Sunshine, Raymond and Enzo Makes Bold Cinemalaya Statement With "Malamaya"

As one of the competing films for the 2019 Cinemalaya, the film Malamaya (The Color of Ash) wants to make a statement with the directors, story and their cast. Making her debut with the film festival is Sunshine Cruz and Enzo Pineda and also joined by Raymond Bagatsing. Directing this are two impressive women  Danica Sta. Lucia and Leilani Chavez. 

Danica is a producer and video editor while Leilani, a soap opera writer and journalist. The film is first time in making their full-length film. They point out that Malamaya is a Tagalog term for the color of ash or gray, which is quite a contrast to the colorful world of art showed by the three main characters.

Quezon's Game - A Time Of Rescues and Restrictions

With most of the entertainment choices either tell about the present or the future, it is refreshing to see another historical movie that will open our eyes about those era, the flaws and achievements they contributed for what we enjoy today. Not to be confused with the Artikulo Uno trilogy with Goyo as its latest release, Quezon's Game is a historical telling of the life of President Manuel L Quezon in the prelude of the Second World War as he attempts to save thousands of Jews from annihilation.

Playing Quezon is Raymond Bagatsing who is a very versatile and impressive actor in movies and television. His physical features are strikingly similar to the real Quezon and enhanced by make up. But his performance playing the sickly president of the Philippine Commonwealth was moving. Playing Donya Aurora Quezon is Rachel Alejandro who also gave a calm yet convincing performance giving balance to the tense situation of the cause to save the Jews.

Despite we already know what will happen in the end, execution and performance would still make it a great movie, which it did and even left me teary-eyed. It made use of a lot of elements that brings the era alive like the social gatherings, the furnishing, and even used the famous Las Casas De Acuzar 

Mystery surrounds main casts JM De Guzman and Barbie Imperial as “Precious Hearts Romances” reopens with the series “Araw Gabi”

Award-winning Filipino actor JM de Guzman  is making a comeback opposite the newest ABS-CBN leading lady, Barbie Imperial, in the reopening of the widely followed Philippine series “Precious Hearts Romances” via “Araw Gabi”, airing outside the Philippines via The Filipino Channel (TFC), with a pilot episode streaming via TFC online (www.TFC.tv) simulcast its local airing on April 30 in most countries worldwide.

After nine years, follow the well-loved Filipino romance novel series as it unveils yet another compelling story full of love, mystery, and suspense.

Get to meet Michelle (Imperial), a girl with a bright and sunny disposition. Despite the hardships in life, she manages to get by because her Mamay (Candy Pangilinan) and Papay (Dennis Padilla) taught her to always see the good in every situation. She has her eyes set on bagging one Tranquila Resort account because it will be a big boost for her career.

REEL DEAL Cinemalaya Specials: The Janitor

Chick flicks everywhere for local cinema, I guess people would eventually crave for a different genre for Pinoy movies. Next to love stories, action is a favorite of Pinoy movie goers, but they are rarely seen on mainstream cinema, and finding a good one is more rarer. The Cinemalaya Film Festival will happen on August, and one of the entries for the Director's Showcase is Mike Tuivera's THE JANITOR.

Starring Dennis Trillo, The Janitor may be an odd choice for a title of a action film but pose a different and deeper understanding about its meaning. Is he a crusader to clean up the mess of crime? Is he a punisher  who has an alter ego of a maintenance guy out to seek vengeance?

We talked to Dennis Trillo and Mike Tuviera about the movie and they shared their excitement for the upcoming movie in August. Fresh from "My Husband's Lover" Dennis Trillo became more buffed for the role as it requires a lot of real action and combat. Direk Mike shares that they also made the action scenes they always wanted to do and doing it right. 

REEL DEAL: Mumbai Love Opens This January!

Solenn-Kiko, Perfect Match

by Emy Abuan

Capestone Pictures Inc. has joined forces with Solar Entertainment Corporation in the romantic comedy team-up of sexy and beauteous Solenn Heusaff and talented new actor Kiko Matos.

Mumbai Love is a cross-cultural romantic comedy shot on location in India and the Philippines. The story is centered on the love between Solenn and Kiko from two different worlds who will risk everything even racial differences of age-old traditions because of their love for each other.

Solenn has enjoyed doing the movie Mumbai Love. She has improved her craft, the reason why she has lots of projects both on TV and the movies.Her film titled Status: It’s Complicated is doing well in the box office and her TV series Sa Akin Pa Rinang Bukas is gaining more followers who love drama and suspense.

REEL DEAL: Mumbai Love SPOTLIGHT

MUMBAI LOVE: Will True Love Prevail over Tradition?
by Emy Abuan

It is often said true love, like gold, must pass the “test of fire”.

This story is not just another love story. This is the love story of two people from two different sides of the world, separated by culture and tradition yet strongly bound by pure and true love for each other.

Here is Nandi, a self-made Indian-Filipino, who believes in his heart that somewhere in this world he will find his soulmate through destiny. His parents, however, still cling to the revered Indian tradition of choosing the right partner for their son. Ella, on the other hand, is a young Filipina businesswoman who sources accessories for a jewelry shop in Makati. Her work brings her to Mumbai, India where she didn’t expect to meet the man of her dreams.

Success of One True Love continues As Viewers Get hooked on series

GMA Network’s latest primetime drama, One True Love, instantly captivated the hearts of TV audiences after posting high numbers during its pilot week, according to data from the industry’s widely trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Based on overnight household data recorded in Mega Manila from June 11 to 15, One True Love scored 38.4 share points, ahead of ABS-CBN’s Dahil Sa Pag-ibig’s 35.2 points and TV5’s Runaway’s 10 points. Mega Manila comprises 58 percent of total television households nationwide.