Starworld Boasts Eight Year With American Idol 12

Proving its status as a global leader in entertainment programming, Star World is bringing the US’s top reality entertainment show, American Idol, once again to millions of viewers in Asia and beyond for the eighth year in a row, making the Pay TV channel the true home for idols as well as the show’s legions of devoted fans. Star World is committed to delivering every exciting moment of American Idol Season 12 to scores of viewers in Southeast Asia, India, Taiwan and the Middle East so that they get the latest performances, updates and scoops straight from their homes as soon as they happen.

Huge, fantastic changes are happening to American Idol in its 12th season, the biggest of which is a new roster of celebrity judges of unprecedented international stardom. Joining the powerful music producer Randy Jackson, who presence has fueled the show since its first season, are country music star Keith Urban, also husband to actress Nicole Kidman; the quirky and fun pop superstar Nicki Minaj, whose hits “Super Bass” and “Starships” have inundated global airwaves in recent years; and the eternal diva Mariah Carey, who has been enthralling audiences with her vocal prowess over a musical career that has spanned more than 20 years. Together, these four judges have enough star power and experience in the music industry to select the best American Idol hopefuls to vie for the coveted title as well as give meaningful and insightful comments to help them along their journey. Fans will be happy to know that Emmy-nominated host Ryan Seacrest is returning to the show to guide viewers through another exciting season of amazing musical performances.

Ina Kapatid Anak Book 2 Starts This January

Primetime Bida of ABS-CBN heat up in January with the big reveal in the top rating show INA KAPATID ANAK. With the show doing great in primetime ratings and just a few months in the air showed the public is getting hooked with the story and the characters. And now they will be transitioning into book 2 starting with the 'gabi ng katotohanan' that reveals the identity of Celyn (Kim) as the real daughter of Julio and Beatrice. 

In the press conference of Ina Kapatid Anak for the book 2, they said that it does not mark an end or the decline of the exciting story rather opens a door to more revelations, new characters like Diego, played by Alex Medina. Conflicts grow intense with friends turning into rivals and sisters into enemies vying for Celyn. 

Press launch of GMA's "Forever" available via livestream tonight

GMA Network will be launching "Forever," its latest afternoon drama offering, tonight, January 8, at 7:00pm.  The series stars Heart Evangelista, Geoff Eigenmann and Ms. Gloria Romero. 

Apart from members of the entertainment press, netizens will also be able to witness the said event via live streaming on GMA Network's official web portal, GMANetwork.com.

To watch the livestreaming, visit http://www.gmanetwork.com/livestreaming at 7:00pm tonight. 

MUSIC LYF: MCA Music Welcomes Sitti

The country’s number 1 music company MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) welcomes another top artist to its OPM fold—none other than the Philippines’ Queen of Bossa Nova SITTI.

She joins its roster of best artists which includes bands such as Urbandub, Pupil, Franco, Chicosci, The Oktaves, Tanya Markova and Pedicab and solo acts Nyoy Volante, Sabrina, Solenn Heussaff, Loonie, Barbie Forteza and Ron Henley. Its international acts comprised of U2, Snow Patrol, Keane, Justin Bieber, Lady GaGa, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Lionel Richie, Gotye, Rihanna, Sting, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey and Jessie J among others.

Present during the contract signing was MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines) President Ricky R. Ilacad who incidentally was the one who signed up Sitti during his term as head of another record label. Also present were MCA Music executives Wilson Cruz (Marketing & Sales Director), Kiko Guevarra (A & R Manager) and Mark Bonifacio (OPM Label Marketing Manager).

Bong Revilla opens 2013 with Indio

Fresh from the box-office success of his Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Si Enteng, Si Agimat at Si Ako”, Sen. Bong Revilla Jr. faces 2013 with his biggest project to date with the Kapuso Network.

He leads the much-awaited drama-fantasy series Indio which will premiere on January 14 on the GMA Telebabad block.

According to Senator Bong, he is never satisfied with a mediocre work that is why he exerted extra efforts to make the series outstanding.

As Senator Bong puts it, “Bago ko simulan ang Indio, nag-acting workshop muna ako para maging maganda ang pag-portray ko sa role na Indio. Hanggang ngayon ay patuloy pa naming pinapaganda ang Indio. Dapat nila itong abangan dahil ito ay aming pinaghandaan at pinaghirapan. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa GMA for giving me a very good project to start my 2013.”

REEL DEAL: Jack Reacher REVIEW

Tom Cruise is back this 2013 and even now in his age, undeniably he still provide an adrenaline powered action with the charm of a boy next door, Jack Reacher. I have to say that Tom's agility and physique has better than his movies in the previous years. Going back to action, which is still is best asset, plus the witty and impressive moves that affirms his status as an action star.

Based on the novel "One Shot", the movie goes with on a action and case solving complex in solving a shooting crime that involved random victims. A drifter named Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) gets involved in the crime when he was named by the suspect and goes on something like a detective movie to solve a gruesome murder which also hides many secrets as he digs on the evidences and the people involved.

I have to say that this would be complex action crime movie with Jack Reacher compelled to solve the mystery and also know the real truth. I find this new yet very interesting for Tom Cruise who may not be just associated as a pilot or a spy.

DepEd Advisory for Jan 9 for Manila Schools

Classes in Manila High School, Victoriano Mapa High School, Apolinario Mabini Elementary School, Geronimo Santiago Elementary School, Ramon Avanceña High School, Manila Science High School and Araullo High School in Manila which are on the route of the procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene will be suspended on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 to ensure the safety of students.

Regular classes will resume on Thursday, January 10, 2013.

Calapan City Prosecutor dismisses libel charges against Howie Severino and GMA News Research head

The Office of the City Prosecutor of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, dismissed a complaint for libel filed by Doctor Idol Bondoc of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH) against GMA News Online Editor-in-Chief and GMA News and Public Affairs personality Howie Severino, and GMA News Research Head Florian Balmes for insufficiency of evidence.

Bondoc filed a complaint against Severino, Balmes, and his colleague, Dr. Rosinico Fabor, last September 5, 2011 after Fabor posted allegedly defamatory remarks on the comments section of a GMA News Online website article regarding the Ombudsman’s decision on a previous administrative case involving Bondoc. It was claimed by Bondoc that GMA News Online served as a vehicle for Fabon to destroy his reputation as a medical professional, and that he was not given equal opportunity to air his side of the story.

In the Resolution dated November 13, 2012, Deputy City Prosecutor Gabriel C. Alberto noted that the comments made by the readers of GMA News Online were not edited or subjected to prior approval before posting. Considering that neither Severino nor Balmes had the power to edit or approve comments on the website, and considering further that sufficient guidelines on proper posting of comments were available on the website, it was determined that they should not be held liable for any reactions sent by its readers.

Meanwhile, City Deputy Prosecutor Alberto found probable cause to charge Dr. Fabon with libel and recommended the filing of the corresponding information in court.

GMA Network on The Sarah Lahbati Issue [UPDATED]

UPDATED: seems that the Sarah Lahbati contract issue continues as GMA Network releases a new statement about the issue. Sarah Lahbati today has released her statement from her tweets in twitter and can be seen the compiled version below the GMA Network statement.

Sarah Lahbati clearly violated her contract with GMA Network

Sarah Lahbati’s Artist Management Contract with GMA Network is effective until February 21, 2015.  There is no provision for leave of absence in said contract.  Any leave is subject to prior agreement between the Network and Sarah.  Therefore, Sarah’s unilateral decision to go on leave, despite its earlier disapproval by the Network, is a violation of her contract with the Network.  Further, her declared trip to Switzerland for an indefinite period, without the prior consent and approval of the Network, will be an additional violation of her contract.

Sarah, who is exclusively managed by the Network, earlier signed a co-management contract with Royal Era Entertainment & Artist Management, the talent management company of Annabelle Rama, the mother of Sarah’s current boyfriend, Richard Gutierrez.  Such act violated the terms of her contract with the Network.  The Network would have had no choice but to sue Sarah and Royal Era Entertainment for the said breach if they refused to rescind said co-management contract.

REEL DEAL: Life of Pi REVIEW

It's 2013, and its also a great to see the line up of movies this year which many are also anticipating. And I am very happy to start the year with a movie which goes a notch higher with something really appealing with 20th Century Fox's Life of Pi.

Based on a novel by Yann Martel. Life of Pi takes us on a biographical story of Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel (Suraj Shama), as he goes on an unexpected turn of events with a shipwreck that killed his family and leaves him in a situation of surviving in the wide ocean in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. It becomes a fight for survival and struggle. Directed by Academy Award winner Ang Lee, brings to life the novel and turn it into a stunning visual feast great to see on 3D. With an interesting story and characters that many people can relate, proves to be a powerful and moving movie of the year.

There is also a lot of lessons that can be learned in the film, life lessons. And it also had some spiritual linkages that affirms faith and love of God. It might actually give you similar references with other films due to common scenes like the Sea, India, etc, however maintains the experience of the story and the movie itself by the connections it weaves into a tapestry of life itself.