MUSIC LYF: Yeng Constantino - Metamorphosis (Album)


No doubt that Yeng Constantino has proven than even after winning Pinoy Dream Academy years ago, her career just gets better and better in time. She loves reinventing herself, from her looks to her songs and still keep herself rooted in the ground. In an encounter with the pinoy punk rock princess, we get to know more about the simple girl from Rizal who dreamed and now is living it.

She continues the dream with another interesting new album called METAMORPHOSIS. And Yeng said it has truly undergone change in her life, with her looks, her spirituality, and still finds time with her family and fans. You might see that Yeng is very visible in the cyberworld as she have accounts in facebook, twitter and even back in multiply where she was very active in posting. She mentions that she would do fansigns and even give video messages to fans who bought her album and post a photo on her facebook page. This is something that most artists don't do and she still manages to continue this habit even she has a busy schedule.

GMA 7’s newest Koreanovela "The Greatest Love" premieres on Monday


Fall crazy in love this heart’s month as GMA Network presents its newest Koreanovela, The Greatest Love, beginning February 11 on GMA Telebabad.

The Greatest Love is a romance-comedy series about a former star singer Angel, portrayed by Gong Hyo Jin, who was once the most popular member of the girl band The National Treasures Girls. As the story progresses, she will find herself entangled with two lovable men — top movie star Colin (Cha Seung Won) and doctor of oriental medicine Jordan (Yoon Kye Sang).

Star World showcases Grammys live and other red carpet events this February


Bask in Hollywood glitz and glamour as Star World brings viewers the biggest awards shows and red carpet events this February. Find out which films and which stars will garner the most honors at these prestigious occasions, and marvel at the celebrities as they parade up the red carpet and set the fashion world abuzz in their stunning designer suits and gowns.

Star World is proud to be broadcasting The 55th Grammy Awards LIVE this Monday, February 11 at 9 AM to give you a sumptuous breakfast of amazing musical performances and the who’s who of the global music industry waiting to be honored for their contributions to music. The Grammy Awards have been celebrating for more than fifty years the music and artists who have touched the hearts and souls of people around the world, and this year’s event, to be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, promises to be the biggest effort to carry on this noble tradition. A total of 81 awards will be given away this year, including three new categories: Best Classical Compendium, Best Latin Jazz Album, and Best Urban Contemporary Album. An astounding roster of artists are set to perform onstage for Music’s Biggest Night, including the usual suspects Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake as well as legends like Sting and Elton John. The Grammys will also pay tribute to the late Levon Helm of The Band with Zac Brown, T Bone Burnett (as musical director), Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard, Elton John, Mumford & Sons, and Mavis Staples. Meanwhile, Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea and Kenny Garrett will also perform a touching tribute to jazz legend Dave Brubeck.

DepEd invites the public to witness the GO! Education Finale this weekend

How far have Department of Education and the private sector gone in improving the country’s public school system?

This will be answered during the Greater Opportunities! (GO!) Education Finale exhibit slated on Feb 9 – 10 at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia.

The event aims to create public awareness on the accomplishments thus far of the department especially in improving teacher quality, reform in the basic education curriculum through K to 12 as well as initiatives to fill up education resource gaps to achieve zero backlog by the end of 2013.

Alden Richards, Bela Padilla and Kylie Padilla guest in 'Sarap Diva' this Saturday

This Saturday (February 9), learn the special Valentine recipes of three of GMA’s hottest properties – Alden Richards, Bela Padilla and Kylie Padilla. 

Bela prepares her specialty, Salmon Zuchinni, while Kylie teaches her Halal recipe, Pininyahang Manok. Alden shows off his resourcefulness with his Lechon Paksiw recipe. 

Meanwhile, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid shares the latest trend replacing flowers as a first date gift, the Fruiquet or Fruit bouquet. 

Alden Richards joins Universal Records

Young star Alden Richards has proven mettle as an actor in various TV projects, making him one of the fastest rising stars of GMA 7. Now, he is embarking on a new journey as a recording artist as he recently signed up with Universal Records.

Alden joins the elite roster of local artists of Universal Records like Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Christian Bautista, Jaya, Noel Cabangon, JayR, Richard Poon, Gloc-9, premiere bands like Parokya Ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Calla Lily, Sponge Cola, and young performers Sam Concepcion, Kimpoy Feliciano, Emmanuelle, among others.

REEL DEAL: A Good Day To Die Hard - Bruce Willis


BRUCE WILLIS RESETS THE ACTION BAR HIGHEST IN “A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD”
OPENS IN MORE THAN 200 SCREENS (PHILS.) ON FEBRUARY 13

Bruce Willis  has demonstrated incredible versatility in a career that has included such diverse characterizations as the prizefighter in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” (1994 Palme D’Or winner at Cannes), the philandering contractor in Robert Benton’s “Nobody’s Fool,” the heroic time traveler in Terry Gilliam’s “12 Monkeys,” the traumatized Vietnam veteran in Norman Jewison’s “In Country,” the compassionate child psychologist in M. Night Shyamalan’s Oscar®-nominated “The Sixth Sense” (for which he won the People’s Choice Award) and his signature role, Detective John McClane, in the “Die Hard” films.

John McClane – the hard-talking detective who always seems to be in the wrong place but doing the right thing – has become one of Hollywood’s iconic characters and Willis has enjoyed the role, reprising it in four sequels. The latest Die Hard movie, “A Good Day To Die Hard” sees McClane in Moscow, searching for his estranged son, Jack (rising Australian star Jai Courtney). 
Bruce Willis reprises his iconic role as police detective John McClane in A Good Day to Die Hard, set against the backdrop of deadly corruption and political vendetta in Russia.  McClane arrives in Moscow to track down his estranged son, Jack, (Jai Courtney), and is stunned to discover he’s working undercover to protect a government whistleblower, Komarov (Sebastian Koch).  With their own necks on the line, the McClanes are forced to overcome their differences in order to get Komarov to safety and thwart a potentially disastrous crime in the most desolate place on Earth - Chernobyl.

Willis is McClane, and he embraced the opportunity to pay another visit to the beloved character that has a habit of finding himself in the wrong place at the right time.  Does trouble find John McClane or does John McClane seek it out?  “Well, he’s certainly attracted to trouble,” says the actor, “but yes, trouble also seems determined to find him.”

“I find it an interesting exercise to reach for the bar we set with the series, and I enjoy checking in with McClane at different stages in his life,” Willis continues. “In this story, he’s at a point where men tend to reflect on their past. For McClane, it’s the estranged relationship with his son. They haven’t spoken in some time, and the first news he’s received of him is about his arrest in Moscow.”

“This is a twist on the usual scenario in which McClane is the unexpected party guest who ruins some criminal mastermind’s well-conceived plan,” says Young. “This time, he spoils his own son’s painstaking and dangerous undercover operation.  With Jack’s cover literally blown, he and his father try to get Komarov safely out of Moscow and into Chernobyl, where he can retrieve the incriminating files that will put Chagarin away.  The shell-shocked Russian suddenly finds himself stuck between the feuding McClanes, a more dangerous proposition than prison, as John appears to be half-cocked and fully loaded.  But the three men are intent on making their way out of town by any means necessary, and begin to form an uneasy 

Under a hail of gunfire, the McClanes manage a desperate escape, and must regroup to figure out how to get to rescue Komarov, who is now in the hands of Alik’s men.  Jack McClane is out of answers, and must turn to John for help.

 Says Jai Courtney: “Jack takes a methodical approach to his work, probably out of a backlash to his father’s knack for winging it and hoping for the best.  But he’s now in a situation where there’s no book to guide him, he has no answers and is at the breaking point. His dad’s instincts are to never quit, regardless of the cost, and in this terrible situation Jack sees that very clearly - maybe for the first time. It gives Jack deeper insight and respect for John’s values. It’s a turning point.”

Adds executive producer Jason Keller: “John and Jack find themselves off the grid, in deep trouble, with no help. Jack doesn’t know what to do, and his father pulls him back and says that we can do this. And the key moment in the film happens when Jack chooses to swallow his pride and accept John’s help. Now you have two McClanes working together, which is more than our bad guys ever bargained for.”
               
“A Good Day To Die Hard” opens February 13 in more than 200 screens nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

MUSIC LYF: JOURNEY MAN NEAL SCHON RELEASES NEW INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM


Journey mainstay Neal Schon, the only member of the globally renowned arena band who's been there since day one, has just released his latest solo venture -- an all instrumental album he recorded on a four-day creative spree right after putting the finishing touches to his band's last album "Eclipse." The album entitled "The Calling" is instantly interesting considering it is "showcasing a side of Schon that isn’t often represented on Journey albums." Released by MCA Music late last January, the 12-track instrumental set was created minus the pressure of giving in to the requirements of radio-friendly format, thus, guitar purists and music enthusiasts tired of hearing saleably safe and forcibly derivative hooks will find this one a breath of fresh air, especially that it comes from a guitar god whose talent sometimes gets underrated when stirred with Journey's monumental pop rock success. From the in-your-face “Back Smash" to the new age-meets-jazz-meets-movie soundtrack “Fifty Six,” to the contrapuntal, classical-sounding “Irish Field”, "The Calling" is a sonic adventure borne out of artistic depth resulting from years of exposure to a wide array of music.

REEL DEAL: Mama REVIEW

In our movies we have seen all kinds of ghosts and monsters that have haunted our imaginations in our lifetime, yet it would be rare to find that ghoul that will can scare us and also touch our hearts at the same time. This is what Guillermo del Toro's Mama shown as a thriller fantasy movie.

Two girls were found in a cabin 5 years after a gruesome tragedy. They now live with their uncle and start a new life with them. However, how they survived 5 years without anyone is a mystery to them as well of the one they call "Mama" disturbs the new family they now have. Having a mother figure for a ghost may not scary when you think about it, but this movie will make you think otherwise.

UPD, ADMU AND DLSU Compete for International Competition


Four student groups from the University of the Philippines – Diliman (UPD), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) will compete for the chance to represent the country during the 3rd edition of the Indra Future Minds Competition.

Indra Future Minds Competition is an international university competition which provides a venue for undergraduates to demonstrate their talent and skills in managing solutions based on real projects developed by Indra, the leading IT company in Spain.

The Philippines first joined the international university competition last year, with UPD students Maria Katrina E. Volante, Benedict Ivan A. Andrade and Erwin L. Soleta, representing the country. The Philippines team qualified for the final phase and went to Spain to compete against three other universities, eventually winning the whole competition.