MUSIC LYF: Rico Blanco - All Set On June 12

Rico Blanco, one of the hottest and most sought after OPM artists today, is set to hold his first ever solo concert !

Catch him live at the Music Museum on Philippine Independence Day, June 12, 2013, and be a part of music history. It’s been five years since this former Rivermaya frontman struck out on his own, and two solo albums later (Your Universe and last year’s Galactik Fiestamatik), he’s hotter than ever and ready to rock the stage in his first full-length solo concert!

XSTIG: Accessorize with Cookoo the Connected Watch available at Power Mac Center

Exclusive product demos from May 10-12 at Power Mac Center TriNoma

The popularity of smartphones has given rise to hundreds of mobile apps, which in turn have spawned a variety of external devices that connect to apps on smartphones and tablets. These “appcessories” in the form of toys, musical or artistic tools, wireless sports and fitness devices, or home appliances let you extend the functionality of your iPod touch, iPhone or iPad.

GMA Network goes all out for its "Dapat Tama" advocacy campaign

GMA Network takes the lead in pushing for a more informed and better prepared Philippine electorate – by providing valuable airtime for election-related programs and specials plus a series of election advocacy ads and music videos all centered around the theme DAPAT TAMA.

If there is one song on almost everyone’s lips this election season, it’s the powerful anthem DAPAT TAMA -- composed and performed by rapper Gloc 9 with singer Denise Barbacena. Created by Gloc 9 for GMA Network’s Eleksyon 2013 advocacy campaign, the DAPAT TAMA song reminds voters that their choices on election day will impact the entire country for many years.

REEL DEAL: Fast and Furious 6 and Mission Impossible 5!

We are all excited for the upcoming Fast and Furious 6 (Fast 6) that will have their Asian Premiere here in Manila! I am very excited to see them live as its also been ages since Hollywood stars have graced our red carpet for movie premieres. And as they kick off their world tour this May staring in London, fans of the fast and furious franchise here are ready to meet the cast as they would also bring their cars for display. Fast and the Furious 6 will be showing here in the Philippines May 22, 2013

In another news, Tom Cruise tweeted that Ethan Hawk accepted the new mission which means that there will be a new Mission Impossible movie in the works. He is also enjoying the success of his latest film, Oblivion which did well here and in the international market. 

Both film are distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation and United International Pictures.

MUSIC LYF: Will.I.Am - #Willpower (Album)

As a 15-year-old rapper growing up in L.A. and dreaming of hip-hop superstardom, will.i.am wrote a song and titled it “#willpower.” Now seven Grammys and 33 million album sales later, The Black Eyed Peas frontman is gearing up for the release of a solo album bearing the same name as that glory-seeking track he authored as a kid. The first solo effort since The Black Eyed Peas’ platinum-selling 2010 release The Beginning, #willpower once again finds the songwriter/musician/producer fulfilling his dreams of music-world domination.

The follow-up to 2007’s solo CD Songs About Girls, #willpower builds on its predecessor’s bold fusion of hip-hop, R&B, and electronic/dance music to offer up the latest of will.i.am’s irresistibly infectious and genre-warping party anthems. The standard album’s 15 hook-heavy tracks showcase more than a dozen A-list guest artists, ranging from pop mega-stars (Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Nicole Scherzinger, Miley Cyrus) to a highly inspired mix of up-and-comers (including Dutch dance diva Eva Simons, South Korean girl group 2NE1, singer/songwriter Skylar Grey and seven-year-old rapper Baby Kaely). Also featuring fellow BEP member apl.de.ap—and, perhaps most outrageously, the 70-piece, Prague-based Czech Symphony Orchestra—#willpower sees will.i.am expanding his sound by sharing production duties with leading-edge collaborators like Dr. Luke, Cirkut, Benny Blanco, Afrojack, Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso, Lazy Jay, and FRESHM3N III.

MUSIC LYF: Get a chance to watch Beyonce live!

A diva will be reborn again! Beyonce is ready to strut her new self this coming July!

Over a million of Beyonce fans from over two continents have already signed up to witness the world tour concert entitled “The Mrs. Carter World Tour” which has kicked off in Europe. Sasha Fierce, together with his powerful smash hits, is set to take the stage on the 1st of July at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.

Culinary adventures await you at Eastwood’s Levante night and food market this May!

Eat’s going to be a fun foodie adventure in Eastwood as the Mercato Centrale group, organizer of the premier food and lifestyle night markets around the metropolis, brings to you Levante – the newest night food market in Eastwood Citywalk 2. Grand opening is on May 17, Friday from 6pm to 3am.

Enjoy a culinary adventure at Levante with its mouth-watering homemade cooking straight from the kitchens of Eastwood’s budding food entrepreneurs, along with your favorite Pinoy street foods and, of course, the best-selling dishes from your favorite Mercato Centrale vendors.

“Eastwood has always been very supportive of new food concepts, from their new fusion restaurants up to their gourmet food markets in the malls. We are very glad to bring the Mercato Centrale concept to Eastwood to further complement the foodie-friendly lifestyle they have created” said Anton Diaz, co-organizer of Levante. Diaz is responsible for the popular food and travel blog www.OurAwesomePlanet.com.

Australia As Top Study Destination in IDP Fair

Australia is highlighted once more as among the world’s best education destinations in the next education fair organized by IDP Education Philippines this month.

The Australian Education Exhibition 2013 will be held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao on Friday, May 17. It moves to the Dusit Thani Makati the following day, culminating with its Cebu staging at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu on Sunday, May 19.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Institute of Statistics reports that Australia ranks among the top five destinations for tertiary education among the world’s mobile students. In 2010, it received 17% of the total number of students hosted in the East Asia and Pacific countries, second only to the United States.

From July 2011 to June 2012, there were 2,633 Filipino students who went to Australia to study, making it the Number 1 study destination of Filipinos.

REEL DEAL: Epic - Steve Tyler SPOTLIGHT

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Role in "Epic (3D)" Reminds Him Of Younger Years

Well-loved music icon Steven Tyler gives voice to a very affable caterpillar character named Nim Galuu in the upcoming family adventure 3D movie "Epic."     

"EPIC" is a 3D CG adventure comedy that reveals a fantastical world unlike any other. From the creators of" Ice Age" and "Rio," "EPIC" tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it. When a teenage girl MK (Amanda Seyfried)  finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world…and ours.

Having brought to life one of the most beloved and successful animated motion picture franchises, Ice Age, director Chris Wedge and his teams at Blue Sky Studios (of which Wedge is a co-founder) achieve new heights of realism, action, adventure and detail, with EPIC.               

Salaminkera: Tales from the Looking Glass

When was the last time you looked at the mirror and talked to it with all honesty? This predicament is a tale as old as time for women everywhere; echoed by the immortal line, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”

What makes a mirror special is its appeal to your vanity. It does not just reflect your physical state but also your inner emotions; even your mental state. So simply looking at the mirror could give you an overview of how your total well-being could be – inside and out!

With this, comedienne Giselle Sanchez brings to life “Salaminkera,” a mirror that actually talks to you and tells you about your career, family life, and love life. After all, Salaminkera is inspired by the magic mirror of the evil queen from the timeless tale of SnowWhite; and provides honest answers to any question.