kristiannairn (@kristiannairn) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-08T10:58:46+00:00">Jun 8, 2016 at 3:58am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>

<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

Kristian will also be taking to the decks at the Palace Pool Club with a DJ set dubbed "Rave of Thrones." He is, after all, also a DJ leaning towards progressive house tunes, according to PopSpoken

Other ToyCon guests were also welcomed at Solaire: Paul Holbrook, Daniel Logan, Frankie J, Kiowa Gordon and Bronson Pelletier.

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:29.537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGbR8QcKPdr/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Spotted: Paul Holbrook, Daniel Logan, Frankie J, Kiowa Gordon and Bronson Pelletier checked in at Solaire for ToyCon 2016. #StarWars #Twilight</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Solaire Resort &amp; Casino (@solaireresort) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-09T08:00:53+00:00">Jun 9, 2016 at 1:00am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>

<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

– Rappler.com

Pentatonix is coming to Manila in 2016

$
0
0

PENTATONIX. The famous a cappella group is heading to Manila in September. Photo by Mike Nelson/EPA

MANILA, Philippines – Grammy award-winning group Pentatonix is coming back to serenade Manila this 2016. (WATCH: 8 awesome Pentatonix facts)

According to their website, Manila is a stop on their 2016 World Tour, along with Australia, New Zealand, and other countries in Southeast Asia. (WATCH: 10 best moments from the Pentatonix Manila concert)

Pentatonix is performing in Manila on September 24 at the Araneta Coliseum.

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGdLMnwCZ51/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#ICYMI... we&#39;re heading to Southeast Asia, Australia, &amp; New Zealand! Tickets go on sale Friday, June 17th at 10am local time in Australia and Asia, and 12pm local time in New Zealand. For all the details, visit ptxofficial.com/tour! #PTXWorldTour</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Pentatonix (@ptxofficial) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-10T01:40:26+00:00">Jun 9, 2016 at 6:40pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}


This won't be Pentatonix's first visit to the Philippines. They sang to their Filipino fans in Manila and Cebu in 2015 too, getting the crowd going with their upbeat medleys, singing beautiful covers, and interacting with the audience. (WATCH: 10 best moments from the Pentatonix Manila concert)

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/3pdja4CZ6g/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Cebu, we love YOU! #PTXCEBU #OnMyWayHomeProject</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Pentatonix (@ptxofficial) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-06-08T00:20:48+00:00">Jun 7, 2015 at 5:20pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/3m1ZTNCZ1_/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">MANILA! The energy last night. Whoa. Tonight, it&#39;s Cebu&#39;s turn! #OnMyWayHomeProject</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Pentatonix (@ptxofficial) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-06-06T23:51:25+00:00">Jun 6, 2015 at 4:51pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}


The a capella group, composed of Scott Hying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Avi Kaplan, and KO Olusola, rose to fame after winning the 3rd season of The Sing Off in 2011.

{source}<iframe width="100%" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WbV8htgtbfs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}


Since then, they've released 7 albums, appeared on Pitch Perfect 2, and have over 10 million subscribers on YouTube watching their videos of covers and originals alike.

{source}<iframe width="100%" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eMrh3wYb1mM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}


Are you a Pentatonix fan? Will you be catching them and Us the Duo this September? Let us know in the comments!– Rappler.com

WATCH: Simon Cowell thinks this singer is 'the next Taylor Swift'

$
0
0

Screengrab from YouTube/America's Got Talent

MANILA, Philippines – Grace VanderWaal is only 12 years old, yet the infamously acerbic Simon Cowell already foresees a great, bright future for the girl who walked on the America's Got Talent stage with a ukulele.

Strumming on the little ukulele, the girl treated everyone to an original song, "I Don't Know My Name."

"I think you are a living, beautiful, walking miracle," judge Howie Mandel spoke of her glowingly, later adding: "I think the world is gonna know your name."

Right then and there, the judge sends Grace straight to the next round with his golden buzzer.

"Grace, do you know what I predict for you? I think you are the next Taylor Swift," Simon said.

Later, after Grace was ushered off the stage, the judges are still all praises. 

"Do you think we've got a star now?" asked Howie.

"I – hundred percent – think we've got a star. I really do. This girl is special. I'm now annoyed I didn't press the golden [buzzer]," replied Simon.

Earlier, before Grace performed, Simon asked if she believes she could win. "I mean, miracles can happen, so possibly…"

What do you think of Grace's America's Got Talent performance? Do you believe she could win this year's competition? Sound off in the comments! – Rappler.com

WATCH: Barack Obama, Jimmy Fallon 'slow jam the news'

$
0
0

SLOW JAM THE NEWS. Jimmy Fallon slow jams the news as President Barack Obama talks about what he's accomplished in his 8 years in the White House. Screengrab from YouTube/The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

MANILA, Philippines – US president Barack Obama stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, June 9 and "slow jammed" what he accomplished during his 8-year term. 

Obama opened by saying how privileged he was to lead the US in times of difficulty, starting with the 2008 recession. Jimmy jumped off from there, singing a sultry, "Aw, yeah. President Obama stimulated long-term growth in both the public and the private sector."

From there, the US president also spoke about climate change, the legalization of same-sex marriage, health care, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

"Look Jimmy, the TPP allows American businesses to sell their products both at home and abroad. The more we sell abroad, the more higher paying jobs we have at home, it's that simple," said Obama, before Jimmy, The Roots, and the president himself start dancing to Rihanna's "Work." 

Meanwhile, in between his speech and Jimmy's singing, The Roots threw shade at presidential candidate Donald Trump and reference Obama's endorsement of Hillary Clinton.

Obama also shared his thoughts about the upcoming US elections, saying, "America's best days are still yet to come." 

What do you think of  Obama and Jimmy's "slow jam the news?" Let us know in the comments section. – Rappler.com


'Shield' actor Michael Jace jailed for murdering wife

$
0
0

MICHAEL JACE. Actor Michael Jace, famous for his role in the series 'The Shield,' sits in court during his sentencing in Los Angeles, California on June 10, 2016. Jace was convicted of second-degree murder on May 31 for gunning down his wife in front of their two young children in an affluent neighborhood of Los Angeles. Photo by Frederic M. Brown/AFP PHOTO

LOS ANGELES, USA – Actor Michael Jace was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Friday, June 10, for gunning down his wife in front of their two young children in an affluent neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The 53-year-old American, famous for his part in police drama The Shield and big-screen roles including in Forrest Gump, was convicted of second-degree murder at Los Angeles Superior Court on May 31.

Before the sentence was handed down, Jace apologized to the family of his wife, April, and told the court that there were "no justifications for my actions." (READ: 'Shield' actor Michael Jace taunted and shot dead wife, court told)

"Defendant Jace is a volatile individual who displays unpredictable and irrational rage and he is prone to violence," said a statement from the prosecution that must be be considered in any future parole hearing.

"Any discussion about parole for defendant Jace must be considered with extreme caution."

The actor was given a sentence of 15 years to life for the killing and a consecutive 25 years to life for intentionally using a firearm.

The sentence means that he must serve at least 40 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole.

Deputy District Attorney Tannaz Mokayef told jurors in her summing up before the verdict that Jace was "obsessed" with his wife, who had been trying to leave him amid his allegations that she had been unfaithful.

Jace's defense team accepted that he had shot April in the back and twice in her legs on May 19, 2014, but maintained he was guilty only of voluntary manslaughter, sometimes called a "crime of passion."

'Run to heaven'

"He snapped. If you find there was something that provoked this man... and it created some kind of passion in him, that's manslaughter," his attorney Jamon Hicks told jurors.

The couple's 10-year-old son Nehemiah, testified that he had seen his father bring his mother – a keep-fit enthusiast – into the hallway of their home in the Hyde Park area, where she fell down.

"Then my dad said, 'If you like running, run to heaven,' and then he shot her," the boy told the jury.

In a recorded interview played in court, Jace told police he was holding the gun when his wife returned home from a baseball game with their sons.

She lunged at him, he said, and he had intended "just (to) shoot her in the leg" and not kill her, adding that he had been drinking.

The couple had exchanged 164 text messages on the day of the shooting, the court was told, including one in which Jace's wife of nine years said she was "afraid to come home."

The actor, who split from his previous wife, Jennifer Bitterman, in 2002, filed for bankruptcy in 2011, citing debts of more than $500,000. Neighbors reported he had struggled to find work since the end of The Shield.

The prosecution statement recounted the testimony of Bitterman, whom he divorced in 2003, alleging that Jace choked and hit her while her six-month-old son cried in his crib nearby.– Rappler.com

Chris Tiu, Clarisse Ong welcome baby girl Amanda Claire

$
0
0

HELLO AMANDA CLAIRE. Chris Tiu announces that his wife Clarisse Ong gave birth to their daughter Amanda Claire last June 5. Screengrab from Instagram/@chris_tiu17

MANILA, Philippines – Basketball star and TV host Chris Tiu and his wife Clarisse Ong welcomed their daughter, Amanda Claire, last Sunday, June 5.

Chris posted the first photo of his daughter on Instagram, Friday, June 10.

"June 5, 2016. The day that changed my life. No championship or accomplishment can compare to the overwhelming joy we felt when this little girl finally entered this world. I've never felt so happy that I was moved to tears. 

"About 9 months ago, I remember just seeing a heartbeat in the ultrasound monitor and now she's a full human being wrapped around our arms, this is truly the miracle of life! And the most wonderful blessing and manifestation of God's generous love. 

"Cla and I would like to thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes! Let's welcome baby Amanda Claire," he said. 

{source}

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:56.0185185185% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGeGpIvo3Gv/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">June 5, 2016. The day that changed my life. No championship or accomplishment can compare to the overwhelming joy we felt when this little girl finally entered this world. I&#39;ve never felt so happy that I was moved to tears. About 9 months ago, I remember just seeing a heartbeat in the ultrasound monitor and now she&#39;s a full human being wrapped around our arms, this is truly the miracle of life! And the most wonderful blessing and manifestation of God&#39;s generous love. Cla and I would like to thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes!! Let&#39;s welcome baby Amanda Claire </a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Chris Tiu (@chris_tiu17) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-10T10:19:52+00:00">Jun 10, 2016 at 3:19am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

Last May, after his team, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, won the PBA Commissioner's Cup, Chris announced on Instagram that his wife was pregnant with their first child. 

Chris married Clarisse, his childhood sweetheart, in 2013. Aside from basketball, Chris hosts IBILIB: Wonders of Horus on GMA 7 and 1-on-1 Tiu-torials on TV5. Chris is also an entrepreneur, putting up several food and beverage businesses with partners. – Rappler.com

 

 

 

 

 

‘The Conjuring 2’ review: Scarier than the first

$
0
0

'THE CONJURING 2.' The sequel to 'The Conjuring' is based off on the files of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Screengrab from YouTube/WBPhilTrailers

James Wan’s The Conjuring 2 begins by fulfilling the promise made in the end of the first film. Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, respectively) have finally made it to Amityville, the little town in New York state that has been made infamous by a grisly mass murder, supposedly incited by the devil.  

{source}<iframe width="100%" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VFsmuRPClr4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}

 

The famed ghost-busting duo is there to check the veracity of the alleged demonic possession, and true enough, Lorraine, who can go into trances to commune with spirits, spots an evil nun who threatens her and her husband.

The experience leaves her rattled enough to convince her husband to start retiring from their unique work.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

However, in Enfield in England, a family is starting to experience very weird things in their featureless home. This again forces the couple to pack their bags to help untangle the mysteries behind the haunting. 

Surpassing its predecessor

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

The Conjuring 2 is that rare sequel that surpasses its predecessor. 

The film is clearly unconcerned by the need of most contemporary horror films to separate itself from the traditional methods of the genre. There is absolutely nothing new to any of the processes, and the scares are all familiar.

A mysterious knocking here. A television going out of control there. Ominous shadows everywhere. The film borrows most of its techniques from the classics. 

Even the narrative holds barely any surprises. 

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

The Conjuring 2 unravels like a cleverly plotted mystery. Characters, separated by distance but connected by an affinity with the supernatural, are joined in a deliberately paced fashion. This allows each individual’s stories to reach their tipping point before providing the possibility of a solution.

It is all quite masterfully planned, all seamlessly maneuvered to allow for its many scary sequences to outshine what feels like a stale and predictable story. 

More human 

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

What separates The Conjuring 2 from most haunted house movies is its meticulous design.  

Wan has mastered the craft of sustaining a certain air of terror, of creating suspense out of the most mundane moments. He mines the desperate circumstances of a British working class family to create an atmosphere that is strangely ripe for scares. It is the ordinariness that makes the intimidating suspicions more palpable. 

Screengrab from YouTube/WBPhilTrailers

Stripped of the ornate and alien mansions and sordid family histories that dominated the first film, The Conjuring 2 infuses intimacy into its brand of horror. It churns out an experience where the stakes are evidently more understandable, given that they are more plebeian, and in a way, more human.

Wan’s setup is astoundingly precise. Before flooding the film with scares, he first prepares his audience, amply describing the locations, the characters and their situations with scenes that feel inherent to the narrative.

When the hauntings start to happen, they never feel rushed or estranged from the story.  

Worthy entry

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures

Conjuring 2 delivers what is required of it with impeccable efficiency. 

While it suffers from losing steam right at the very end, it is, nevertheless, a worthy entry to a genre that has tropes as old as time. Moreover, Wilson and Farmiga play the protagonists with undeniable gusto, it is simply sinful to not get drawn into their dubious affinity with their shady profession.

If solid scares are your thing, the film has them in spades.

 

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. Profile photo by Fatcat Studios

'The Voice' singer Christina Grimmie shot, injured

$
0
0

CHRISTINA GRIMMIE. Former 'The Voice' contestant Christina Grimmie was shot after a concert on June 11. Screengrab from Instagram/therealgrimmie

MANILA, Philippines – Singer Christina Grimmie was shot and is now in critical condition after a concert at Plaza Live in Orlando.

According to NBC, Christina and the band Before You Exit were signing autographs after a concert on Friday, June 10 (Saturday, June 11 in Manila), when a male suspect shot her. Christina's brother tackled the attacker, who then shot himself.

The identity of the suspect and motives for the shooting are still unknown, but police told news groups he had two guns with him.

After she was shot, Christina was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, according to USA Today. No one else at the scene was hurt. 

Christina became a popular singer on YouTube before she joined The Voice in 2014, finishing in 3rd place.

Christina performed for her Filipino fans in 2014, singing at 3 malls in Metro Manila.– Rappler.com

Singer Christina Grimmie dies after post-concert attack

$
0
0

CHRISTINA GRIMMIE. The former 'The Voice' singer dies after being shot while signing autographs after a concert. Screengrab from Instagram/therealgrimmie

MANILA, Philippines – Former The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie died on Friday, June 10 in Orlando (Saturday, June 11 in Manila). She was 22. (READ: 'The Voice' singer Christina Grimmie shot, injured)

According to a tweet from the Orlando Police Department, Christina did not survive the gunshot wounds she sustained after an attack during an autograph signing event.

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With deep regret, we have confirmed Christina Grimmie, <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealGrimmie">@TheRealGrimmie</a> has died from her injuries.</p>&mdash; Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoPolice/status/741523297171562496">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

Christina's rep gave a statement to ABC News, saying: "It is with a heavy heart that we can confirm that Christina has passed and went home to be with the Lord. She was shot at her show in Orlando and, unfortunately, didn't survive the gun shot wounds. We ask at this time that you respect the privacy of her family and friends in their time of mourning. If you'd like to give back to Christina's family in her memory, please consider donating to the families GoFundMe page in their time of need."

On June 10, Christina was signing autographs with the band Before You Exit at The Plaza Live in Orlando when a male suspect shot her. Her brother then tackled him, and the gunman killed himself.

Christina was in critical condition following the incident and was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Christina became a popular singer on YouTube before she joined The Voice in 2014, finishing 3rd place. (Video interview: Christina Grimmie on working with Adam Levine, why she loves PH fans)

Her The Voice mentor, Adam Levine, reacted to the shooting incident on social media, saying, "I'm sad, shocked and confused. We love you so much Grimmie."

{source}

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGgRxnIKjWO/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I&#39;m sad, shocked and confused. We love you so much Grimmie. We are all praying hard that you can pull through this...this just isn&#39;t fair.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Adam Levine (@adamlevine) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-11T06:35:38+00:00">Jun 10, 2016 at 11:35pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

Christina performed for her Filipino fans in 2014, singing at 3 malls in Metro Manila. (IN PHOTOS: Christina Grimmie wows PH crowd at packed show)

{source}<iframe width="100%" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T7JmnxtSp00" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}

 

– Rappler.com

Adam Levine, Demi Lovato, Sam Tsui, and more remember Christina Grimmie

$
0
0

REST IN PEACE. The late Christina Grimmie's 'The Voice' coach, Adam Levine, reacts to the incident that killed her. Screengrab from Instagram/adamlevine

MANILA, Philippines  (UPDATED) – Fans all over the world were shocked by the sudden death of former The Voice singer Christina Grimmie, who was shot dead on Friday, June 10, in Orlando. (Singer Christina Grimmie dies after post-concert attack)

Christina's attacker was an unidentified man, who shot himself after shooting her at The Plaza Live in Orlando. She was signing autographs with the band Before You Exit after a concert when the incident happened. (READ: 'The Voice' singer Christina Grimmie shot, injured)

Among those who reacted to the incident were the stars who were fans of Christina and her friends as well. Some were only able to voice out concern for her well-being before news of her death broke. 

Adam Levine, her mentor on The Voice, posted a message when news of the incident came out. 

{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGgRxnIKjWO/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">I&#39;m sad, shocked and confused. We love you so much Grimmie. We are all praying hard that you can pull through this...this just isn&#39;t fair.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Adam Levine (@adamlevine) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-11T06:35:38+00:00">Jun 10, 2016 at 11:35pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>{/source}

 

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Haven&#39;t heard.. Just reading the same stuff y&#39;all are at this point. Can&#39;t believe this.. <a href="https://t.co/CiSXc29MgC">https://t.co/CiSXc29MgC</a></p>&mdash; Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) <a href="https://twitter.com/blakeshelton/status/741494237347368960">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There are no words. We lost a beautiful soul with an amazing voice. Our hearts go out to the friends, fans and family of <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealGrimmie">@TheRealGrimmie</a>.</p>&mdash; The Voice (@NBCTheVoice) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCTheVoice/status/741532202064707584">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just heard the news about <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealGrimmie">@TheRealGrimmie</a> ... Really hope she&#39;s gonna be okay <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForChristina?src=hash">#PrayForChristina</a></p>&mdash; Jessica Sanchez (@JessicaESanchez) <a href="https://twitter.com/JessicaESanchez/status/741491568880816129">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPChristina?src=hash">#RIPChristina</a> my thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones..</p>&mdash; Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) <a href="https://twitter.com/ddlovato/status/741527365998809088">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So sad right now. My thoughts &amp; prayers go out to Christina Grimmie&#39;s friends/family. What an incredible talent that won&#39;t be forgotten</p>&mdash; Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColtonLHaynes/status/741522750984978432">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Devastating. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ripchristinagrimmie?src=hash">#ripchristinagrimmie</a> how is this real??!!!! Sending all prayers to her family. So angry the world lost such a beautiful soul.</p>&mdash; Ally Maki (@allymaki) <a href="https://twitter.com/allymaki/status/741523033475534849">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">oh my god. oh my god. my heart is so cold and heavy. in awe. i got to sing with u last year. rest in peace angel<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPChristinaGrimmie?src=hash">#RIPChristinaGrimmie</a></p>&mdash; JOSH LEVI (@JoshLeviWorld) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshLeviWorld/status/741525690042961920">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Artists know there is risk in being vulnerable publicly, &amp; do it anyway 2 connect w fans. We MUST protect them/this space. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForChristina?src=hash">#PrayForChristina</a></p>&mdash; Alyson Stoner (@AlysonStoner) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlysonStoner/status/741504770020499456">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">No. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPChristina?src=hash">#RIPChristina</a></p>&mdash; Alyson Stoner (@AlysonStoner) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlysonStoner/status/741524733326331904">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">No no no no no no. NO. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPChristina?src=hash">#RIPChristina</a></p>&mdash; Alyson Stoner (@AlysonStoner) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlysonStoner/status/741524942454296576">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So terribly tragic. May she rest in peace.</p>&mdash; Rowan Blanchard (@rowblanchard) <a href="https://twitter.com/rowblanchard/status/741526023385141249">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At a complete loss for words. Unbelievable. My heart breaks over this news. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPChristina?src=hash">#RIPChristina</a></p>&mdash; Hailee Steinfeld (@HaileeSteinfeld) <a href="https://twitter.com/HaileeSteinfeld/status/741539716797861890">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source} 


Musicians like Sam Tsui and Tori Kelly who, like Christina, made a name for themselves on YouTube, also expressed their condolences on social media. Christina collaborated with Sam and Tori in the past, as well as with many other young, up-and-coming musicians.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At a loss for words and absolutely sick to my stomach. So lucky to have had a friend so purely good and impossibly talented. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPChristina?src=hash">#RIPChristina</a></p>&mdash; Sam Tsui (@SamuelTsui) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamuelTsui/status/741525121865650178">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">i have no words. rip christina<br>see you again, love. isaiah 25:8 <a href="https://t.co/z6d4joaMPQ">https://t.co/z6d4joaMPQ</a></p>&mdash; Tori Kelly (@ToriKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/ToriKelly/status/741523080179154944">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">i am beyond devastated i don&#39;t even know how to put together the right words to express how i feel. rest in peace Christina</p>&mdash; Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RickyPDillon/status/741525138017943554">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">its so unfair how you were taken from the world way too soon doing the thing that you love, but you left a beautiful impact on so many</p>&mdash; Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RickyPDillon/status/741525665296453632">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPChristina?src=hash">#RIPChristina</a> to a loving, beautiful, talented and kind hearted soul.</p>&mdash; Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RickyPDillon/status/741527922863804416">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">please take a moment to pray for Christina Grimmie. My heart is broken. I love her so much. <a href="https://t.co/bidoNLIQTG">pic.twitter.com/bidoNLIQTG</a></p>&mdash; Shane Dawson (@shanedawson) <a href="https://twitter.com/shanedawson/status/741504631394557952">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

Before You Exit posted a tribute to Christina. The group was with Christina before she died.

{source} 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today we lost an angel, sister, and a beloved friend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RipChristina?src=hash">#RipChristina</a> <a href="https://t.co/EkwTKsaLFr">pic.twitter.com/EkwTKsaLFr</a></p>&mdash; Before You Exit⇞ (@beforeyouexit) <a href="https://twitter.com/beforeyouexit/status/741540602429513728">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

AJ Rafael, who is a good friend of Christina took to Twitter to express how upset he was now that she's gone.

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I&#39;m so unbelievably mad and disgusted and heartbroken all at the same time. Can&#39;t think straight. She doesn&#39;t deserve this.</p>&mdash; aj rafael (@ajRAFAEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajRAFAEL/status/741512974741995520">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I love you so much <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealGrimmie">@TheRealGrimmie</a> tears can&#39;t stop running down my face. You were the one of the best people I knew <a href="https://t.co/W8rwHVzUdg">pic.twitter.com/W8rwHVzUdg</a></p>&mdash; aj rafael (@ajRAFAEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajRAFAEL/status/741524277917319168">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

{source} 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A friend texted me reminding me she knew Jesus. How comforting it is to know that... She never was ashamed to know Him. She knew real love.</p>&mdash; aj rafael (@ajRAFAEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajRAFAEL/status/741527693267701761">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#39;s crazy cuz <a href="https://twitter.com/tylerwardmusic">@tylerwardmusic</a> and I talked about all having a bday show. We all have the same bday... I texted her and she was down. </p>&mdash; aj rafael (@ajRAFAEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajRAFAEL/status/741529164709265408">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Literally have a flight in a couple of hours and can&#39;t sleep... I am so angry... Why.. Just why. I&#39;m sorry guys. This is so much to take in</p>&mdash; aj rafael (@ajRAFAEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajRAFAEL/status/741551481896083459">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source} 

 

 

– Rappler.com

 

IN PHOTOS: 'Encantadia' 2016 cast at ToyCon PH 2016

$
0
0

All photos by Paolo Abad/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – It's been a decade since the last Encantadia captivated and enchanted viewers. After those years have passed, the nostalgia is there, with the show's characters and kingdoms still indelible in the minds of its most ardent fans. (READ: Meet the 4 new sang'gres of the 'Encantadia' 2016 reboot)

Fast forward to 2016, there's a new updated reboot of the GMA fantaserye that gears up to be more than just something which tells the same old story. There's a new cast as well who takes up the challenge of breathing a new life into such beloved characters.

At ToyCon Philippines 2016 PopLife Fan Xperience (June 10 to 12), some members of this new cast stepped on the main stage to greet their fans – in costume, to boot. They were joined by visual designer Noel Flores and director Mark Reyes.

Kylie Padilla as Amihan

Glaiza de Castro as Pirena

Gabbi Garcia as Alena 

Sanya Lopez as Danaya

Rocco Nacino as Aquil

Ruru Madrid as Ybarro

Solenn Heussaff as Cassiopeia and Rochelle Pangilinan as Agane

The cast also took time to do autographs and take selfies with fans at ToyCon.

– Rappler.com


WATCH: First 'Encantadia' 2016 trailer released

$
0
0

Screengrab from Facebook/Encantadia 2016

MANILA, Philippines – After a decade off the air, Encantadia is back and is gearing up to be more epic and stunning than it ever has been. The fantaserye's teaser just dropped and was also screened at the 2016 ToyCon (June 10 to 12). (IN PHOTOS: 'Encantadia' 2016 cast at ToyCon PH 2016)

The teaser opens with the unmistakable silhouettes of the four sang'gres: Amihan (Kylie Padilla), Alena (Gabbi Garcia), Danaya (Sanya Lopez), and Pirena (Glaiza de Castro). In a dim chamber with only slivers of light slicing through the darkness, they display their skills and control of the elements with their respective weapons. (READ: Meet the 4 new sang'gres of the 'Encantadia' 2016 reboot)

There's no dialogue in this fresh look at the new series, with the only sounds for the montage being dragons screeching, swords clashing, and of course, Bayang Barrios chanting the iconic theme tune. However, it does provide stunning glimpses into the kingdom of Lireo, where dragons fly over its towering spires and more.

Watch the trailer above and tell us what you think about this exciting look at the new Encantadia in the comments. – Rappler.com

Christina Grimmie alleged killer identified

$
0
0

CHRISTINA GRIMMIE. Police identify 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl as the suspect who shot the former 'The Voice' contestant. Photo by Manman Dejeto/Rappler

MIAMI, USA – The gunman who fatally shot Christina Grimmie, an up-and-coming young singer who once appeared on the popular TV show The Voice, had two handguns and a hunting knife on him at the time of the attack, US police said Saturday.

In a tweet, the Orlando Police Department identified the suspect as Kevin James Loibl, releasing a headshot and saying that he was 27 and from St. Petersburg, Florida.

{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OPD can confirm 27 year old Kevin James Loibl, suspect who shot Christina Grimmie, is from St Petersburg, FL <a href="https://t.co/iN6RUi3VRx">pic.twitter.com/iN6RUi3VRx</a></p>&mdash; Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoPolice/status/741734766899265536">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}


Authorities said they believed he traveled from elsewhere in Florida to Orlando, where Grimmie had given a concert, intent on targeting her.

Grimmie, 22, performed late Friday with the group Before You Exit at Orlando's Plaza Live Theater and stayed on to sign autographs and sell merchandise.

The gunman approached her and opened fire without warning, then fatally shot himself, according to police.

Grimmie was rushed to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, but died of her injuries.

In addition to two handguns and a hunting knife, the shooter was also carrying two loaded gun magazines, police said.

"The suspect traveled to Orlando, apparently, to commit this crime, and then had plans to travel back to where he came from," Police Chief John Mina told reporters.

Detectives are scrutinizing the suspect's cell phone and computer as they search for a possible motive.

Guns snuck past guards

Unarmed security guards at the concert conducted bag checks, police said, but failed to discover the shooter's weapons.

"There are no metal detectors. People are not patted down. They open their bags and authorities look inside those bags for weapons," Mina said.

Most people at the event were "young kids," which "isn't a crowd that you would suspect would be carrying guns," he added.

About 120 fans were still milling around the theater when the shooting occurred, Mina said.

Authorities said they were trying to determine if the shooter knew Grimmie or was a deranged fan.

The shooting likely adds fuel to the long simmering debate over gun control in the United States, where such weapons were used in more than 11,200 murders in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But past bouts of even more extreme gun violence, including the 2012 killing of 20 school children at an elementary school in Connecticut, have led to little change in a country where the right to bear arms is protected under the second amendment of the US constitution.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has vowed to take on the powerful gun lobby if elected president, while Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has promised "to cherish the Second Amendment."

'Lost a beautiful soul'

As word of Grimmie's shooting and subsequent death spread quickly on social media, fans posted video clips of her performances, including her cover of Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" during a blind audition on The Voice.

A New Jersey native, Grimmie gained notoriety by singing covers of hit songs in popular videos posted on YouTube.

Grimmie, who competed in the sixth season of The Voice in 2014, released her debut EP Find Me in 2011.

"There are no words. We lost a beautiful soul w/ an amazing voice," the NBC talent show wrote on Twitter.

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are heartbroken. <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealGrimmie">@TheRealGrimmie</a> is a loved member of our family. Our thoughts are with her and her family. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrayForChristina?src=hash">#PrayForChristina</a></p>&mdash; The Voice (@NBCTheVoice) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCTheVoice/status/741500812313034752">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There are no words. We lost a beautiful soul with an amazing voice. Our hearts go out to the friends, fans and family of <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealGrimmie">@TheRealGrimmie</a>.</p>&mdash; The Voice (@NBCTheVoice) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCTheVoice/status/741532202064707584">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

"My heart is absolutely broken. I miss you Christina," tweeted pop star Selena Gomez. She included a picture of herself and Grimmie, who was her friend and sometimes backup singer.

{source}

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My heart is absolutely broken. I miss you Christina <a href="https://t.co/KWGwZZlj4t">pic.twitter.com/KWGwZZlj4t</a></p>&mdash; Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) <a href="https://twitter.com/selenagomez/status/741675665108373507">June 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}

 

Gomez's stepfather Brian Teefey, who was Grimmie's longtime manager, opened an account on the GoFundMe crowd sourcing website to raise money for Grimmie's family.

"Words cannot begin to describe the pain I am feeling," Teefey told People magazine.

"Christina was like a second daughter to me. All I wanted to do was assist her in achieving her musical dreams while protecting her from the pitfalls associated with the business," he said.

"I never could have imagined this horrific event being one of the pitfalls needing to be avoided."– Rappler.com

 

WATCH: Caregivers experience horror in 'The Conjuring 2' prank

$
0
0

PRANK. A Brazilian variety show pranks caregivers into thinking they're in a scene in 'The Conjuring 2.' Screengrab from YouTube/Câmeras Escondidas Programa Silvio Santos

 

MANILA, Philippines – Watching The Conjuring 2 might have gotten everyone in the theaters scared, but this prank takes the horror a step further. 

In a video by Programa Silvio Santos, a Brazilian variety show, the movie's director James Wan gives a short introduction to the prank before a crew put it into action. 

For the prank, caregivers were instructed by a lady to wake her daughter and give her daughter medicine when an alarm rings. 

Once the alarm rings, though, and the caregivers approach the girl to wake her, the girl starts screaming, objects start flying across the room, and the crucifixes on the wall start turning upside down. Even the girl herself flies up in the air before landing back on the bed, unconscious. 

 Screengrab from YouTube/Câmeras Escondidas Programa Silvio Santos

The caregivers were each pranked separately and reacted in different ways, though all were horrified.

Were you afraid of the The Conjuring prank they did to the caregivers? Let us know in the comments section. – Rappler.com

WATCH: Bamboo performs in NAIA Terminal 2 for Independence Day

$
0
0

PINOY PRIDE ROCKS. Bamboo leads a free concert at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 in celebration of Independence Day. File photo by Manman Dejeto/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The Voice of the Philippines coach and singer Bamboo performed in a free concert at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Sunday, June 12, in celebration of the country's Independence Day.

Aired live via the Facebook page of Philippine Airlines (PAL), the concert with the hashtag #PinoyPrideRocks saw Bamboo and his band perform hits such as "Noypi," "Hallelujah," "Himala," and "Umagang Kay Ganda," plus tracks from his latest album Bless This Mess.

The free concert was part of PAL's Independence Day celebration. Aside from Bamboo, Lea Salonga and Sarah Geronimo also performed. Sarah sang "The Heart of the Filipino," which is the flag carrier's theme song.

Bamboo is currently seen in season 3 of The Voice Kids with Lea and Sharon Cuneta.

What do you think of Bamboo's NAIA concert? Let us know in the comments section. – Rappler.com

WATCH: Timmy Pavino, Leah Patricio, Philippe Go reunite in 'The Voice Kids' PH

$
0
0

REUNION. Timmy Pavino, Leah Patricio, and Philippe Go serenade Sharla Cerilles during 'The Voice Kids' blind auditions. Screengrab from YouTube/The Voice Kids Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Former The Voice of the Philippines contestants Timmy Pavino, Leah Patricio, and Philippe Go dropped by the blind auditions of The Voice Kids on Sunday, June 12.

In the episode, coach Lea Salonga called on Timmy, Leah, and Philippe, who were part of her team in the previous season, to serenade young contestant Sharla Cerilles. Sharla had gotten all 3 coaches – Lea, Bamboo, and Sharon Cuneta – to turn for her during her performance of "Power of Love."

Timmy, Leah, and Philippe performed a medley that included "Reflections" and "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal."

Bamboo, meanwhile, tried to convince Sharla to join his team as he sang "Tatlong Bibe," to the audience's amusement. 

Not backing down, Sharon asked the staff of the show to wheel out some of her acting awards. The Megastar then asked Sharla to give her a chance.

After Sharla's performance, the 3 coaches were all praises for her.

"Oh my gosh. This girl is a complete package. Kasi you're beautiful to look at. And 'yung presence moang lakas (is strong) onstage and nag-coconnect ka sa (you're connecting with the) audience," Lea said. 

Sharon commented on Sharla's vocal range and her stage presence, while Bamboo said he likes the fact that the young girl was sharing a story.

Screengrab from YouTube/The Voice Kids Philippines

Sharla eventually picked Sharon as her coach. As Sharon was about to give her a hoodie, the Megastar said: "Parang nanalo na naman ako ngBest Actress (I feel like I won a Best Actress award again)."

The Voice Kids airs every Saturday and Sunday. – Rappler.com

Viewing all 20118 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>