Author: Jude Cartalaba

The love story of Gabo and Trisha in Labyu with an Accent is a surefire formula for a box-office win, Coco Martin and Jodi Sta. Maria’s entry to the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2022. Why not? Martin had a successful ABS-CBN’s longest-running action-drama on television and via online platforms–FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and Sta. Maria’s highly acclaimed victory at the recently concluded Asian Academy Creative Awards’ best actress recognition for The Broken Marriage Vow. Both stars’ successes got extended and translated into the flick’s performance in the festival’s first two days since its opening on December 25. Their movie…

Unexpectedly, the Rein Entertainment film Nanahimik ang Gabi came as a surprise to me. Although violent and all, the actors–the two leads and the supporting actor were phenomenal in their respective performances. Another thing that is impressive about this film–it managed to have a limited set of locations, yet it made its storytelling engaging. It kept the audience wanting more. Mostly shot at a secluded mansion owned by Ian Veneracion’s character’s father-in-law. Setting the story to be dark and violent, Shugo Praico’s Nanahimik ang Gabi is probably an easy favorite for those who love action with a little bit of…

The recently concluded 48th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) named Nadine Lustre and Ian Veneracion as the Female and Male Stars of the Night. Both stars also took home the top plums–the best actress and best actor awards on Tuesday night, December 27, at the New Frontier Theater, Cubao, Quezon City. Lustre won for Mikhael Red’s Deleter and Veneracion for Shugo Praico’s Nanahimik ang Gabi, respectively. Also, Viva Films’ entry took home the Best Picture award, while Rein Entertainment’s settled for third place. Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told was a surprise win as the second-best picture. The other highlight…

In every festival, like Metro Manila Film Festival, horror flicks are among the staple entries. This year’s edition, Viva Films’ DELETER, directed by Mikhail Red, is its official entry, with the award-winning actress Nadine Lustre as the lead star. Due to its dim-lit setting, one can figure out that this is a horror film. It brought me back to Carmina Villaroel-starrer’s 2019 horror film, SUNOD. Though the building may not be old, it still has its air of creepiness. It sets the dark tone in its scenes. Red’s film is about the possible effects on workers as content moderators. Its…

After two years of not being part of the Metro Manila Film Festival, the Unkabogable Star Vice Ganda returns via the comedy flick Partners in Crime with Internet sensation Ivana Alawi in this year’s edition of the said festival. Both play the lead stars in a Cathy Garcia-Molina entry. It’s Showtime lead host is Jack Cayanan the host of the TV show, Happy Hour succumbed to having a hoarse voice. Thus, the Network had to intervene to save the show by getting a temporary replacement for him, which happened to be his former partner in providing entertainment to audiences who…

Family Matters, the light family drama film entry to the 48th Metro Manila Film Festival, lived up to my expectations. The blockbuster tandem of filmmaker Nuel Naval and screenwriter Mel Mendoza-del Rosario could draw more crowds, especially Filipino families, during the Christmas season–the MMFF-run nationwide. The film promises relatability and has the right mixed amount of entertainment value–light drama for the Filipino family. The story that Mendoza-del Rosario penned is intimate. Moviegoers get invited to take a peek at the lives of the Florencio Family. Viewers have the front seats in witnessing every moment or mishap in the family. Naval…

Filipino hip-hop star Skusta Clee with 200 million views on YouTube for his Dance with You hit (making it the most-viewed OPM video), will conquering the international music scene with the two-rapping heavy-weights Flow G and J. Roa. Skusta Clee will be perform along with Flow G and J. Roa to dominate the Canadian Stage this November for the Canada Filipino Hip-hop Fest 2022. Spearheaded by CEO Jovee Basilio of YY Entertainment, the tour is a series of nine shows covering cities like Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Halifax, Montreal, and Vancouver. Social media influencers Angelica Jane Yap…

The former member and one of the lead vocalists of the musical trio The APO Hiking Society, Danny Javier died on Monday, October 31.  In real life, he’s Daniel “Danny” Morales Javier and is 75 years of age. His daughter Justine Javier Long confirmed the news on Facebook, Monday, saying he died from “complications due to his prolonged illnesses.” He’s a Filipino singer-songwriter, musician, actor, television host, and a businessman. He sang along with his singing buddies Boboy Garrovillo and Jim Paredes.  Javier’s daughter, Justine wrote: “In life, as in his death, our Pop never stopped fighting for what he…

“Miss USA is Texas!” the host announced on Tuesday (Philippine time), October 3, at Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nevada, besting 50 other candidates on the finals night of the 71st edition of the said beauty pageant.  The 28-year-old fashion designer, Filipino-American R’Bonney Gabriel won the Miss USA 2022 crown, she is to represent the country in the 71st Miss Universe pageant in January 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gabriel is one of the early favorites to win the title. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R’Bonney Nola (@rbonneynola) She graduated from the University of North…

The comedian-host-and talent manager Ogie Diaz set a virtual date for his followers and [even] all online users this Saturday, September 24, via his THE OGIE DIAZ show from 7 to 9 PM on his Facebook page. Does this mean that Diaz is giving Willie Revillame a competition in giving away cash prizes?  “Magkaiba naman kami. Ang pareho sa amin, nagpapasaya ng mga tao. Nag enjoy na, nanalo pa. Saka beterano na sa ganyan si Kuya Will, ako starting pa lang. “Sa panahon ngayon, parang nakakalungkot na wala nang halaga ang piso o limang piso, pero sa BingoPlus app, may…

Part of Humanist Alliance Philippines, International’s (HAPI) advocacy is taking on the torch to continue championing human rights, particularly that of the LGBTQIA+ community, by holding a series of comprehensive activities celebrating Pride Month from the 4th to the 30th day of June. HAPI is partnering with local and national organizations like Unitarian Universalist (UU) LGBTQIA+ Fellowship. On June 28, the first-ever Holy Union Ceremony for LGBT couples with a three-day honeymoon retreat for the participants, sponsored by UU LGBTQIA Fellowship in Dumaguete. Rev. Tet Gallardo will officiate the rites. LGBTQIA couples may register via http://tiny.cc/PrideUnions2022. On June 30, UU LGBTQIA Fellowship will also host a first-of-its-kind Affirmations Ceremony at Dakong Balay…

Nick Daez, brother of commercial model-actor-Kapuso news anchor-and-vlogger, Mikael Daez is charged with ‘Habeas Corpus’ and Custody on Friday, February 11 at the Court of Appeals in Manila. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick Daez (@nickdaez) The older brother of Mikael, real name, Rafael Francisco “Nick” Daez, a.k.a. “Nicky,”, is known to be a meditation and breathwork coach, nomadic entrepreneur, kundalini yoga, and sound healer “dealing with anxiety and stress”. Nick is allegedly involved with the wife of a young independent filmmaker and advertising director, Carl Angelo Ruiz.  Daez, along with Ruiz’s wife, Mikaela…

The Diamond Star, Maricel Soriano continues to luster even if she’s already in her 50s. Last year, she celebrated her 50th anniversary in show business–and what better way to highlight her status as one of the Philippines’ iconic stars is her inclusion in a Hollywood romantic-comedy film, Re-Live: A Tale of an American Island Cheerleader. In an article from Variety.com, dated Saturday, January 22, Soriano got picked to star in Rain Valdez’s upcoming trans-led flick.  Previously reported, the film co-writers Rachel Leyco and Valdez will star as sisters Rochelle and Rowena, respectively. Soriano, on the other hand, will assume their mother, Thelma.  Soriano, in…

As confirmed by the Hollywood Reporter on Monday, January 24, Ivory Aquino, a Fil-Am transgender will be Alysia Yeoh, the best friend of Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, the masked hero played by Leslie Grace. The buzz of Aquino’s casting got speculated online after the Batgirl lead star Grace shared a photograph of the two of them via an Instagram story earlier this month. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ivory Aquino (@msivoryaquino) The Deadline confirmed it first officially about the news on Aquino coming on board the cast. The Batgirl will debut on HBO Max…

As days and the world is getting older–so as people evolve as well. Brillante Ma Mendoza’s SISID is a film that could reflect what humans have become these days. Love cannot be love if there is no tolerance. Perhaps that’s what the filmmaker is simply trying to tell today’s audience. Judging on how the approach of the film’s storytelling, it’s not formulaic, but it retains elements that sell to the old or young moviegoers. It is unfair to [totally] accuse Filipino films of having low quality versus Hollywood franchise films like Marvel-centered superhero flicks. Filipino filmmakers can concoct mind-boggling stories…

Since I had a limited time and the only available Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 entry showing at Shangri-La cinema at the time–I settled with Love at First Stream. In the first few minutes of the film, I got bored, but somewhere around a scene where the character of Agot Isidro had a clash with her daughter Vilma (Daniela Stranner). who among the Generation Zs–is the one who dropped out of school and didn’t finish high school. Her contemporaries like Gino (Jeremiah Lisbo), Megumi (Kaori Oinima), and Tupe (Anthony Jennings). Vilma may have an ambition, but it’s driven out of…