ART IS A BANG: See "Red" at CCP This February

A two character play might be overlooked by many because it may look too simple and may seem boring. But when one would see the award-winning play "Red" by  John Logan staged at the CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute, it will take the audience in sharing the moment and feeling each lines. Starring Bart Guingona and Joaquin Valdes, the play goes into layers upon layers of ideas, struggles, hopes, dream, and of course the eternal evolution of the visual arts.

Seeing two guys for a play is quite unusual for me, as most productions stars at least 10 characters for a stage play. But I eventually saw myself being part of the studio of Mark Rothko (Bart Guingona) and his assistant Ken (Joaquin Valdes) who have their own opinion on everything and would never have an agreement.

With a whole lot of areas to discuss, from tragedies of life, the interpretation of the paintings, to the rise and fall of art trends, the science of psychology, and even mythology are just some of the vast conversations the two will engage giving images and tickling the minds of the audience.

ART IS A BANG: "Wait Until Dark" Gave Me Mixed Emotions

January starts with a Thriller with Repertory Philippines with the staging of "Wait Until Dark" at OnStage Greenbelt. As unlike the usual musicals and comedies on stage, this one starts the year with an eerie and thrilling production of the stage play by Frederick Knott which dates back to 1966.

This thriller has been staged countless times and has even made into a motion picture starring  Alan Arkin and the late Audrey Hepburn and Richard Crena. And for 2014, Repertory starts their 77th season with this dark yet engaging production.

Pre-Valentine Date Movie "The Right Kind of Wrong"

Love at first sight is one of those enduring mysteries that the majority of us believe in and surveys show more than half have experienced. That the object of such affection is a married woman is as classic a dilemma as Paris and Helen of Troy.

In “The Right Kind of Wrong,” a romantic comedy, or perhaps a comedy about the madness of romance, we are introduced to Leo, a total romantic and a failed-writer-turned-dishwasher made famous for his many flaws in a blog called “Why You Suck,” a huge Internet success written by his ex-wife Julie (played by Kristen Hager).  Then Leo meets Colette (Sara Canning), the girl of his dreams… on the day she is marrying the perfect man.  And so, the ultimate underdog story begins as Leo, a fearless dreamer, risks all to show Colette and the whole wide world all that is right with a man famous for being wrong. 

Glee Star Alex Newell Joins Young Bromance In "Geography Club"

From young twin brothers Gary (director)  and Edmund (writer), “Geography Club” stars “Glee’s” Alex Newell with Cameron Deane Stewart, Justin Deeley, Nikki Blonsky, Meaghan Martin, Andrew Caldwell and Allie Gonino in a coming-of-age and coming-out film of contemporary gay teenagers who formed a club that seemed so nerdy that it keeps the curious away, so that they can openly and safely discuss their true sexual identities.

Based on Brent Hartinger's best-selling critically acclaimed novel of the same title, “Geography Club” is a fast, fresh coming-of-age movie that tells a real and powerful story unfolding in every high school around the country – a story of kids hiding their true identities in plain sight, even as they feverishly pursue their hearts’ desires yet still look for something that will finally define who they are. They start out trying to protect their one big secret among themselves.  Russell (Stewart) is dating Trish (Martin), a sweet but sexually motivated young lady – even as he is falling for the football jock Kevin (Deeley), who won’t ever reveal the truth to his macho teammates Nolan (Harvey) and Jared (Darden).  Min (Maki) and Terese (Blonsky) tell everyone they’re really just best friends.  And then there’s Ike (Newell) who is trying on every identity in the book. They know they are different, but at least they’re not in daily danger like the bullied geek Brian Bund (Olivares). Yet, when Russell’s sexual orientation is suddenly exposed to the whole school by the ultra-popular Kimberly ( Gonino), the members of the Geography Club begin to panic. 

Two of Today's Youngest Breakout Stars Featured In Metro and Chalk This February

ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. sets the stage for two of today’s youngest breakout stars during this month of hearts, as fashion lifestyle authority Metro magazine’s biggest trends issue features Julia Barretto and Chalk’s Valentines special features Liza Soberano.

In Metro this month, teen royalty Julia, who is set to star in her first primetime series, “Mira/Bella,” is put under a different sort of spotlight—revealing how she goes beyond her name and comes into her own in a shoot and story that details the fierce and stylish young celebrity she is with hints at who she is bound to become.

Metro also features the biggest trends for Spring/Summer 2014 in its February issue, recognizing the dawn of a new season--with new collections, new trends, and a new attitude to go along with it all.

It's Back To The Roaring Twenties As Fila Goes Gatsby For the 2014 Polo Cup

Gatsby knew how to party, and now FILA's carrying the torch.

In both 1925 book and 2013 movie (and many adapations in between), the fictional character Jay Gatsby stood for the height of opulence with his to-die-for weekend parties. With beautiful FILA Philippines CEO Cris Albert suitably impressed with the recent film (and being no stranger to the opulence herself), the decision was made that FILA turn fiction into reality with a Gatsby-themed, champagne-flavored celebration. Fabulous 20's Charleston meets exciting polo field action, and the result should be nothing less than a classic!

REEL DEAL: Police Story 2013

Jackie Chan said that Chinese Zodiac would have been his last film in his career, but alas there there is another action movie that stars Jackie as its lead and also a producer. Police Story 2013 is another reincarnation of the movie series which launch his career back in the day. 

Here, Jackie Chan is Detective Zhong, a police officer which he stated that despite doing a lot of police role this will be the first doing a mainland-based officer. He is searching for his daughter Miao Miao who has a club owner boyfriend. But things get complicated as it turns to be a trap to all those involved with a incident years back.

Though with a more darker, serious approach, it is still an action-filled, thriller that still keeps the elements that we all love from Jackie Chan. I don't care if this is truly the last movie he will be in. Because it has been his life and passion, he would still have that want to make and participate in the movies he will be doing. And as we all know that Jackie is never forever young, but with his moves  in this movie, you would think, he still got it and tried something new.

Fila Polo Cup Goes Gatsby!

FILA Polo Cup 2014 went retro last January 26 at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park with a one of a kind theme inspired from the 1920's, The Great Gatsby. The annual FILA Polo Cup is now on its tenth year and has also been a kick-off party of the year for FILA as they also share achievements and new models that they will be launching this year. 

With last year inspired from the Carnival, this year's theme, inspired from the book and the movie was chosen with FILA Philippines CEO Ms Cris Albert leading the whole team together will the endorsers and spectators of the annual sporting event. As polo mixes well with the Vintage vibe of the fashion at the Manila Polo Club, familiar FILA faces like Tim Yap, Fabio Ide, were joined by new brand endorsers: Pinay-Swiss interior designer Jess Keinle and emerging MMA star Brazilian Wesley Machado. Also members of the Philippine Volcanoes will add to the excitement. FILA went all out last year in its support of the rugby team, especially when it went to represent the Philippines in the Rugby World Cup in Moscow.

The Hardest Working Restaurant Manager is Now in the Philippines

4000 Restaurants Cannot Be Wrong!

WOULD it not be great, as a restaurateurs, to know how many diners will be coming, what time, and what will they be having? No more surprised and terrified kitchen staff and only satisfied diners.

ResDiary provides a web-based reservation and table-management tool to restaurant operators in over 4,500 restaurants, in 17 countries, allowing them to take online bookings through their websites, facebook pages and through Twitter as well as by telephone and to process walk-in bookings.

With ResDiary.com now available in The Philippines, restaurateurs now have an efficient system that allows them to allocate reservations in a way to make most effective use of the tables available and capture customer contact details and other data of the customer.

Meet The KakaoTalk Friends!

Kakao Friends are your mischievous and spirited messaging buddies that you can meet exclusively on KakaoTalk. With each character displaying distinct personalities and emotions, they help users effectively convey a variety of exciting emotions, even those that are hard to express in text, to friends and loved ones.

Like any of us, each character has his or her own story to tell.

Groovy Jay-G is the mole with the sunglasses and the afro hair. He always makes it a point to get his afro done fresh and his suit crisp. He is a secret agent who finds inspiration from his largest idol, Jay-Z. Although Jay-G tries to portray an image of a calm, cool-headed and professional dude, he is actually as clumsy as a bear, has the heart of a pussycat, and is hungry for affection. Have you used Jay-G stickers to cry out for love?