RTL CBS Entertainment Climbs To Number Three During Primetime Among General Entertainment Channels On Cable TV

RTL CBS Entertainment has climbed to the number three position during primetime (6pm to 10pm) in December 2016 among general entertainment (GE) cable TV channels in the Philippines, based on the latest data released by Nielsen last week.

RTL CBS Entertainment started the year 2016 placed eighth among GE channels, the channel’s increase in the ranking for primetime viewing last month is attributed to huge gains in key groups throughout the year among all cable TV channels in the Philippines. In the Female viewer segment, the channel jumped 33 places higher, whileit saw a 31-place leap in the Housewives viewer category. RTL CBS Entertainment also grew its young adults 13- to 19-year-old segment, leaping 39 places higher from the start of the year.

The Vengeful Ghost Comes at You in "Rings" Payoff Poster

The main poster for Paramount Pictures' suspense thriller Rings, has just been released – showing the malevolent female ghost emerging from the haunted TV set. The ominous tagline “Evil is Reborn” hints at a new beginning.

Rings is a new chapter in the beloved RING horror franchise. A young woman (Matilda Lutz) becomes worried about her boyfriend (Alex Roe) when he explores a dark subculture surrounding a mysterious videotape said to kill the watcher seven days after he has viewed it. She sacrifices herself to save her boyfriend and in doing so makes a horrifying discovery: there is a “movie within the movie” that no one has ever seen before…

Directed by F. Javier Gutierrez (Before the Fall), Rings stars Matilda Lutz, Alex Roe, Johnny Galecki, Aimee Teegarden and Bonnie Morgan.

Opening across the Philippines on February 22, Rings is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

The Fairy Tale Gets "Darker" in New Spots of "Fifty Shades" Sequel

Will their love survive? The fairy tale gets darker as Christian's past won't let go in the new TV spots of Universal Pictures hotly anticipated romantic thriller Fifty Shades Darker.

Check out the spots at http://youtu.be/PWBuc2T8e2Q and http://youtu.be/ly4hWvcY8Io and watch Fifty Shades Darker in Philippine cinemas starting February 08, 2017.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades Darker, the second chapter based on the worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades phenomenon. Expanding upon events set in motion in 2015’s blockbuster film that grossed more than $560 million globally, the new installment arrives for Valentine’s Day and invites you to slip into something a shade darker.

Director Jon M. Chu Engages Social Media to Discover New Talent for "Crazy Rich Asians"

Director Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Now You See Me 2) is tapping social media platforms to reach out to new talent to cast in his upcoming film Crazy Rich Asians. Based on the acclaimed worldwide best seller by Kevin Kwan, the highly anticipated romantic comedy from Warner Bros. Pictures is set to commence filming in April 2017.

(Watch Chu's casting call video at https://youtu.be/kSg21l1sWA0.)

From January 19th to February 10th, social media users are invited to post a video of themselves to Facebook, Twitter or YouTube with the hashtag #CrazyRichAsiansCasting for a chance to be part of the film. The focus of the casting search is people 18 and older who are able to play Chinese-Singaporean or Asian characters – whether aspiring actors, unique personalities, fans of the book or simply those excited to try something new. Entrants will be asked to provide some basic personal info, read for a brief scene, and, most of all, have fun. Further details and guidelines can be found at www.CrazyRichAsiansMovie.net

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" Ends Explosive Saga in IMAX PH Cinemas

Every reign comes to and end, and Alice's journey concludes in IMAX!

Columbia Pictures' action-thriller Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will open in IMAX cinemas across the Philippines on February 1, 2017 simultaneous with the film's debut in regular theaters.

The IMAX release of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of an IMAX 3D Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

"Monster Trucks" Director Talks About the Fun, Family Adventure

From the director of Ice Age, Chris Wedge, comes Paramount Pictures' new family adventure Monster Trucks starring Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Apocalypse) and Jane Levy (Don't Breathe).

Looking for any way to get away from the life and town he was born into, Tripp (Till), a high school senior, builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars. After an accident at a nearby oil-drilling site displaces a strange and subterranean creature with a taste and a talent for speed, Tripp may have just found the key to getting out of town and a most unlikely friend.

Vivo V5 Plus shares tips on how to snap a perfect selfie on Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year on January 28 marks the beginning of the Year of the Red Fire Rooster. Feng shui experts say it is going to be a Yin year—a time best spent in harmony with friends and family. 

What better time, then, to create happy moments with these special people than on Chinese New Year, itself—a festive day of colorful rituals and exotic traditions that celebrate a brand-new lunar year. 

With exciting events highlighting the grand occasion, expect revelers to immortalize these with endless selfies. And to take the selfie game to the next level, top five premium global brand Vivo brings us the Vivo V5 Plus, the smartphone equipped with the world’s first 20-megapixel dual front camera and advanced selfie technology.  

Award-Winning Bryan Crantson In R-Rated Family Movie “WHY HIM”

America’s number one comedy movie for three consecutive weeks, “Why Him?” finally arrives in Philippine theatres on February 1 with an R-13 rating by the local censors board.  It’s check-the-boyfriend and impress-the-dad in this endearing family comedy starring James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Megan Mullally, Zoey Deutch and Griffin Gluck.

“Why Him?” brings Ned Fleming (Cranston) to the world of millennials when he decides to visit her daughter at her dorm over the holidays.   But even before that, life becomes a little more complicated for Ned during his 55th birthday party when Stephanie joins the event via Skype to send well wishes to her dad from her Stanford dorm room. The Flemings and their party guests are surprised by an unexpected (and naked) introduction to her new boyfriend…or at least a part of him. Distraught over the fact that Stephanie has uncharacteristically been hiding something from him, Ned begrudgingly agrees to travel with the family to spend the holidays in California to meet his daughter's first serious boyfriend Laird (Franco). 

Tech News: Five reasons why Vivo V5 Plus is the perfect selfie phone

Vivo V5 Plus perfect selfie phone features the true ‘bokeh’ effect,
allowing users to beautifully blur photo backgrounds
while keeping the details of the object in focus sharp and clear. 

Filipinos are certified selfie lovers, as proven by a recent study by TIME, which found that Makati City is the world’s “selfie capital”, and the cities of Cebu, Quezon and Iloilo belong to the top 100 “selfiest cities” across the globe. Taking a selfie is an integral part of the lives of millions of Filipinos from all walks of life, which is why they continue to search for the best selfie phone available in the market.

The entry of top five premium global brand1 Vivo’s flagship phone, Vivo V5 Plus, in the local market marks the end of this search. Dubbed as the perfect selfie phone, the Vivo V5 Plus is equipped with the most advanced selfie technology to date, expected to impress selfie- and smartphone-enthusiasts all over the world.

Here, Vivo shares five reasons why the Vivo V5 Plus deserves its tag as the perfect selfie phone.

HK Superstar Andy Lau, a War Strategist in "The Great Wall"

After starring in Zhang Yimou's dazzling, award-winning romantic adventure House of Flying Daggers in 2004, Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau now reunites with the director for Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures' epic fantasy The Great Wall.

Lau is one of Hong Kong’s most commercially successful film actors, performing in more than 140 projects since the 1980s. Voted the No. 1 box-office star of Hong Kong for decades, he truly deserves the moniker of superstar of the Chinese cinema.

In the filml, when a mercenary warrior (Matt Damon) is imprisoned within The Great Wall, he discovers the mystery behind one of the greatest wonders of our world. As wave after wave of marauding beasts, intent on devouring the world, besiege the massive structure, his quest for fortune turns into a journey toward heroism as he joins a huge army of elite warriors to confront this unimaginable and seemingly unstoppable force.

Debby Boone Sings Karen Carpenter At The Big Dome On March 8

The singer behind one of the top-selling pop hits of the 1970s pays tribute to an iconic singer and her music when Debby Boone performs the greatest hits of Karen Carpenter during a major concert on March 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The presentation from Ovation Productions will kick off the three-night, three-city local tour of the acclaimed American singer, actress and author that also includes shows on March 10 at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City and on March 11 at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City.

Dubbed “Debby Boone Sings Karen Carpenter,” the concert series marks the local debut of Debby as she extols the musical achievements and legacy of the late Karen Carpenter, one-half of the ‘70s pop duo, The Carpenters, who, with her brother Richard, made up one of the era’s biggest and most successful soft rock groups.

Deceivers Unmasked. How can you tell if a person lies?

How far can people get away with their lies? Not much as far as body language is concerned.

Experts have taken their cue from a study at the University of California, Los Angeles which states that effective communication is 55 percent dependent on non-verbal behavior, 38 percent on tone of voice, and only seven percent on words—all of which must be congruent when conveying a message.

Here are some of the red flags identified by experts, including former agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Get the royal Miss Universe experience with freenet!

The Philippines is a country that takes pride in its roster of beauty queens. International beauty pageants are a sport in their own right in this country and are highly anticipated events regarded with the utmost passion from Filipino fans, cheering and supporting each Ms. Universe-Philippines candidate both online and offline.

The Ms. Philippines sash is not a stranger to the spotlight. Amidst the win of 2016 Ms. Universe, Pia Wurtzbach, was a full blown controversy after her title was mistakenly awarded to Ms. Colombia. This became a trending topic all over the world, dominated by Filipino netizens who showed their support to the newly crowned Ms. Universe Royalty.

Welcome relief for OFWs coming home for the Holidays

OFWs have long enjoyed travel tax exemption privileges under Section 2 of PD 1183, due to their significant contribution to our national economy. During the previous Holiday season though, and in Holiday Seasons past, those who wished to take advantage of their travel tax exemption had to obtain a certificate from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), for which there was a fee. This Holiday Season will be the first in which OFWs will no longer need to pay for and obtain a separate Travel Tax Exemption Certificate.

When leaving the country for their country of employment after this year’s holiday season. OFWs can be exempted automatically from travel taxes in one of two ways: If they were hired through the POEA, the Overseas Employment Certificate issued by the POEA will serve as the Travel Tax Exemption Certificate. For those hired directly by companies abroad, a Certificate of Employment issued by the Philippine Embassy / Consulate in the place of work or an Employment Contract authenticated by the Philippine Embassy / Consulate.

Don’t be guilty of paper crime! Reduce clutter, protect the environment, save time!

Are you in a habit of keeping those paper utility bills just in case a dispute happens?  Does your drawer contain folders of manuals, receipts, handouts, newsletters, etc. for reference later on? Do you sometimes forget to pay your bills because your monthly statement was late or worse, did not arrive? How many magazines and newspapers are stacked on your desk waiting for you to read them?  Do you constantly print or photocopy materials when you can easily view them from your computer?

            

If you are like a lot of people, chances are you are guilty of paper crime which not only causes clutter in your home or workplace but also inflict damage to the environment.  When mature trees are cut to produce paper, we also take the risk of inhaling unhealthy air or reducing our water supply.  Trees filter out pollution, protect sources of fresh water, and fill the earth with oxygen.  On the other side, when factories process paper, they also produce pollutants.

Vivo V5 Plus with 20MP Dual Camera Officially Launched In The Philippines!

Vivo, one of the fastest rising mobile brand in the world is continuing its winning streak with more innovations in the mobile market. One of the latest is the launch of the "perfect selfie" phone the Vivo V5 Plus.

It is marketed as the perfect selfie phone because it’s equipped with the most advanced selfie technology. The Vivo V5 Plus is the world’s first ever dual front-facing cameras. The front camera boasts a 20-megapixel IMX376 and co-engineered with Sony. The secondary camera is an 8-megapixel camera and designed to collect dept-of-field information for improved self-portrait quality. While the rear camera, the V% Plus featrures 1/2.8-inch 16-megapixel sensor for your high-quality photo needs.

Vivo’s selfie has an advanced selfie technology that features a “bokeh” effect. Complimented with Vivo’s enhanced face beauty algorithm. With Vivo V5 Plus’ camera, there is no need to edit your selfie. Just snap and upload. All photos taken by Vivo V5 Plus is truly selfie-worthy.

Meet the Last Survivors in "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter"

In Columbia Pictures' Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Alice (Milla Jovovich) returns to the iconic origins of the T-virus in Raccoon City where she will attempt to stop the infection once and for all. After a crushing defeat in Washington D.C. and the demise of her personal army in Resident Evil: Retribution, she is given one last chance to save humanity from the final step in the Umbrella Corporation’s plan.

Once in Raccoon City, Alice makes contact with a new group of survivors – one of the last holdouts against the zombie apocalypse. Among these new survivors are:

Jay-R's Elevated Album Turns Gold

King of RnB Jay-R chalked up another musical milestone when his Elevated album recently turned gold.

The awarding ceremony, presided over by PARI Chairman Atty. Marivic Benedicto and Homeworkz Ad Prom Officer Perry McDonald, was held at ABS-CBN’s Sunday noontime show A.S.A.P. yesterday, January 22.

The album, released October 2014, sold more than 7,500 units, based on both digital and physical sales, based on data compiled by PARI and the Optical Media Board.

Create your Globe Coldplay story on April 4, 2017

Get an exclusive chance to win tickets and watch Coldplay live in Manila

The Coldplay fandom in Manila is undeniably huge. Tickets to their April 4, 2017 concert at the MOA Concert Grounds, presented by Globe were sold out in a day, but Globe will give all its customers another chance to watch the most-coveted concert of 2017. By registering to any GoSurf promo or subscribing to any Broadband plan, customers can earn raffle entries to win tickets to Coldplay’s “A Head Full of Dreams Tour in Manila”.  For Globe Broadband customers, every P5 spent on their bill is equivalent to one raffle entry. Forty tickets are up for grabs as 20 lucky customers will win 2 tickets each.

Ayala SureSeats partners with Globe Digital Ventures

Customers can soon enjoy an enhanced cinema experience with the SureSeats website powered by Globe Digital Ventures.

Constant moviegoers now have a more convenient way of planning their movie dates and buying their tickets online as SureSeats seals its recent partnership with Globe Digital Ventures at Raffles Hotel, Makati.

Reinforcing the telco’s ties with its Ayala Corporation family, Globe Digital Ventures signed a contract with Ayala’s Sureseats for Globe Digital Ventures’ acquisition and management of its movie schedule and ticketing website, SureSeats.com. This latest partnership allows patrons to experience a faster and hassle-free process of purchasing movie tickets to Ayala Malls Cinemas with the technology that also powers GMovies.

SM North EDSA Opens Up Chinese New Year With Chan Lim Exhibit!

The Lunar New Year is upon us this 2017 with the year of the Fire Rooster and it is also a great time to look into Chinese culture and the colorful traditions that are celebrated and passed on to many generations. One of these is visual art through Chinese painting. 

The name that comes in mind with this art here in the Philippines is the Chan Lin Family which have gone a long way with their art and even opening their school to students who are interested in the art which has its own techniques and charm to its audience. With the patriarch, Jose Chan Lim celebrating his 80th year, it marks a milestone not only for the family but also for the larger family of artist.

Celine Dion to Perform Original Song "How Does a Moment Last Forever" for Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" JG Jay Gonzales Reply|

New Soundtrack Art Now Available for download: https://www.relayit.net/pickup.php?c=s4wtnfD3mfnrxsDtBM7HFvm5qdR4KR9HtFjw

Five-time GRAMMY® winning and best-selling recording artist Celine Dion will perform an all-new original song, “How Does A Moment Last Forever,” for Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast.” The song will also be included on the film’s soundtrack.

Written by eight-time Oscar®-winning composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin”) and veteran lyricist and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (“The Lion King,” “Evita”), “How Does A Moment Last Forever” is an emotional ballad about holding onto life’s precious moments. Portions of the song are performed throughout the film and interpolated into the underscore before Dion’s full-length version debuts in the film’s custom main-on-end title design.

Teresa Palmer -- A Loving, Nurturing Force in "Hacksaw Ridge"

Teresa Palmer is becoming one of the most globally recognized actresses, bringing her talents to the US and worldwide from Adelaide, Australia. She has starred in many major films including box office hits Lights Out and Warm Bodies.

Now she stars as the wife of a pacifist soldier in Golden Globe Best Picture nominee Hacksaw Ridge, the extraordinary true story of Desmond Doss who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, saved 75 men without firing or carrying a gun.

KFC Adds Hope To Over 60,000 School Kids In War-Torn Mindanao

Continuing its global commitment to ending hunger, KFC Philippines through its Add Hope initiative donated PHP6, 798,811.61 to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The money raised will fund WFP’s School Meals Program, which provides hot, nutritious lunch meals to thousands of children from conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, enabling them to perform better in school.

Every child deserves a chance for a better tomorrow. Don’t let hunger stop them from making their dreams come true. Take part in adding hope to their future with your PHP10.

Visit any KFC store to drop your donations. For more information, visit www.AddHope.com.ph

About Add Hope

Add Hope is KFC’s global platform for ending hunger, done in collaboration with WFP. KFC’s commitment to the cause began in 2007 after Yum! and its subsidiaries established a partnership with WFP through World Hunger Relief. The participation of nearly 38,000 Yum! restaurants across 120 countries have raised over USD110 million, out of which USD28 million is from KFC alone.

Laba porridge: Count-down to Spring Festival

Last Jan 5, 2017, people received free "Laba" porridge at many temples like Yonghegong Lama Temple in Beijing.

Otherwise, people could also enjoy the porridge at those time-honored restaurants like Huguosi Snacks, Tongheju Restaurant, Quyuan Restaurant and Makai Restaurant.

It is a way of celebrating the Laba Festival, or Laba Rice Porridge Festival, one of the traditional Chinese festivals on the eighth day of the 12th month of lunar calendar.

"Fifty Shades Darker" Comes Out with Character Banners

One of the big screen's most tempestous couples – Anastasia and Christian – are featured in separate character banners for Universal Pictures hotly anticipated romantic thriller Fifty Shades Darker. Hers has the tagline, “No more rules.” His says “No more secrets.”

Check out the banners below and watch Fifty Shades Darker in Philippine cinemas starting February 08, 2017.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades Darker, the second chapter based on the worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades phenomenon. Expanding upon events set in motion in 2015’s blockbuster film that grossed more than $560 million globally, the new installment arrives for Valentine’s Day and invites you to slip into something a shade darker.

When a wounded Christian Grey tries to entice a cautious Ana Steele back into his life, she demands a new arrangement before she will give him another chance. As the two begin to build trust and find stability, shadowy figures from Christian’s past start to circle the couple, determined to destroy their hopes for a future together.

GMA Network rewards its viewers with superior and world-class 2017 program launches

GMA Network soars even higher this 2017 as it delivers a new roster of trendsetting and pioneering programs that will surely excite and captivate the hearts of Kapuso viewers.

Produced by the GMA Drama Group, these shows are top billed by only the brightest, hottest and up-and-coming Kapuso actors and actresses in Philippine show business. 

First on the list is the original primetime soap Meant To Be. This romantic-comedy series revolves around Billie, portrayed by Barbie Forteza, a struggling millennial who meets four guys with different nationalities: Ken Chan as the Chinese-Pinoy Yuan, Jak Roberto as the Pinoy Macoy, Ivan Dorschner as the Fil-British Ethan, Addy Raj as the Indian Jai. All four boys will fall in love with Billie. Joining them in Meant To Be are Manilyn Reynes, Sheryl Cruz, Tina Paner, Keempee de Leon, Sef Cadayona, Mika dela Cruz, Stephanie Sol, Zymic Jaranilla, and Ms. Gloria Romero.  Under the helm of LA Madridejos with Renei Dimla as head writer and Hazel Abonita as Program Manager, Meant To Be premiered last January 9. The primetime series is also a clear winner in nationwide ratings after consistently beating its competition during its pilot week.  

Global Filipino Schools enhance eLearning with 220 tablet donation from Cloudfone

Select public schools under the Global Filipino School (GFS) program of Globe Telecom can now further enhance digital learning and promote love of reading among K-12 students through the help of 220 tablets donated by Cloudfone, one of the leading providers of smartphones and tablets in the country.

Globe and Cloudfone launched the partnership by holding a different kind of reading session at the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School in Mandaluyong City where 40 grades 5 and 6 students enjoyed stories told by Globe employee volunteers using the tablets.        

Not Over Till Lightning Strikes in New "Cars 3" Trailer

Disney-Pixar's eagerly anticipated sequel Cars 3 has released a new, gritty trailer that further revealed dramatic plot points our hero, Lightning McQueen, may have to confront.

Check out the trailer at http://youtu.be/U1eQYk74R1g and watch Cars 3 when it opens in the Philippines on August 23, 2017.

Buddy Comedy "CHiPs" First Trailer Hits the Road

Dax Shepard (TV’s Parenthood) and Michael Peña (The Martian, Ant-Man) star in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action comedy CHiPs. Shepard also directs from a script he penned based on the characters from the popular ‘70s television series created by Rick Rosner.

Watch the film's first trailer at https://youtu.be/oshELKf16wo that's just been released by Warner Bros.

Jon Baker (Shepard) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Peña) have just joined the California Highway Patrol (CHP) in Los Angeles but for very different reasons. Baker is a beaten up pro motorbiker trying to put his life and marriage back together. Poncherello is a cocky undercover Federal agent investigating a multi-million dollar heist that may be an inside job—inside the CHP.

The inexperienced rookie and hardened pro are teamed together, but clash more than click, so kickstarting a partnership is easier said than done. But with Baker’s bike skills combined with Ponch’s street savvy it might just work…if they don’t drive each other crazy along the way.

Also starring are Rosa Salazar (Insurgent), Adam Brody (Think Like a Man Too), Kristen Bell (Frozen), and Vincent D’Onofrio (Jurassic World).

Opening across the Philippines on Thursday, March 23, “CHiPs” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.

Senator Manny Pacquiao Impresses Caymanians in First Visit to the Cayman Islands

Senator Manny Pacquiao flew to the Cayman Islands last January 6 to host the Island Rumble Boxing Challenge on January 7 at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in capital city George Town.

Senator Pacquiao was invited by Island Rumble organizers Cayman Mardi Gras, in partnership with the Cayman Islands Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Tourism.

In this whirlwind tour of Cayman Islands, he met dignitaries, mingled with fans, and was the VIP at the island’s boxing event.

2nd #GlobeColdplay Sessions Happening Soon!

The 2nd #GlobeColdplay Sessions will give everyone a sky full of stars, with rockin' performances of the epic duo-- Leanne and Naara, along with the legendary combo of Bullet Dumas, Johnoy Danao and Ebe Dancel. They are set to serenade everyone with Coldplay favorites such as Fix You, A Sky Full of Stars, Up&Up and Magic. It will happen on January 20, 2017 at the Bonifacio High Street Activity Center. This event is free for all, and Globe customers can get a chance to win concert tickets and exclusive Coldplay freebies if they complete all the activities in the Globe booth.

Travel Tax payment now easy and hassle free

Standing in line is something that nobody likes. This is why TIEZA, the government arm tasked with the collection and allocation of Travel Taxes; that formerly had to be settled either at a TIEZA office or at a dedicated queue at the airport, has now rolled out the Travel Tax Online Payment System. No more falling in line at the airport just to pay your travel taxes, now it can be done via this simple procedure: Go to the TIEZA website at http://tieza.gov.ph/ (or: http://www.phtraveltax.com/cgi-bin/tieza.cgi) , from there you can open an account via a short registration procedure. The default home screen is the Travel Tax Online Payment System, to begin the process, simply click “click here”. The TIEZA home screen is not static, and the main image changes, should the main image cycle to different image, you won’t need to wait for it to cycle back, just click the “Travel Tax” tab, and select “Pay Travel Tax” in the dropdown, this should bring you to the login screen. First timers should click on “Don’t have an account? Click here”, this will bring up the registration screen. The registration screen will ask for very basic information, including your email address. Be sure to fill in an address you have access to at the moment you register, as you will need to confirm your registration via email. Finally, you will get a pop-up summary of the information you provided, and be asked to click “OK” to confirm.

"Arrival" Gets Nine British Academy Award Nominations

Columbia Pictures' provocative science-fiction thriller Arrival continues its illustrious awards season run as the Denis Villeneuve film has just scored nine British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

It also landed Best Adapted Screenplay nod for screenwriter Eric Heisserer and Best Actress for lead star Amy Adams.

Rounding out the categories Arrival got nominated for are Music, Cinematography, Editing, Sound and Special Visual Effects. The winners will be known on February 12, 2017.

Disney to Offer Seven Event Films in 2017

After a record-breaking $7-billion haul the global box-office for 2016, Disney proudly announce its formidable slate for 2017: seven titles that have the potential to make it another landmark year for the studio. A live-action fairytale, two Pixar adventures, two Marvel superhero films, a highly awaited Pirates sequel and the eighth episode of the Star Wars saga. Everyone's invited to be Disney's guest, indeed.

Beauty and the Beast. The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic Beauty and the Beast, a stunning, cinematic event celebrating one of the most beloved tales ever told. Beauty and the Beast is the fantastic journey of Belle (Emma Watson), a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast (Dan Stevens) in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within. (Opens March 15).

The Critics Agree: "Split" Brings Shyamalan Back to Fine Form

With a 78 percent Fresh rating at reviews-aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Universal Pictures' new suspense thriller Split starring James McAvoy has undeniably marked the official comeback story of filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan.

As critic John DeFore writes in The Hollywood Reporter, “genre fans should embrace what is arguably the director's most satisfying picture since The Sixth Sense. In some quarters, it will generate talk of a comeback for a filmmaker who has suffered both critical drubbing and box-office humiliation over the past decade.”

Peter Debruge agrees in his review in Variety. He shares, Spit is “A welcome return to form from Shyamalan whose unhinged new mind-bender is a worthy extension of his early work.

University of the Visayas wins SBP-Passerelle Sportsmanship Award.

The University of the Visayas (UV) got to take home the much-coveted Sportsmanship award in the SBP division of the prestigious SBP-Passerelle Twin Tournament. This award is based not only on the fair play shown by the players, but also among the coaches, school officials and parents, and aims to develop values, discipline, team work and sportsmanship among all participants. 

The SBP-Passerelle Twin Tournament is organized by the multi-awarded school for basketball and volleyball, BEST Center, sponsored by Milo, and supported by Chris Sports and Rain or Shine. Now on its 31st year, SBP-Passarelle is the longest running and most prestigious annual interschool basketball competition for children where students ages 9-11 compete in the SBP division, while students ages 12-14 compete in the Passarelle division. For more information about BEST Center’s classes and tournaments, email bestcentersports@gmail.com or follow its official Facebook page BEST Center Sports Inc.

"xXx: Return of Xander Cage" Launches Main One-sheet Art

Paramount Pictures has just launched the new posters of xXx: Return of Xander Cage starring Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson and Donnie Yen.

Check out the main one-sheets below and watch the film in Philippine cinemas starting January 18, 2017.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage, the third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang (Rogue One's Donnie Yen) and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments.

Ben Affleck, a Gangster with a Conscience in "Live by Night"

Two-time Academy Award-winner Ben Affleck – most recently seen in the critically praised The Accountant and in early 2016 playing crime fighting icon Batman/Bruce Wayne in the global blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – now directs and stars in Warner Bros. Pictures' new gangster film Live by Night.

Affleck plays Joe Coughlin who went overseas to fight valiantly for his country, but quickly found himself utterly disillusioned by the war. He ultimately finds himself back home in, as he tells us, a life he didn’t expect…paying the price for the American dream.

“Joe fully acknowledges that he’s chosen to be an outlaw in a town run by gangsters, with the Irish and Italian mobs at war,” offers Affleck. “What I find most intriguing about him though is that, while he breaks the law and makes his own rules, it’s his own morality that prevents him from considering himself one of them, a gangster.”

"Game of Thrones" Star Pedro Pascal is Bound to "The Great Wall"

Chilean-American actor Pedro Pascal (Netflix’s Narcos, HBO’s Game of Thrones) stars in Universal Pictures' new fantasy adventure The Great Wall as Pero Tovar, a tough, sword-wielding Spaniard who has become a brother-in-arms to Matt Damon's William Garin.

Directed by Zhang Yimou, the epic film tells the story of Garin, a battle-scarred mercenary in China and master archer taken captive by a secret army of elite warriors known as The Nameless Order. In a vast military outpost called the Fortress City, they fight to protect humanity from supernatural forces upon one of the greatest defensive structures ever built: The Great Wall.

Vivo Launches Stephen Curry-endorsed 20MP dual front camera V5 Plus

Basketball superstar Stephen Curry is the face of
Vivo’s newest flagship model, the Vivo V5 Plus.

With the ‘selfie’ phenomenon at its peak and its popularity growing unabated, smartphone manufacturers have been producing phones with camera-focused features that can create the selfie worthy of being called ‘perfect’.

In fact, Vivo, one of the top five premium global brands according to data from the International Data Corporation1 is set to launch a smartphone equipped with the most advanced selfie technology to date: the Vivo V5 Plus, to be officially unveiled in a consumer and media launch on January 21, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium.

The Vivo V5 Plus is endorsed by basketball superstar Stephen Curry, who earlier said that he shares the same core values with the brand: energy, professionalism, and pleasure.

James McAvoy Amazes as Man with Multiple Personalities in "Split"

Golden Globe Award-nominated actor James McAvoy won over global audiences with his critically acclaimed performances in Atonement, Wanted, X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Now, he stars in Universal Pictures' new suspense thriller Split, an original film that delves into the mysterious recesses of one man’s fractured, gifted mind.

McAvoy stars as Kevin who has evidenced 23 personalities—each with unique physical attributes—to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), but there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others. Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey (Taylor-Joy), Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him—as well as everyone around him—as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.

Gear Up for the Teaser Poster of "Monster Trucks"

Paramount Pictures has revealed the teaser poster for its new comedy adventure Monster Trucks from Ice Age director Chris Wedge and starring Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Apocalypse), and Jane Levy (Don't Breathe).

Take a look at the teaser one-sheet below and watch the film when it opens in Philippine cinemas on February 01, 2017.

Looking for any way to get away from the life and town he was born into, Tripp (Till), a high school senior, builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars. After an accident at a nearby oil-drilling site displaces a strange and subterranean creature with a taste and a talent for speed, Tripp may have just found the key to getting out of town and a most unlikely friend.

Melding cutting edge visual effects and state-of-the-art CGI, Monster Trucks is an action filled adventure for the whole family that will keep you on the edge of your seat and ultimately touch your heart.

Ariana Grande, John Legend to Perform "Beauty and the Beast" Theme Song

GRAMMY nominated and multi-platinum selling artist Ariana Grande and 10-time GRAMMY, Oscar®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/ musician John Legend are set to perform the Oscar and GRAMMY-winning duet “Beauty and the Beast” as the title track for Disney’s upcoming soundtrack to the live-action film adaptation “Beauty and the Beast.” The song will also be featured in the film.

The enchanting ballad, originally performed by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson featuring eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken’s beautiful melody and two-time Oscar-winner Howard Ashman’s unforgettable lyrics, received an Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and GRAMMY Award, among other accolades, upon its release in 1991.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter" Caps Biggest Game-Based Film Franchise

Writer, director, producer and franchise veteran Paul W.S. Anderson returns to helm Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, the sixth and final installment in the most successful video game film franchise ever.

The improbable beginning of Paul W.S. Anderson’s fantastically successful, franchised motion picture adaptation of the Resident Evil video game reads like a Hollywood ending. Producer, Jeremy Bolt, who has worked with Anderson for 25 years and including all the Resident Evil editions, recalls, “Back in 2002 we had just made a movie for Warner Bros. called Soldiers, which did not perform as well as we’d hoped. So I went back to England and made a couple of small films, and Paul holed up in his house in Venice Beach where he played video games for 6 months. Out of the blue he called to say ‘I’ve been playing the game Resident Evil and we have got to get the film rights.”

Famed Asian Director Zhang Yimou Takes You to "The Great Wall"

One of the most breathtaking visual stylists of our time, Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers) directs the Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures' action-fantasy The Great Wall, marking his first English-language production and the largest film ever shot entirely in China.

In the film, when a mercenary warrior (Matt Damon) is imprisoned within The Great Wall, he discovers the mystery behind one of the greatest wonders of our world. As wave after wave of marauding beasts, intent on devouring the world, besiege the massive structure, his quest for fortune turns into a journey toward heroism as he joins a huge army of elite warriors to confront this unimaginable and seemingly unstoppable force.

The Critics Agree: "Split" Brings Shyamalan Back to Fine Form

To play the extraordinarily intelligent Casey—a survivor with a dark past of her own—filmmakers of Universal Pictures' new suspense thriller Split turned to Anya Taylor-Joy, one of Hollywood’s up-and-coming stars. 

Audiences first learned of Taylor-Joy’s extraordinary talents following her breakout role in the 2015 horror film The Witch. Director M. Night Shyamalan says of her performance, “She had this amazing rawness. I felt very lucky she said yes to Split.”

How Much Do You Know About Hollywood’s Grandest Trophies?

Fun facts about the awards season’s most prestigious icons

The awards season will soon be in full throttle and it won’t be long before the red carpet rolls out for the luminaries of Hollywood’s music, film, and television scenes. There are a lot of things we watch out for as the countdown begins to some of Hollywood’s brightest nights: the Golden Globe Awards, People’s Choice Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards ceremonies.

While we wait to have a glimpse of the best celebrity outfits, the most gorgeous celebrity couples, and   the most stirring acceptance speeches, it is the fervent hope of the night’s nominees to bring home symbols of dramatic milestones for their careers. 

While the guesses keep coming in as to who will emerge most triumphant this awards season, we take a look at the precious mementoes that the nights’ nominees hope to win.

Owen Wilson, Armie Hammer Buckle Up For "CARS 3"

Disney•Pixar’s “Cars 3” filmmakers revealed key cast members and new characters in the upcoming faster-than-fast film. Joining Owen Wilson in the all-new story that tests the heart of a champion in a high-tech world are Cristela Alonzo and Armie Hammer as unconventional trainer Cruz Ramirez and next-gen racer Jackson Storm, respectively.

“Cristela is full of optimism and a positive energy that I think really comes through in Cruz’s personality,” said “Cars 3” director Brian Fee. “And of course, she’s a hilarious comedian, so that doesn’t hurt either.”

Duterte is “strong & fiery leader”, Feng Shui expert Marites Allen said at Pandesal Forum of Kamuning Bakery Cafe

President Rody Duterte is a strong and fiery leader due to his fire sign, that the good fortune of a leader benefits the whole nation and that a leader should be given support by the people, feng shui expert Marites Allen said at the Pandesal Forum of 78-year-old, artisanal Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City. She advised President Duterte to be extra careful and rest more in the month of March this new year,m because this is the bad month for people like him born in the year of the rooster.

Marites Allen urged people to not only adopt new year’s resolutions for the Chinese Lunar New Year starting on January 28, but to try to forsake things such as giving up old habits and even old things in one’s wardrobe or homes. She said the Lunar New Year is celebrated by many Asians worldwide as an annual period for renewal, for new plans, new positive attitude. She reminded people that the ancient Chinese tradition of spring cleaning should be done days before New Year’s Day or only up to January 27 new year’s eve, but that there shouldn’t be any cleaning done on the very first day of the new year.