REEL DEAL: First Look for "Begin Again"

From John Carney, director of the critically-acclaimed movie ONCE comes another tale of music and love..

BEGIN AGAIN is a a soul-stirring comedy about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together it stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, and CeeLo Green.

Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own.

Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City.

BEGIN AGAIN opens in cinemas nationwide in August 2014 and is distributed by Solar Entertainment Company.

#MabuhaySpotify ! Spotify Now Available in the Philippines

Spotify, the world’s most popular music streaming service, launches today in the Philippines on mobile, tablet and desktop. Mabuhay! 

Available to all Filipinos today - Spotify gives you:

• An unbeatable music experience: listen to whatever music you want, whenever you want, on any device. Discover, organise and share. Offering amazing audio quality of up to 320kbps and with a brand new design, playing your favourite music never looked and felt this good.

ART IS A BANG: Magkabilaan - Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company's 20th Anniversary Concert

The Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company in partnership with the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe and PETA Theater Center proudly presents “ Magkabilaan ” --- the 20th anniversary concert to pay homage to the late Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, Founder & Artistic Director of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT).

“ Magkabilaan ” shall celebrate Lahing Kayumanggi’s  and Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe’s long standing partnership and exchange programme spanning two decades.

“ MAGKABILAAN ” will be held on April 25 and 26 (Friday & Saturday) --- 7:30PM at the PETA Theater located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

Special guests include the alumni of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe, longest folk dance company since 1946; Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir and talented singer / fashion designer Leo Almodal. 

BPI Family Ka-Negosyo and PFA Bullish on 2014 SME Prospects

BPI Family Ka-Negosyo and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) in partnership with Go Negosyo continue its efforts in sustaining the country’s economic growth through entrepreneurship and franchising.

The bank together with the country’s largest franchise association, PFA, teamed up anew in bringing a free franchising expo dubbed as “Franchising neGOsyo Para Sayo,” held recently at the Trinoma Activity Center in Quezon City. The two-day free expo offered franchising opportunities for Filipinos especially for OFWs in the food, retail, and service sectors.

In this photo: (left to right) Mr. Antonio Radovan, Business Head for Metro Manila, PLDT SME Nation; Ms. Rowena Tomeldan, Vice President and Head of Operations and Support Services of the Commercial Business Group of Ayala Land; Ms. Bing Sibal-Limjoco, CFE, PFA Vice Chairman and CEO of Francorp Philippines; Ms. Elma Tetangco, Multi-brand franchisee, Mr. Tommany Tan, CEO of Fern-C; Mr. Richard Sanz, Director for MSME Promotions and Development of PFA and President of Bar-B-King and Bibingkinitan; Senator Bam Aquino; Dr. Alan Escalona, CFE, Director for External Relations and Advocacy and President of Fruit Magic; Ms. Siu Ping Par, Director for South Luzon and President for Franchising of PR Gaz; Mr. Noel Altamirano, Vice President for BPI Family Loans Product Marketing; Mr. Carl Balita, President of PCCI-Quezon City; Mr. Mark Sablan, General Manager of TriNoma and Mr. Mon Lopez, Executive Director of Go Negosyo.

Get Pumped With Your Dance Moves With Ignite Dance Company This Summer

Are you looking for a fun, interesting, and calorie burning activity this summer?

Ignite Dance Company will soon start their 3rd Summer Dance Workshops. Whatever age or level you are in, there is a program designed for you.

For KIDS: a beginners module on introduction to dance that will teach the basic forms and movements in a child friendly approach. This will help them improve their physical activity, artistry, focus, and social interaction.

For TEENS: a basic to intermediate module on dance that will focus mainly on hip hop and its subcategories. This will help improve the students' vocabulary on dance. They will learn the basic forms, proper execution, and combinations. It will also help them  create choreography and perform freestyle.

ART IS A BANG: Deprivation and Meditation: Sudden Flight Series at the Picasso Abstract Painter Chiqui Rodriguez

Filipino abstract painter, Chiqui Rodriguez announces her major new series entitled SUDDEN FLIGHT, her solo show to be held in Zurich by late summer will have its preview opening in a two-man show at the Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, hosted by Altromondo Gallery on 22 May 2014 and continuing through 18 July 2014. 

The 15 selected paintings from a total of over 100 works that comprise the SUDDEN FLIGHT series, awash in vibrant color, are sure to dazzle visitors to the Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences. Chiqui’s unique approach to blending acrylic pigments on canvas creates gem-like surfaces. Peering through the surface to what is depicted below, the viewer realizes that all is not as glowing as it first appears. Chiqui is noted for her deep abstraction of complex realism. 

LAKBAYANI: Play time is on at Sandbox, Alviera

Ayala Land, Inc., in partnership with Leonio Land, has created a unique summer getaway that redefines outdoor fun in the vast terrain of Porac, Pampanga. SandBox, located in the new Alviera township development, officially opens starting April 12.

SandBox features an array of exciting attractions that pumps up visitors to get active and enjoy the great outdoors. Visitors of any age will have memorable experiences from fun activities amplified by the scale of the facilities, and Alviera’s wide green plains. 

Your Ticket to Total Cinema Enjoyment!

Watching Movies is one of Filipinos’ favorite past times but nowadays cinema goers look for the total package.  Movie buffs are not just after good titles but as well as hassle-free access to movie schedule and purchase of tickets, cutting-edge movie exhibition through digital technology and tasting of all-time favorite comfort food in theaters.  

This is what SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. is bringing to the public, the complete cinema experience that every Filipino will enjoy.  

SM Cinema through its CineXclusive program, the exclusive screening of films at the digital theaters of SM Cinemas nationwide, is showing the much anticipated anime movie of the year, “Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission” this April.

Allphones inaugurates 50th store at Robinsons Galleria; gears up for Allphones Summer Fun Caravan

Allphones Philippines now welcomes customers at its recently inaugurated store in Robinsons Galleria—the 50th store for the company in less than a year. The inauguration of the store represents a milestone for the company as well as for the country’s mobile phone retail sector.

“Allphones was really a dark horse when we came in the first quarter of 2013. We were the newest mobile phone retail store brand in the country and so many other stores inside the biggest malls were already well-established. Still, we were counting on the consumers themselves to realize that we were offering something different, something new in terms of customer retail experience,” said Allan Catli, Head of Brand Marketing of Allphones Philippines.

The Filipino Flag Flies High in the 2014 Paris Marathon

Buenavista and Tabal Bring Pinoy Running Mettle to the World Stage

Manila, Philippines – After clinching the top ranks in the 37th season of the National MILO Marathon, veteran athlete Eduardo Buenavista and fastest Filipina marathoner Mary Joy Tabal once again lived up to their lofty billings in the prestigious Paris Marathon. The reigning MILO Marathon King and Queen recently completed the full distance category with 50,000 runners including seasoned marathoners from across the globe.

The National MILO Marathon awarded both athletes with an all-expenses paid trip to the international competition as the first Philippine delegates sponsored by MILO in over two decades.

Buenavista, who ran alongside fellow Olympian and this year’s Paris Marathon winner Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, clocked in at a swift 2:33:20 and ranked 42nd in the men’s division. In the distaff side, Tabal crossed the finish line at 2:57:28 and emerged as the 17th placer in the women’s division.