Experience HOOQ like never before with “A SEA of Stories”

HOOQ, Southeast Asia’s leading video-on-demand service, embraces regional diversity by kicking off new commercial partnerships and ground-breaking diversification of content and pricing models in a mega event in Jakarta, Indonesia.

HOOQ explores content geared towards the evolving taste of Filipino audiences, with stories of love and romance, victories, and other untold authentic stories of Asia – created by Asians for Asians. 

Jennifer Batty, HOOQ chief content officer, said, “We are very excited to bring new content to our viewers. HOOQ will offer never-before-seen stories of what makes Asia tick and will give a glimpse of the pulse of the people who live here. These are very exciting times for our viewers."

Chris Hemsworth in Bali for the "Men in Black: International" Fan Event

Chris Hemsworth (Agent H) takes hundreds of selfies at this fun fan event in Bali, Indonesia for Columbia Pictures’ new action adventure Men in Black: International.

Check out the fan event’s highlights below and watch Men in Black: International in Philippine cinemas June 12.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/DczvvTjLzwE

“Kicking off the MIB press tour in Indonesia! This is the first time ever for a major studio to bring cast for film promotion to Indonesia. Pretty exciting to be a part of history this week hitting such a massive market in the film industry. Having media and influencers from all over the region is truly something special. Thank you Indonesia!!,” Hemsworth wrote in his Instagram.

Why Teejay Marquez Came Back Despite Growing Popularity In Indonesia

Teejay Marquez made a career shift to Indonesia in 2016 to try his luck there. And indeed, he found himself a second home and starred in several local television programs. The shift was challenging to him, as started from scratch and as he had to learn to speak Bahasa Indonesia and get to know the culture there.

Before this, he is known to be Kapuso star and appeared in several shows and films like Marka, The Basement, and Dubsmash The Movie. With his quirky social media posts and charismatic face, this made him a Instagram millionaire with 1.7 million followers. 

We became immersed with Indonesian projects which grew his fanbase there. Last August 2017, he signed up with Arnold Vegafria’s management outfit, ALV Talent Circuit, and at the same time signed up with Regal Entertainment.

REEL DEAL: Satan's Slaves REVIEW

Asian horror is back and it's Indonesia's time to showcase their story of death, mystery and the ocult. This year, they have launched the successful Satan's Slaves (Pengabdi Setan) in theaters September. It is now known as the higest grossing Indonesian horror film of all time. The reason is beacuse it has great elements of a horror film. It was very effective in bringing out the fear with the cinematography and perfect thrill timing.

The film has great WTF moments, and I could say one of the best horror films of the year. It was quite punishing for me not to give in to the jumpscares, and I want to watch it again.

An 80's remake of the same title managed to make a big hit in Indonesia. It got great reviews in Indonesia and Malaysia and continues to spread to other countries. Being part of the same Asian region, the story and characters seems familiar to Filipino horror films yet it is more refined, aesthetically thrilling and has some elements familiar which establishes relations to its viewers.

Megan Young Wins First Miss World Title For The Philippines

In the history of the Miss World pageant the Philippines has never won the crown, rather has placed as the first runner up at most. But this night was something of a suprise as Megan Young won the very first Miss World Title for the country. This now completes the long-awaited "Grand Slam" for the world pageants namely Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth.

Megan Young started her career as a Starstruck Avenger and later moved to ABS CBN to look for more opportunities. Recently, she made news with her intention to join the Miss World Philippines whose franchise is now under the supervision of Cory Quirino.

Megan Young had a sweeping victory with numerous special awards in the competition and became a favorite and eventually crowned as the winner. There were controversies that came with her crown but she showed discipline and desire to prove that she is deserving of the title.

The 2013 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Announced

The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced that this year three individuals and two organizations from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines will receive Asia’s premier prize, the Ramon Magsaysay Award.  The Awardees are:

Ernesto Domingo, from the Philippines.  He is being recognized for “his exemplary embrace of the social mission of medical science and his profession, his steadfast leadership in pursuing ‘health for all’ as a shared moral responsibility of all sectors, and his groundbreaking and successful advocacy for neonatal hepatitis vaccination, thereby saving millions of lives in the Philippines.”

Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (Corruption Eradication Commission), from Indonesia.  The organization is being recognized for “its fiercely independent and successful campaign against corruption in Indonesia, combining the uncompromising prosecution of erring powerful officials with farsighted reforms in governance systems and the educative promotion of vigilance, honesty, and active citizenship among all Indonesians.”

MUSIC LYF: Sabrina Brings New Suprizes for “I LOVE ACOUSTIC 5”

Duets with Asiansation Christian Bautista for carrier single “Terrified”

With over 175,000 albums sold all over Asia of her “I Love Acoustic” series, Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart SABRINA continues to delight Asian audiences with the release of “I Love Acoustic 5”. This is her second album in 2012 after taking a break from “I Love Acoustic” with the concept album “Acoustic Love Notes” her collaboration with radio/ TV host Joe D’Mango which spawned the hits “Somewhere Down The Road”, “Sa Bawat Paghinga” (theme of GMA Korean series “Angel’s Temptation” and “One True”.

Like her previous albums which are multi-platinum successes in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, “I Love Acoustic 5” includes current hit songs interpreted by Sabrina in her signature acoustic style which enthralled Asian listeners. Songs like: “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (originally by Taylor Swift), “Call Me Maybe” (Carly Rae Jepsen), “Payphone” (Maroon 5), “What Makes You Beautiful” (One Direction), “Starships” (Nicki Minaj), “Somebody That I Used To Know” (Gotye), “Part of Me” (Katy Perry), “One Thing” (One Direction), “Glad You Came” (The Wanted), “I Won’t Give Up” (Jason Mraz), “We Found Love” (Rihanna), “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” (Kelly Clarkson), “A Thousand Years” (Christina Perri), “Domino” (Jessie J) and “If I Die Young” (The Band Perry).

MUSIC LYF: Sabrina Sells More Than 175000 Albums Across Asia

Another proud moment for us Filipinos!

Our very own Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart – Sabrina has once again achieved another milestone, bagging a cumulative album sales of more than 175,000 across Asia from her “I Love Acoustic Series 1-4” and her latest album “Acoustic Love Notes.”  A special recognition from MCA Music was presented to her last November 4 at GMA7’s Party Pilipinas.

Since the release of her first album under MCA Music back in 2008, she is only the 2nd Filipino singer to reach this kind of success across Asia acquiring successful album releases here in the Philippines and also in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Korea reaching multiple Gold and Platinum record awards.  Her latest album, a collaboration with the popular radio & TV personality Joe D’ Mango turned Gold in Indonesia after only 2 months.

REEL DEAL: The Raid Redemption REVIEW

Really don't judge a book (film) by its cover. This has been proven when I saw the screening of the Indonesian Action Film, The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan Muat in Indonesia). The film is under the direction of G.H. Evans and stars the rising Indonesian actor, Iko Uwais. The Raid is the 2nd film of G.H. Evans and Iko Uwais together. Their first film is Merantau, released in 2009, and is considered one of the best martial art films. Like Merantau, The Raid also features the pencak silat, an indigenous fighting style created in Indonesia. Aside from pencak silat, The Raid incorporates different fighting styles. The cast is actually composed of professional martial artists from different disciplines.

The film is presented by METANTAU FILMS and XTZ FILMS in association with Celluloid Nightmare. The film is about an elite team of cops tasked to raid a rundown 15-storey apartment and remove its owner, a notorious drug lord called Tama. The apartment has never been touched by the police before and is now a sanctuary of infamous gangsters. The team infiltrates the apartment but a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover. Tama orders the lockdown on the building. While the team has been stranded on one of the building’s floors, Tama solicits the aid of notorious criminals to defeat the special unit.

MUSIC LYF: Sabrina - Sa Bawat Paghinga (OST)

Sabrina's SA BAWAT PAGHINGA is the Theme Song of GMA Koreanovela ANGELS TEMPTATION

Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart SABRINA releases her new single “Sa Bawat Paghinga” off her latest album “Acoustic Love Notes”.  The track, written by award-winning composer/ singer Toto Sorioso, is the theme song of GMA’s latest Korean series “Angel’s Temptation” which will premiere this August 27. It will be aired on prime time before the newscast “Saksi.” 

“Angel’s Temptation” is a drama of love, family, revenge and reconciliation based on the theme, “Good and evil sprout from one root, and there is no absolute evil, nor absolute good. Revenge is not in the hands of man.” It stars top Korean actors Han Sang Jin as Cedric Shin, Bae Soo Bin as Angelo Ahn and Lee So Yeon as Anna Joo. Follow its story everyday and find out why it perfectly captures the lyrics of “Sa Bawat Paghinga.” 

MUSIC LYF :Sabrina - Acoustc Love Notes Album Launch

SABRINA “ACOUSTIC LOVE NOTES” LAUNCH—A SUCCESS!

Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart SABRINA recently held a successful launch of her latest album “Acoustic Love Notes” at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls last July 13 at Eastwood Mall Open Park, July 14 at Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill and July 15 at Lucky Chinatown Mall. She was joined by special guests- popular radio and TV personality Joe D’Mango and up and coming singer Anj Sulit who are both featured in Sabrina’s album.

Sabrina displayed flair on her spiels and demonstrated how vocally gifted she was throughout the 3 day launch and was backed up by a four-piece band with back-up singers. The 12 song set includes her carrier single “Somewhere Down The Road”; all-time love hits like “The Art of Letting Go”, “Insensitive”, “Cry”, “Officially Missing You” and “One Last Cry” among others as well as her original songs “Sa Bawat Paghinga”, “One True Love”, “Over For Now But Not Forever” and “Again”—her duet with talented singer Anj Sulit. The show was made special by the presence of Mr. Joe D’Mango who, in between songs, gave his love advice on-stage like his famous program “Love Notes”. Though it rained during the first day of the launch at the Eastwood Mall Open Park, fans still trooped and bought albums of Sabrina. She was also able to attract and impressed new fans during her shows at Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill and Lucky Chinatown Mall. MyPhone raffled off brand new Q88 cellphones for album buyers.

MUSIC LYF: Sabrina - Acoustic Love Notes (Album Launch)

Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart to launch new album “Acoustic Love Notes”  this July 13, 14 & 15 at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls

Universal Music Indonesia, an affiliate of MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) recently announced that Sabrina’s album “I Love Acoustic 4” has turned DOUBLE PLATINUM after being declared Gold November last year and Platinum in February of 2012.


After the success of her “I Love Acoustic” series which turned Multi-Platinum and Gold in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart SABRINA releases a brand new album “Acoustic Love Notes”.


In this album inspired by the show “Love Notes”, she collaborates with its host- popular DJ/ television personality Joe D’Mango. The song line-up includes the carrier single “Somewhere Down The Road” originally by Barry Manilow, Brian McKnight’s “One Last Cry”, “Cry” by Mandy Moore, Christian Bautista’s “The Way You Look At Me”, “Can You Help Me” by Usher, Mikaila’s “The Art of Letting Go”, “I Don’t Want You To Go” by Lani Hall, Brandy’s “Have You Ever”, “Someone Like You” by Adele, Tamia’s “Officially Missing You”, “If Love Is Blind” by Tiffany, Jann Arden’s “Insensitive” and “Without Me” by Clair Marlo.

MUSIC LYF: Sabrina Wows Indonesia Anew

Asia’s Acoustic Sweetheart Sabrina proves once again her popularity in Southeast Asia as she held a very successful showcase in Indonesia last March 24 at Supermal Karawaci in Jakarta.  

Loads of fans inside and outside Jakarta flocked to the venue to see and sing along with her. Indonesian acts Jubing Kristiano and Lala Karmela opened the show for Sabrina. She dazzled the crowd with songs from her “I Love Acoustic” series which made her a household name not only in this archipelago but also other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Midway through her set, Universal Music Indonesia surprised Sabrina when she was formally presented with a PLATINUM AWARD for her latest album “I Love Acoustic 4”. Her past albums “I Love Acoustic” and “I Love Acoustic Too” were certified DOUBLE PLATINUM while “I Love Acoustic 3” is PLATINUM in that country at the same time also achieving GOLD status in Singapore and Thailand.

Sabrina also took time to promote her newest record through visits to top Indonesian radio stations Mustang FM and U FM before the show. She also guested at the #1 variety show in Indonesia “Dahsyat” where after the show, her twitter followers shot up from 6,000 to over 10,000. Several billboards of her also sprawled over Jakarta to promote the show. 

MUSIC LYF: Sabrina - SPOTLIGHT

SABRINA RELEASES NEW SINGLE “MOVES LIKE JAGGER”,  “I LOVE ACOUSTIC 4” NOW PLATINUM IN INDONESIA

Returns to Indonesia for a special show on March 24

Asia’s acoustic sweetheart Sabrina releases her follow-up single from her highly successful “I Love Acoustic 4” album—her version of the hit “Moves Like Jagger”.

This Maroon5 and Christina Aguilera single which became a staple song of 2011 will be infused with Sabrina’s own sweet acoustic flavor that listeners will love. Its music video directed by Daphne Oliveros recently premiered at MYX and entered the Top 20 of Pinoy MYX Countdown after only 1 week of airplay. 

“I’m so excited about this second single as it is such a fun track,” Sabrina said. “Also watch the music video of the song as it will be different from my previous videos”.

REEL DEAL: The Witness SPOTLIGHT

GMA Films teams up with Skylar Pictures of Indonesia to come up with a International Thriller picture THE WITNESS featuring Kapuso artist Gwen Zamora (Enteng Kabisote, Biritera) was chosen to be the lead actress for this film. She is the only Pinay cast for this film which was shot in Jakarta. Among the cast of the said film, Gwen Zamora is the only Filipina yet she assures the moviegoers that she did her best to be at par with her co-actors.

She plays the role of Angel , General Manager of a Hotel who have just been transferredfrom Manila to Jakarta, is haunted by a weird dream about someone committing suicide.One day, her family is slaughtered, leaving no one's alive. Her parents, her only sister Safara, her maid, security, all are dead. Even she was also shot. But somehow she manage to be the only survivor. 

MUSIC LYF: Bloggers' Night With Sabrina

Its very rare for Filipinos to enter the music market of Asian countries because of a lot of factors and of course competition with local and other Asian music artists. But I was surprized that another Filipina musician made waves in the South East Asian market and also reach platinum status for her album, she is Sabrina Orial or simply SABRINA has became sucessful with her covers such as "Price Tag" and "Move Like Jagger". 

“I Love Acoustic 4” is now certified PLATINUM in Indonesia (the album turned GOLD November of 2011). This makes Sabrina one of the few Filipino singers to have multi-platinum success in Indonesia which other singers have tried but failed to penetrate. “I Love Acoustic 4” was also released in Thailand and soon in Singapore and Malaysia. Her previous albums “I Love Acoustic”, “I Love Acoustic Too and “I Love Acoustic 3” were multi-platinum success in those countries- the only Filipino female singer to break in successfully in the South East Asian market. Her huge following abroad is now translating locally as the album is still in retail charts where it debuted at #1 at Astroplus and #9 at Odyssey upon its first week of release. Because of her success abroad, she became a recipient of the “International Achievement Award at the recent Awit Awards where she also took home the I-Gateway Mobile Philippines, Inc.'s Most Downloaded Artist for 2010.


The album also includes the tracks “Price Tag,” “Who Says”, “Edge of Glory”, “On The Floor”, “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”, “California King Bed”, “Hold It Against Me”, “Rolling In The Deep”, “The Lazy Song”, “Back To December”, “That Should Be Me”, “Marry Me”, “Rocketeer”, “Just The Way You Are” featuring Indonesian singer Calvin Jeremy and “Lucky” featuring multi-platinum crooner Richard Poon.

“I Love Acosutic 4” by Sabrina is now out in CDs under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) and available for download at mymusicstore.com.ph. To download Sabrina’s single “Moves Like Jagger” text JGR and send to 2728 for Smart and Talk N Text subscribers, text KL343 and send to 2332 for Globe/ TM or text  5493161 and send to 2300 for Sun Cellular subscribers. 


For more of Sabrina’s music, just text SABRINA to 3456 or check out www.facebook.com/mcamusic. Special thanks to Pinoy Magazine and Orange Magazine Tv nd Red Box: Rock, Dine, Roll.

Here are videos of his performance at Red Box on the Bloggers' Meet Up. Enjoy Sabrinantics!

Let Support our Philippine Team to the 2011 SEA Games!

Good Luck untuk Atlet Filipina kami!

Before we compete to the 2012 London Olympics, our athletes are preparing for the regional Olympic games known as the South East Asian Games of SEA Games. Though we are making noise around the world in some sports, let us not forget that many of our athletes in different disciplines are struggling to undergo training and also buy equipment or use facilities. Last 2005, when the  SEA Games was held here, it was our support that landed us in the first place overall for the first time in the history of the games.