Protege: The Battle for the Big Artista Break - Mentor Spotlight GINA ALAJAR

GMA's artista search Protege: The Battle for the Big Artista Break marks a milestone because after several weeks of scouring the Philippine for potential stars, the five mentors in the search - Roderick Paulate (Mega Manila), Gina Alajar (South Luzon), Jolina Magdangal (Visayas), Ricky Davao (Northern and Central Luzon), and Philip Salvador (Mindanao) - will finaly choose their four (for each mentor) proteges from among those who auditioned in designated auditions locations in the country and from and those who auditioned online via GMANetwork.com/Protege. 

San Marino cited by Reader's Digest Two Years in a Row

San Marino has solidified its reputation as the most trusted corned tuna brand in the Philippine when it bagged he Gold Award in Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Consumer Poll two years in a row (2011 and 2012).

The Gold Award bestowed on San Marino represents a "seal of approval, a vote of trust and confidence from consumers," according to Reader's Digest in one of its issue.

The criteria employed in the poll inculde trustworthiness and credibility, quality, value, understading of customer needs, innovativeness, and social responsiblity.

MUISC LYF: Yonel's Top 30 - July 22

For this week's countdown,  Maroon 5 steals the number one spot with ONE MORE NIGHT . 2nd place still goes to Flo Rida feauturing Jennifer Lopez with SWEET SPOT . The third place is TURN UP THE LOVE  by Far East Movement featuring Cover Drive. See the rest of the countdown after the jump and also like Yonel's Top 30 hits on Facebook!

MUSIC LYF: Gloc 9 - MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata

Gloc-9 releases biggest album MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata

Premiere rapper Gloc-9 is mighty proud of his forthcoming release MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata, his first under Universal Records.

“I have worked very hard for this album,” says Gloc-9. “Before, I would record albums for about two months. For MKNM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata, it took me around six months.”

He adds that he is ultimately satisfied with the album, which includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry – Chito Miranda, Bamboo, Ebe Dancel, Jay Durias, Billy Crawford, Maychelle Baay of Moonstar 88, among others.

ART IS A BANG: Joe A Filipino Rock'sical

I do admire theater companies that create their own original stageplays which truly show talent and originality of Filipinos on stage. And with though many people particularly students would consider Philippine History as a boring subject, it great to see it alive and somehow makes us think about the happenings and even the controversy that made them very interesting.


Philippine Stages Foundation (PSF) staged recently their new offering for the opening of their 11th Season with JOE: A Filipino Rock'sical. Seeing the play itself was an eye opener even for a history enthusiast like me about the other side of Rizal. With the past and present weaved together with each character plays an important role in making a tribute show for the National Hero.

And what I also admire about this play is the original music which amplifies the feel of the play. Though it might overpower the feel of the rock musical, but still blends well just the like past-present plot. It was a very fun play with characters which each audience may find themselves to be part of the play. Highly recommended for students and students-at-heart who loves to know more about Jose or Joe.

Congratulations to the New MYX VJs!

The time has come to reveal the newest VJ in town for the number onw music channel in the Philippines. From hundreds of who auditioned for the spot to be the new face in MYX Music Channel, the people and the management has spoken. And MTL was there to witness the great event.

The event held at Red Box Rock Dine Roll at Eastwood Mall in Eastwood City Libis. Hosted by VJ Iya and VJ Chino which was streamed live at www.myxph.com.ph was a exciting and nerve-wracking event for the twelve finalists. And here are their twitter accounts just in case you want to get in touch with them:

Bee Happy with Happyplus card!

Two proudly Pinoy companies have teamed up to introduce the first cashless payment rewards card in the country.

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), the country's largest restaurant chain, and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), one of the country's leading comercial bank, launched the happyplus card at the recent gathering at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

JFC Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong and BPI President Aurelio Montinola led the ceremonies of introducing the happyplus card to the public.

GMA’s new showbiz-magazine show H.O.T. TV revealed

August 5, GMA Network will air its new showbiz-magazine program H.O.T. TV, which stands for “Hindi Ordinaryong Tsismis TV,” replacing the showbiz-oriented talk show Showbiz Central.

H.O.T. TV will be hosted by Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Protégé mentor and veteran comedian-host Roderick Paulate, and two of the current Showbiz Central hosts Raymond Gutierrez and Jennylyn Mercado.

The new show’s format is different from Showbiz Central’s in that it will feature not only showbiz-related news but also human interest stories and extraordinary feats of ordinary people.

Be Sherlock-ed A Second Season on beTV

Recently honoured by the Guinness World Records as the ‘Most Portrayed Literary Human Character in Film & TV, Sherlock Holmes, the world’s most famous ‘consulting detective’ has been played by more than 75 actors on screen for over 250 times. Yet, a TV adaptation has still emerged to surprise and it is none other than the groundbreaking and ingenious Sherlock.

A British contemporary update to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s adventures of the great sleuth, Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch (War Horse) as Holmes and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit) as his sidekick, Dr. John Watson and cleverly brings the duo from the 19th century to modern day London, with present day technology and forensic science complementing the amazing detective work. And Sherlock is back for a second breathtaking season on beTV!

Why Jolina Magdangal broke into tears on the set of ‘Personalan’

Last Thursday, July 12, despite her leg injury Jolina Magdangal showed up at the studio of the GMA News TV public affairs show Personalan to tape two episodes for the following week.  Jolina hosted the said episodes with a splint on her left leg which was injured three days earlier when she slipped off a stage riser during a technical rehearsal for Party Pilipinas’ July 8 episode. 

Towards the end of the second episode, Jolina was asked by the staff of the show to read a short spiel in honor of the late Comedy King Dolphy.   Although Jolina successfully delivered her spiels without becoming too emotional, when the cameras stopped rolling, her emotions broke loose.