REEL DEAL: Status Complicated In The Romantic Comedy “ALOHA”

Directed by Academy Award winner Cameron Crowe (known for the unforgettable “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous” movies), his latest romantic comedy “Aloha” brings together the most charismatic actors onscreen in a compelling and fascinating story about love and the unpredictability of life. 

Set at the backdrop of alluring Hawaii, “Aloha” stars four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper as Brian Gilcrest, a brilliant military contractor, who once worked for the US Space Program, based in Honolulu.  More than a decade after leaving the Space Program, he is a celebrated military contractor, working for a wealthy industrialist, Carson Welch (Bill Murray). Gilcrest returns to Hawaii on assignment and falls for Captain Allison Ng, a dynamic Air Force pilot, played by Emma Stone. But he is also reunited with a former girlfriend, Tracy (Rachel McAdams), who is now married with children for whom he still has strong feelings.

Globe x Line Parters For Affordable Premium Calls

Globe, LINE offer discounted calling rates to Globe and TM customers in the Philippines Offers Line Premium Calls for only P4.00 per minute beginning May 12.

Philippines’ no.1 mobile brand Globe Telecom is beefing up its presence worldwide with its partnership with world’s leading life platform, LINE to provide Filipinos around the world an affordable way to connect with their families and loved ones in the Philippines. 

With the partnership, LINE users calling Globe and TM customers in the Philippines can save over 35% off in per-minute calling rates compared to calling other mobile networks in the country. 

The Globe International Business Group further strengthens its partnership with LINE with a new promo to offer discounted calling rates to Globe and TM customers in the Philippines. Celebrating this new announcement are Head of LINE Philippines Stephan Kang and Globe Senior Vice President for International Business Rizza Maniego-Eala

DepEd publishes partial list of schools that will offer SHS nationwide

Pasig City – As part of the continuous preparations for the full implementation of the K to 12 program, the Department of Education (DepEd) released the initial list of Senior High Schools (SHS) online, comprised of DepEd and non-DepEd schools, higher education institutions (HEIs), technical vocational institutions (TVIs), state universities and colleges (SUCs).

DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that “the 2014 and 2015 budgets already have allocations for 30,000 classrooms for SHS.” He also mentioned that the initial target for the proposed 2016 budget, which is subject for approval, is over 20,000 classrooms for SHS. The government shall further allocate investments for SHS.

Globe Telecom And Disney Seal Multiyear Collaboration

Filipinos to enjoy Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Maker content via video-on-demand, interactive content and promotions on mobile and broadband 

Philippines’ number one mobile brand Globe Telecom once again enhances the Filipino digital lifestyle experience with a comprehensive and multi-year collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia.  This  collaboration will give Filipino customers access to video-on-demand, interactive content, promotions and other related services across multiple devices and affirms the relationship of Globe with Disney whose brands include Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and global leader in short-form video, Maker Studios. Globe customers will now have access to an array of Disney content offerings including long- and short-form programming, interactive content and games, theatrical releases and retail promotions. Offerings include:

REEL DEAL: Teaser Trailer, Poster Up For “RICKI AND THE FLASH”

The teaser poster and trailer for the new Meryl Streep film, “Ricki and the Flash” have just been released by Columbia Pictures, and may now be seen here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGpDTun_Kuo.

Three-time Academy Award® winner Meryl Streep goes electric and takes on a whole new gig – a hard-rocking singer/guitarist – for Oscar®-winning director Jonathan Demme and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody in the uplifting comedy “Ricki and the Flash.”

In a film loaded with music and live performance, Streep stars as Ricki, a guitar heroine who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom, but is now returning home to make things right with her family. Streep stars opposite her real-life daughter Mamie Gummer, who plays her fictional daughter; Rick Springfield, who takes on the role of a Flash member in love with Ricki; and Kevin Kline, who portrays Ricki’s long-suffering ex-husband.

The film also stars Sebastian Stan (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”).

Opening soon in cinemas across the Philippines, “Ricki and the Flash” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

REEL DEAL: No Inhibitions In New “MAGIC MIKE XXL” TRAILER

Sexual innuendoes spice up the new trailer of the Warner Bros. Pictures' “Magic Mike XXL” which may be viewed at https://youtu.be/HMsjXCj5x_g.

The opening cards of the trailer read “We didn't want to show the best parts of the movie in this trailer, but it was very...very...hard...to resist.”

Then, it closes with “This summer...#come again.”

“Magic Mike XXL” reunites Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez and Gabriel Iglesias, stars of the 2012 worldwide hit “Magic Mike.”

Featured in brand new roles are Elizabeth Banks, Donald Glover, Amber Heard, Andie MacDowell, Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Strahan.

DepEd statement addressing the accusation of misinforming the President about the K to 12 Program

The Department of Education (DepEd) strongly objects to the accusation that DepEd officials and other agencies are feeding President Benigno S. Aquino III with wrong information on the readiness of the government to implement the K to 12 Program. The Department maintains fidelity to the Filipino people and assures them that we continue to be transparent and accountable

We reiterate that the government is on track in the implementation of the K to 12 Program. In fact, DepEd has built 86,478 classrooms and hired 128,105 teachers from 2010 to 2014. DepEd has already requested funds for the construction of 27,499 classrooms, and will be hiring 37,000 teachers in 2016 for Senior High School alone.

REEL DEAL: "MEET THE MORMONS" – An Inside Peek Into The World of the Mormons

Meet the Mormons examines the very diverse lives of six devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Latter-day Saints).

Meet the Mormons is a touching, newly released documentary that examines the life of six different members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Church of Latter-day Saints) from around the globe. A humanitarian, a football coach, the Candy Bomber, a fighter, a bishop, and a single mother all let their daily lives be filmed to show that religion and color should not be barriers to happiness. The individuals featured answer some tough questions as they are interviewed, letting the viewer get an inside peek into their world.

Filmed on location and across the globe, Meet the Mormons takes viewers on a journey into the day-to-day realities of individuals living in the U.S., Costa Rica, Nepal and beyond. From their individual passions to their daily struggles, each story paints a picture as rich and unique as the next while challenging the stereotypes that surround the Mormon faith.

REEL DEAL: “ANT-MAN” Stands Tall In Pay-Off Poster

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) blows up in a brand-new poster for Marvel's "Ant-Man" which has just been released by the studio.

The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man.” Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Marvel’s “Ant-Man” stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne, Corey Stoll as Darren Cross aka Yellowjacket, Bobby Cannavale as Paxton, Michael Peña as Luis, Judy Greer as Maggie, Tip “Ti” Harris as Dave, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, Wood Harris as Gale, Jordi Mollà as Castillo and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym.

Directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s “Ant-Man” delivers a high-stakes, tension-filled adventure in Philippine cinemas on July 16, 2015.

Child survival rates in Metro Manila improved by 50% says Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers report

Philippines ranked 105 out of 179th in best and toughest places to be a mom​

Manila, Philippines– Metro Manila was among top cities in the world to cut child mortality rates among urban poor, according to 2015 State of the World’s Mothers global index published by Save the Children.

The annual global mother’s index report reveals that in the last 20 years, child survival rates among the urban poor in Metro Manila, have improved in comparison to other developing countries. Between 1993 and 2008, the child mortality rate went from 81 to 38 deaths per 1,000 lives deaths. Over this period of time, the poorest urban children went from being 4 times as likely to die to being twice as likely to die compared to their wealthy peers.  The capital region has also achieved about 4% reduction in under-5 mortality per year since 1998.