Author: TJ Gacura

After more than a decade in the music industry, acclaimed singer-songwriter TJ Monterde felt on May 6 that his music is finally being truly appreciated. This sentiment was poignantly expressed in an interview following the second day of his ‘Sariling Mundo’ concert series at the New Frontier Theater. Monterde, known for his heartfelt and relatable songs, shared his initial nerves for his performance at ‘Sariling Mundo’ in the New Frontier Theater. “Akala ko tonight would be like—kinakabahan ako honestly about tonight. Kasi kahapon we did a really good show. Tapos tonight parang hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang i-pull…

On May 15, Mutya Orquia was asked by the press about her thoughts on the rumored romance between her ‘When Magic Hurt’ co-star Beaver Magtalas and Maxine Trinidad, and she set the record straight. Recall that there have been rumors of a love triangle involving the three, especially after Magtalas took Orquia to the ABS-CBN Star Magical Prom and later escorted Trinidad to his school prom in Nueva Ecija. During an interview at SM Megamall, where they were promoting their upcoming movie, Orquia emphasized that jealousy wasn’t in her nature. “Bakit naman ako magseselos?” she mused. “Personally, hindi rin po…

During a press conference for his upcoming series ‘My Mother, My Story’ on May 9, renowned TV host Boy Abunda opened up about a significant and emotional confrontation he had with his mother, sparked by a personal revelation he made on a television show. In the interview, Abunda disclosed that his father was born out of wedlock—a long-kept family secret that he accidentally revealed on national TV. They live just four houses away from his father’s biological parent, yet the circumstances of his father’s birth were never openly discussed within their family. This culture of silence deeply influenced Abunda’s upbringing,…

Star of the romantic comedy ‘Chances Are You and I,’ Kelvin Miranda, revealed on May 13 that he is no longer afraid if death comes knocking on his door. During the press conference for the film, Miranda admitted that unlike his character Sol, he was initially afraid of dying. Sol suffers from a terminal illness but tries to make every moment count. By playing a pessimistic character, the young star realized that death eventually comes to all. “Hindi naman tayo mananatili sa mundo nang panghabang-buhay. So, bakit hindi ka mamuhay ng gusto mo? Ba’t hindi ka mamuhay ng masaya, nang…

Kira Balinger, star of the romantic comedy ‘Chances Are You and I,’ emphasized on May 13 that she is currently living without regrets, just in case something unfortunate happens to her. In the film, Balinger portrays Gabriel Sinag, a character facing a terminal illness. Similar to her character’s outlook, she believes in living life to the fullest. “I am already living life to the fullest,” said the rising star at the movie’s press conference at 38 Valencia Events Place in Quezon City. “I’m telling the people, my loved ones, that I cared about them bago mahuli ang lahat. Kasi malay…

Actress Isay Alvarez opened up about a challenging period in her life on May 9, marked by a fallout with one of her “anak-anakan,” ‘Seoulmeyt’ star Kim Molina, due to political differences. Speaking at the press conference for Viva’s latest film ‘Seoulmeyt,’ Alvarez shared that she and movie director Darryl Yap experienced similar issues. “Siguro kagaya ni Direk Da, nagkaroon kami ng hindi magandang phase sa buhay namin during the elections. Very close kami. Marami akong anak-anakan sa teatro; maraming nawala,” she said. The 2022 election was a divisive time in the showbiz community, with personalities torn between supporting Bongbong…

The Philippines faces a silent crisis that could shape the future of its youngest generation, according to Jose Lina, chair of the Children’s First 1000 Days Coalition (CFDC), on May 16. Malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, from conception through a child’s second birthday, poses a significant threat not only to individual health but also to the country’s overall development. During a talk at the Sequoia Hotel, Lina starkly outlined the implications of poor nutrition during these critical early days. “At yung mother, especially ang child ay malnourished, ang epekto ng malnutrition na iyon na long term ay…

Retired Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, a decorated military hero, announced on May 17 his intention to run for senator in the upcoming election. During a talk at the Manila Polo Club, Querubin revealed his willingness to re-enter the political arena. This revelation followed a conversation with Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael “Mang” I. Sali during the 52nd Activation Day Celebration of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-1. The colonel recounted how Governor Sali questioned why he sat out previous elections, despite being a strong candidate. To answer Gov. Sali’s question, Querubin explained that when he was freed in 2010, he focused on his…

Senior Vice President for Content Creation Valerie del Rosario emphasized on May 16 that with Viva hitting 11 million subscribers, one of their main goals remains clear: to help their talents go mainstream. During a press conference at Viva Café, some members of the press wondered if Viva artists have the opportunity to become talents on popular TV networks. Boss Val emphasized that despite releasing films and series on Vivamax, Viva remains a talent agency committed to pushing their artists to mainstream platforms. “Happy po kami, definitely, that we are being recognized like sa mainstream. But at the end of…

Kapamilya leading lady Loisa Andalio revealed on May 4 that she and her real-life partner, Ronnie Alonte, have an upcoming movie under Paul Soriano’s TEN17P. This marks their first film together in two years. Their last movie together was the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival entry ‘My Teacher,’ starring Toni Gonzaga and Joey De Leon. Their latest film, titled ‘3 Words,’ is directed by Andalio’s fellow ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ alumnus, Fifth Solomon. Currently, the couple is busy with their business, Iceberg Insulated Flask, and introduced a new product during a launch event at the newly unveiled Happy Go Shopping Mall…

Singer-songwriter TJ Monterde recently revealed on May 6 that he almost quit his singing career and considered opening a business instead. His crisis began after the pandemic, when concerts and shows started to open up again. Yet, he found his career stagnant. “Parang walang nangyayari. Kasi pumi-pick up na ‘yung mga shows tapos wala akong kahit na ano. Tapos ‘yung mga kanta ko wala masiyadong nangyayari,” Monterde lamented after his sold-out ‘Sariling Mundo’ concert at the New Frontier Theater, his first major concert after 12 years in the industry. He even doubted that his show would succeed. The singer-songwriter, passionate…

Viva’s President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vincent del Rosario, expressed high hopes for continued subscriber growth for Vivamax by the end of 2024. In 2023, the video-on-demand platform reached seven million subscribers, and this year, it surpassed ten million users. Del Rosario aims for a 50% growth this year, targeting a total of 15 million subscribers. “We were hoping to do at least 50% growth. So, parang eksakto naman siya. Pero it came early eh. So hopefully, with the balance of the year, we’ll get more,” he said during the launch of 11 new talents following the Viva milestone.…

During a press conference for his special ‘My Mother, My Story’ on May 9, King of Talk Boy Abunda revealed that he and his partner Bong Quintana had faced issues of timing when it came to adoption. Abunda shared that their journey toward adoption began more than two decades ago while he was still hosting ‘StarTalk.’ At that time, it was Abunda who wanted to adopt, but Quintana was hesitant. “Siguro many years ago, I was doing ‘Star Talk’ pa. So that would be 25 years ago, I wanted to adopt,” he shared. “Si Bong ang may ayaw. Feeling ko…

The Pokémon community in the Philippines was abuzz with excitement as renowned singer Jason Paige, the voice behind the iconic Pokémon theme song, shared intriguing details about his illustrious career during the recent Pokéverse press conference on May 14. Paige, who has been a pivotal figure in the Pokémon fandom since 2016, captivated the audience with anecdotes from his career. Among the highlights was his revelation about working with the legendary Michael Jackson. This unexpected disclosure added a layer of depth to the singer’s already impressive résumé. During the press conference, Paige was asked about his most memorable experiences in…

Newcomer Beaver Magtalas denied on May 15 that he and his ‘When Magic Hurts’ co-star Maxine Trinidad were dating. Earlier in April, Magtalas was linked with Trinidad after he took her to his Junior-Senior Prom at his school in Nueva Ecija. There were also assumptions that he and his ‘When Magic Hurts’ leading lady, Mutya Orquia, were dating, sparking rumors of a love triangle. During an interview for his movie, Magtalas reiterated that there was nothing romantic between him and any of his female friends. The budding young actor concluded that their newfound closeness might have led people to assume…

Sexy star Apple Dy admitted on May 14 that she still has a long way to go before earning the title of ‘Vivamax Queen.’ Dy, who began her sexy career in 2023, acknowledges that she needs more experience to potentially replace the current Vivamax Queen, Angeli Khang. “For me naman, ‘yung iniisip ko na title as a Vivamax Queen, siyempre, I have a long way to go,” she said during the press conference for her film “Balinsasayaw.” Like Khang, Dy aspires to become a mainstream actress through Vivamax. She expressed her hopes of possibly dethroning the current queen someday. “Feeling…