MILO Marathon Queen Mary Joy Tabal obtains Olympics slot in Ottawa Marathon

Mary Joy Tabal once again proved that hard work and determination can propel oneself to success. Finally making her dream come true, Tabal secured her slot for the Rio Olympics when she finished the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon on Sunday, May 29 (May 30, Philippine time). After falling short in her stint at the Boston Marathon last April, the reigning MILO Marathon Queen was able to make an impressive comeback in Ottawa’s prestigious footrace.

Known as the Great White North’s largest and fastest marathon, the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon is one of two International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Gold Label races in Canada, attracting a world contingent of about 7,000 runners every year because of its flat and fast race course. 

Tabal clocked in with the time of 2:43:29, beating the 2:45:00 Olympic qualifying time for the women’s marathon. The 26-year-old Cebuana gained a substantial lead against other competitors, and was able to rank 5th in the female age group, 8th in the overall elite female category and 38th in the overall elite male and female category, out of a total of 4,416 elite participants.

"Finding Nemo" Filmmakers Dive Again with "Finding Dory"‏

Story is king at Pixar Animation Studios. Whether a film introduces new characters or revisits old friends, it all starts with a story that needs to be told. And this special practice is also true with the production of “Finding Dory.”

(Watch the main trailer of “Finding Dory” at http://youtu.be/MKJA-VLpiCo.)

While the conclusion of the 2003 Oscar®-winning film “Finding Nemo” left filmmakers and fans perfectly satisfied—there was something that lingered in the depths of director Andrew Stanton’s mind, though it didn’t surface until a few years ago. “I realized that I was worried about Dory,” he says. “The idea of her short-term memory loss and how it affected her was unresolved. What if she got lost again? Would she be OK?”

Spotify Family Plan Now Available for only P194

Spotify, the world’s most popular music streaming service, shares that starting today, Spotify Family Plan now provides families with up to six individual Spotify Premium accounts for only P194 per month!

Already on Family Plan? Don’t worry! The Family plan still includes separate accounts, individual playlists, personal recommendations and offline listening per user now at a better price, which will be updated on the next payment date. This also enables the head of the family to add more members.

The upgraded Spotify Family Plan offers the same world-class music experience as before, giving access to each family member to over 30 million songs for just one low price payable on a single bill.

Music icon Brian McKnight to serenade fans at Kia Theatre

World-renowned platinum recording artist Brian McKnight returns to Manila for a night of unforgettable music on June 20, 8PM, at the Kia Theatre.

Filipinos easily became fans of the musician thanks to his collection of hits like “Back at One” and “One Last Cry,” to name a few.

The multi-awarded singer-songwriter and producer is currently on a world tour to promote his 13th studio album “Better,” which he considers to be a throwback to the albums he made early in his career.

With 16 albums to date, McKnight returns to his soulful roots on his new record; featuring 12 relatable and touching songs. He worked with Hawaiian vocalist Kimie Miner and rapper Glasses Moses on the new project, which also includes long-time guitarists Chris Loftin and Tyrone Chase.

Luistro welcomes Duterte’s support for K to 12

Several weeks before Senior High School officially starts on June 13, 2016, Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC has welcomed the next administration’s decision to support the K to 12 program.

“I am grateful and very appreciative that the new administration [of Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte] is supportive of the educational reforms that Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), along with our stakeholders, have worked on the past six years,” Luistro said.

In a press briefing held last May 23, Duterte said he now supports the K to 12 program after it was thoroughly explained to him.

High-five to Torayvino Water Purifier

If you believe that the water delivered to your house, either by the usual utility firm or refilling station, is potable and safe for you and your family, think again. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that may compromise the quality of drinking water, whether coming from the kitchen faucet or filtered and bottled.

Considering the unreliability of piping systems in the country, the water distributed by major concessionaires and local water districts may not be fit for drinking as it can be adulterated by old, dilapidated or illicit pipe connections. Water from refilling stations dotting almost everywhere, on the other hand, comes mostly in non-BPA containers, which are also not guaranteed to be properly cleaned 100% of the time, and may be exposed to pollutants during preparation, storage or delivery.

Tom Hanks In The Face Of Recession In “A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING”

Award-winning actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks stars in “A Hologram for the King” set in recession-ravaged 2010 as an American businessman named Alan Clay adapted from the book of the same title by acclaimed author Dave Eggers.

Hanks’ role in the movie is a broke, depressed and freshly divorced man who arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to close what he hopes will be the deal of a lifetime. His mission: sell a state-ofthe-art holographic teleconferencing system to the Saudi government.  Adrift and alone in an unfamiliar land, Alan befriends taxi driver Yousef (Alexander Black), who chauffeurs him through the desert to the “King’s Metropolis of Economy and Trade,” a surreal ghost town of vacant skyscrapers and half-completed construction projects. Baffled by the bureaucratic reception he gets at the so-called “Welcome Center,” Alan struggles to figure out why his small IT support team is being forced to spend its days in a sweltering tent as it preps for the big presentation. Worse, because of the Saudi way of doing business, he’s unclear if the king will ever show up for the long-scheduled meeting.

More Supernatural Mayhem in New "Ghostbusters" Trailer‏

A new trailer for Columbia Pictures' adventure comedy “Ghostbusters” has just been unveiled and may be viewed at https://youtu.be/0sMqOzfHaBU.

“Ghostbusters” makes its long-awaited return, rebooted with a cast of hilarious new characters. Thirty years after the beloved original franchise took the world by storm, director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today – Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. This summer, they’re here to save the world! 

Wet and Wild Playground To Open This June with Alviera Go

Summer is almost over, but there is one more thing you can do to get you pumped with action. You may think it would be like a pool or a beach, well close enough... you might want to think "Takeshi's Castle," "Gladiator" or "Wipeout". And it will be the first of its kind in the world and it is now a reality!

Alviera, the township development rising in Porac, Pampanga plays host to the first game show-styled playground in the world. Experience outdoor fun and wacky games inspired by hit TV adventure shows.

Alviera Go Play takes off on Saturday, June 11 at SandBox, a full day of lively games, mental and physical challenges, foamy frolic, bouncy inflatables, prizes, food and music.

Take part in the craziness of Human Foosball, keep singing through Wacky Karaoke, run in sumo suits through Sumo Relay, play Agawan Base dressed in a zorb ball, or manage three lay-ups with binoculars on in Binocular Basketball. Try to kick a goal without wobbling, but only after spinning yourself silly in Dizzy Penalty Kick. There’s Buzzingo, Extreme Jack & Poy, Brain Games, Photo Mission and more. Over a dozen simultaneous games and activities will keep you, family and friends entertained throughout the day.

Filming Begins on Christopher Nolan's Epic Action Thriller "Dunkirk"

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that principal photography on the epic action thriller “Dunkirk” is underway in Dunkirk, France. Christopher Nolan (“Interstellar,” “Inception,” “The Dark Knight” Trilogy) is directing “Dunkirk” from his own original screenplay, utilizing a mixture of IMAX® and 65mm film to bring the story to the screen. The production will shoot in France, Holland, the UK and Los Angeles.

“Dunkirk” opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.