REEL DEAL: Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil REVIEW

After adjustments on the play dates, the awaited movie starring Kean Cipriano, Alex Medina, and John Sweet Lapus will be finally shown in cinemas with Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil. Directed by Lemuel Lorca, who also directed the CineFilipino film "Ned's Project".

The film was produced by Chris Cahilig who manages the boy group 1:43 who also were part of the movie. Kean Cipriano also co-produced the film, and also fresh from the success of "Love is Blind" where he worked with Derek Ramsay and Kiray Celis. Alex Medina was also busy with TV and movie projects which makes him one of the in-demand stars as he follows the fame of his father Pen and brother Ping.

John Lapus, also had a previous horror flick for the MMFF, shown excitement for the film's release this April. Echorsis takes a story spin-off from "The Exorcist" with the touch of gay humor and situations. Kean plays Father Nick, a gay priest who performs exorcisms. John plays Kristoff, a closet gay son from a conservative family, while Alex plays Carlo, the lover who will break Kristoff's heart.

"10 Cloverfield Lane" Reveals International Poster‏

Paramount Pictures has just revealed the stunning, international payoff poster of producer J.J. Abrams’ “10 Cloverfield Lane.”

Described as a “blood relative” to the 2007 smash hit “Cloverfield,” the new film stars John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher, Jr. The official synopsis only reads, “Monsters come in many forms.”

Dan Trachtenberg directs “10 Cloverfield Lane” from a screenplay by Josh Campbell and Matt Stuecken. Describing the film to Empire Magazine, Trachtenberg says, “It’s a mystery/suspense thriller. If we were in the time of Alfred Hitchcock, he would be calling this ‘a suspense picture’. It very much harkens back to that kind of movie. For me it’s fun, it’s funny, and it’s visceral and exciting and thrilling. It’s all of those things.”

Opening across the Philippines on April 06, “10 Cloverfield Lane” is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.

Scarlett Johansson Tempts as Python, Kaa in "The Jungle Book"‏

With only her voice, Scarlett Johansson made people madly fall in love with their computer's operating system in the futuristic drama “Her.” Now, Johansson once again uses her voice to capture hearts in Disney's new family adventure “The Jungle Book,” based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film.

Johansson provides the voice of Kaa sets her sights on Mowgli when she discovers him all alone in the jungle. The massive python uses her seductive voice and hypnotic gaze to entrance the man-cub, and Mowgli finds himself unable to resist her captivating embrace.

Says director Jon Favreau, “Mowgli is exploring different regions of the jungle—mistier, darker, more mysterious parts of the jungle. That’s where Kaa lives. That’s where she gets ahold of him—till Baloo rescues him and brings him back to his cave.”

“THE STORY OF US” Marks Princess Punzalan's Highly Anticipated Return To ABS-CBN

After more than a decade, veteran actress Princess Punzalan is finally back with ABS-CBN as she joins top-rating drama “The Story of Us” in a role that she describes as “sort of a contravida.”

Princess will play Clodette, the mother of CJ (Bryan Santos) and a successful businesswoman known for her scheming ways and astute sense of running her beauty empire, The Lowery Group.

Popular for playing the iconic antagonist Selina in the 1997 teleserye “Mula sa Puso,” Princess said she agreed to sign up for “The Story of Us” because she likes her character – a steadfast woman who stops at nothing to get what she wants.

Eric, The Huntsman Propels New Story of "Winter's War"‏

The fantastical world of “Snow White and the Huntsman” expands to reveal how the fates of The Huntsman Eric and Queen Ravenna are deeply and dangerously intertwined, in Universal Pictures' new fantasy adventure “The Huntsman: Winter’s War.”

(Watch the film's Eric-centered trailer at https://youtu.be/f5EbCIpMNR8.)

In 2012, “Snow White and the Huntsman” breathed new life into the fairy-tale genre with a dark, epic take on the classic story. The film, which starred Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron, earned nearly $400 million at the worldwide box office and delighted audiences across the globe.

When it came time to consider a return to the dark fantasy world the creators had imagined, the producers decided to explore a story touched upon in the original, which alluded to the Hunstman Eric’s past love and her tragic death. In Hemsworth’s capable hands, the Huntsman proved to be such a popular character, and the notion of two parallel stories in this newly created universe appealed to all involved.

Research Forum pledges stronger prevention and response to protect Filipino children against violence

A two-day Research Forum titled ‘Boys and Girls at Risk’ concluded today pledging totake forward the preliminary results of the Philippines’ first ever National Baseline Study on Violence against Children(NBS-VAC)toward a strong prevention and response plan to stop violence against Children in the Philippines. NBS-VAC Study is scheduled to be launched in October.

Organized by the Council for the Welfare (CWC) of Children and UNICEF working within a wider partnership of national and international organizations working for preventing Violence against Children, the Research Forum was participated by over 200 researchers, academics, advocates and professionals working to End Violence against Children. 

Nippon Paint sponsors upcoming UAP National Convention

Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines recently inked an agreement with United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) to sponsor the upcoming 42nd National Convention slated on April 21-23, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The National Convention is UAP’s annual premier event featuring exciting, educational and entertaining activities that showcase Philippine development in urban planning and infrastructure. Themed “Filipino Architects in a Rapidly Evolving World”, the event will feature a series of seminars and workshops on professional and technical development and industry trends, including a talk on the latest and most advanced colour trends and coatings solutions by Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines. In photo during the contract signing are (L-R) Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines General Manager Michael Chung; UAP Secretary General Nina Bailon-Arce; and Nippon Paint (Coatings) Philippines Senior Marketing Manager Bernice Bobadilla.

Wanted: new records to break in Palaro 2016

When Davao del Norte hosted the 58th Palarong Pambansa in 2015, record-breaking feats were showcased by a new breed of student athletes in the swimming and athletics category.

Can we expect more records to fall in this year’s staging of the Palaro in Albay?

Last year, Luzon’s best bets from Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and the National Capital Region towed the rest of the regions and mightily showed the way. Central Luzon's Balitucan National High School alumnus, Martin James Esteban shattered the 14.44m triple jump record of Mark Harry Diones with his 15.01 meter-jump.

Horror Film "Lights Out" Terrifies with First Trailer‏

From producer James Wan (“The Conjuring”) comes the new horror film “Lights Out,” a tale of an unknown terror that lurks in the dark.  Watch the thriller's first trailer at https://youtu.be/_rE5NsXxoFI.

When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind.  Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained and terrifying events that had once tested her sanity and threatened her safety.  A frightening entity with a mysterious attachment to their mother, Sophie, has re-emerged. 

But this time, as Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.

The film stars Teresa Palmer (“Triple 9”) as Rebecca; Gabriel Bateman (“Annabelle”) as Martin; Billy Burke (the “Twilight” franchise) as Martin’s father, Paul; Alexander DiPersia (“Forever”) as Rebecca’s boyfriend, Bret; and Maria Bello (“Prisoners”) as Sophie. 

Globe Telecom, first to offer Disney Mobile in SEA

The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia and the Philippines’ number one mobile brand Globe Telecom announced the launch of Southeast Asia’s first Disney Mobile smartphone. Globe Telecom will be the first telco in Southeast Asia to offer Disney Mobile smartphones through its new myStarter postpaid plans for as low as P750 per month. 

Created especially for the trendsetting Disney fan and themed around popular Disney franchises, these smartphones carry the signature aesthetic of the Disney brand from its lively colors to matching themed accessories. The first Disney Mobile range for the Philippines comes in 3 themes  –Mickey Mouse, Frozen and Disney Princess.