VISITA INGLESIA DIARIES: The Journey Starts

This year I have gone on another Visita Iglesia tour on my own and this time I actually started at 4PM. Now the journey begins.

Visita Iglesia Diaries

As we are in the Holy Week, malls are closed, a very long weekend and also a tricky weather I would pressume but this is also an opportunity for us to reflect, rest and also to temporarily  disconnect from our hectic lives. After Misa de Gallo Diaries, and Traslacion 2012, here I go again with my personal devotion and shared here in the blog. Today I start my Visita Iglesia Diaries. 

The journey starts today, I hope I would be able to share things and places of worship that others can also find inspiration in which I also did. So stay tuned and I hope to also bump into several friends along the way. For now, here are the videos I made last year for the Visita Iglesia back in 2011.

May you have a meaningful and blessed holy week!

REEL DEAL: Foreign media talk about GMA Films’ “The Road”

Nothing stands in the way of GMA Film's horror movie The Road as it paves the way for Filipino stars to walk the red carpets of Hollywood. This May, the Yam Laranas thriller will make a debut in cinemas across theUnited States after GMA Films reached a commercial distribution agreement with international film distribution outfit Freestyle Releasing. 

Nothing stands in the way of GMA Film's horror movie The Road as it paves the way for Filipino stars to walk the red carpets of Hollywood. This May, the Yam Laranas thriller will make a debut in cinemas across theUnited States after GMA Films reached a commercial distribution agreement with international film distribution outfit Freestyle Releasing. 

The US screening of The Road is also already making waves among the foreign media. The Hollywood Reporter, Fangoria.com, AllHorror.net, Bloody-Disgusting.com, FlickDaily.com, Variety.com and other print and online media outfits report that The Road will also be released in digital platforms on the same day of its theatrical debut. 

Meanwhile, HollywoodWireTap.com, reported that The Road is the first all-Filipino film to be released commercially in the mainstream market in the US, adding the movie is described by the international horror press as "one of the best horror films of the year."

HOLY WEEK Schedules at TV Maria

Today is Mandy Thursday and TV Maria has prepared programming that will be your companion this Holy Week. Watch the live streaming of the Mass of the Last Supper later today at 5:00 p.m. a www.tvmaria.net. 

REEL DEAL: TITANIC 3D REVIEW

I can't deny that I have seen this movie numerous times, and so did we. And the loved love story in the ill fated steam ship has captivated the world and will now be relived in the re release of TITANIC in 3D. This brings the unlikely worlds of Jack and Rose. They will come across a lot of obstacles in their love affair as they will also fight to stay alive from the tragedy that looms with the ship thought to be unsinkable.


TITANIC 3D is also in line with its 100th anniversary of its maiden voyage on April 10th and its sinking on April 15th. I remember when this movie was released I was still in elementary but there is permanence that keeps one to watch it over and over again. As the luxury ship has been celebrated as one of the biggest moving object in the world at that time, the story was also the most successful movie of the 20th century grossing  $1.3 Billion Dollars. 

GMA Rolls Out Special Holy Week Programming Schedule

GMA Network presents a special Lenten programming schedule on Maundy Thursday (April 5), Good Friday (April 6) and Black Saturday (April 7).

Maundy Thursday opens with the strip of kids cartoon treats including the all-time favorite “Tom and Jerry” at 8am; followed by “Jackie Chan Adventures” at 8:30am;“Mojacko” at 9am; “Slamdunk” at 9:30am; and “One Piece” at 10am. 

The Kapuso Network will treat its loyal viewers with a slate of blockbuster Filipino movies beginning with “One True Love,” starring the phenomenal love team of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera at 1030am, followed by the 2004 Nora Aunor starrer “Naglalayag” at 1230pm and Cesar Montano’s critically-acclaimed film “Muro Ami” at 230pm. This will be followed by the fourth installment of CBN Asia’s telemovie “Tanikala” at 5pm and “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” at 6pm. The romantic flick of Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin in “The Promise” follows at 7pm.

At 9 pm, be part of a one-of-a-kind treasure hunting experience and uncover stories of old with the country’s finest broadcast journalists on “Philippine Treasures.” Afterwards, witness how some students from far-flung areas of the country make do just to get an education in 
Reporter’s Notebook at 11pm. Cap the night off with Peabody award-winning journalist Kara David at 11:30pm as she takes a trip back to the town ofParacale in “I-Witnesses’ Gintong Putik.”

MUSIC LYF: LMFAO Releases “Sorry For Party Rickong” CD+DVD Tour Edition

LMFAO, together with the Party Rock Crew, are ready to take their party rock anthems on the road as they conquer Manila this April 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.  But before all that happens, the group comes out with a special tour edition of their album “Sorry For Party Rocking” this month.

The album, which has reached Platinum in the Philippines, has produced two #1 singles, “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It,” while the third single “Sorry For Party Rocking” is climbing the Top 40 radio charts. The Tour Edition features a DVD of music videos of the said hit singles plus “Champagne Showers,” “I’m In Miami Trick” and “Shots”.

“Sorry for party rocking is a party person’s excuse for having fun,” explains Redfoo, LMFAO’s member known for his gravity-defying afro. “It’s the excuse you give when someone complains,” he continues. “Let’s say your parents say ‘stop shuffling upstairs you’re waking me up!’ You can now just say ‘Sorry for party rocking, Mom…sorry for having fun.’”

World-class acts discovered at Kanta Pilipinas SM North EDSA Auditions

The biggest and newest singing reality show of TV5, Kanta Pilipinas held auditions at SM North EDSA last March 30. Over 1500 registrants lined up to get a chance to be part of the most anticipated show featuring the theme song sung by the country's world-renowned Ms. Lea Salonga. 

The competition heats up with more head-turning voices and stories at SM North EDSA with hopefuls coming from Zamboanga, Mindoro, Tagaytay, Pampanga, Isabela Province and Marinduque. Pre-screening held at the parking lot trimmed the list to over 350 hopefuls to control the mob wanting to get in and perform on stage. Escalating more gossips and more people talking about the show, the on-lookers and mall-goers caused major traffic as hopefuls get their shot being judged by Inspirational Diva Judge Ms. Jamie Rivera, legendary music icon composer and arranger Mr. Vehnee Saturno and renowned talent manager Ms. Maristel Sempedro. 

Some who were champions in other networks and talent shows also joined in the experience and heard "Dito ka na Kapatid! Ang galing mo!" from the judges while the others were short of preparation and practice. An Eric Benet, an Alicia Keys and more remarkable talents rendered their best act and got loud applause from the audience but not all the contestants got in the final list. A Fil-am born with one ear sang to his hearts content and impressed the judges' on his struggle to adjust in the Philippine culture. Some trio and duo also performed with complete costumes to wow the judges but not all the groups received the approval for the final list. 

MUSIC LYF: 1:43 and Myrus Concert

Pop heartthrobs 1:43, Myrus to hold concert on April 25 in Metro Bar

THE sentimental prince of Philippine music Myrus and foremost Filipino boy band 1:43 promise to set hearts swooning with romantic Original Pilipino Music (OPM) in a back-to-back concert titled “Pop Heartthrobs” on April 25, 7PM at the Metro Bar in West Avenue, Quezon City. 

Presented by CASA Quick and Easy Cellophane, “Pop Heartthrobs” also serves as the launch of the second album of Myrus and a preview to 1:43’s latest single. The young balladeer and the boy band last year collaborated on the song “Pag-ibig Na Kaya?” (PiNK), the carrier single of 1:43’s debut album titled “Time for Love.”   

Gold Record singer-composer Myrus will perform his monster radio and YouTube hit “Pusong Lito” and a few original tracks from his upcoming album. “Pusong Lito” is gaining a great deal of following online; it also became No. 1 in many radio stations in Greater Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Lucena, Cagayan de Oro, and Cotabato. The song’s rise to popularity was aided by its initial release in over 420 Mang Inasal stores, as part of the Mang Inasal Mang Aawit Music Advocacy Campaign.

MUSIC LYF: Jay Park - New Breed and Manila Tour

Making yet another transformation, K-Pop star Jay Park’s “New Breed” is ready to shake up the music industry.

Working with top U.S. producer Rob Knox, rap group Dynamic Duo and other top artists to bring you the freshest sounds in R&B and Electronic hip-hop, Jay Park opens up his world like you’ve never seen before.

Jay Park comes back onto the music scene after taking a year off.

With last year’s mini-album “Take A Deeper Look” Jay Park brushed off his ‘idol image’ and stepped up as a solo singer.  This time around with his first full-length album “New Breed”, he matures even more into an all-around musician.  

As with his last mini-album, Jay Park again holds the reins as album producer.  Writing over 80% of the songs, he cements his status as a world-class singer-songwriter.