MUSIC LYF: American Idol Season 11 Live! In Manila 2012

Filipino fans of the Top 10 finalists in Season 11 of the reality singing show, “American Idol”, are definitely in for a treat this week as Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, DeAndre Brackensick, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, Hee Jun Han, Skylar Laine, Colton Dixon and Hollie Cavanagh are coming to Manila for a one-night live performance on September 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. 

“American Idol Live! Tour 2012” brings together on the same stage on the same night the powerhouse cast of 10 new discoveries in the hit reality singing competition in their first Asian engagement following a 45-date US tour that took them to major cities in North America. The Top 10 finalists are expected to perform some of the numbers they did during the four-month talent search, with Sanchez drawing from her song list that includes, among others, “Change Nothing,” “Stuttering”, “Sweet Dreams” and “I Will Always Love You.” An online post of the tour’s repertoire indicates that Sanchez has seven production numbers and three solo spots.

SM Cinema and the Film Development Council of the Philippines ink agreement in support of the Virtual Print Fee Program and FDCP’s Cinematheque Project

Times really has changed for the movie industry. Though we refer to movies as "film",  we are now at the time for it to evolve into a new format that will provide a better movie experience especially for Filipino moviegoers.

SM Cinema and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) solidify its partnership and celebrate a milestone in Philippine Cinema history with the full digitalization of SM Cinema theaters by September 2012.

In a recent Memorandum of Agreement signing between FDCP and SM Cinema, the country’s leading film exhibitor has converted 100% of its theaters to digital under the Virtual Print Fee (VPF) program. 

Launched last year, the VPF Program is a financing mechanism which funds the first purchase of digital cinema equipment, allowing theater owners and exhibitors to recoup a portion of equipment costs. DCinema manages the deployment of the VPF in the Philippines. With the help of the VPF program, DCinema will be able to deploy world-class digital projection system in the country, with a target of 400 screens for digital conversion.

Mikael Daez one of the Peace Ambassadors for the "I AM FOR PEACE" campaign

September 14, 2012, one of GMA's leading men Mikael Daez was formally introduced by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPA) as one of the "I am for Peace" national ambassadors at the Malacañang Palace.

The "I AM FOR PEACE" campaign seeks to mobilize public support for peace through the involvement and engagement of the general public. It aims to broaden the peace constituency by harnessing and empowering basic sectors such as youth, women, labor, civil society organizations, and media as advocates for peace and development. 

Mikael shares that being chosen as one of the peace ambassadors in the country is a humbling experience. "I am much honored to be a national peace ambassador. I am looking forward in making the most of this opportunity to reach out to the nation and promote something I firmly believe in. At the same time, this gives me another way to reach out to people beyond my acting and television shows." 

Meanwhile, Mikael portrays the role of Carlos Miguel in GMA's AfternoonPrime Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga which airs from Monday to Friday after Hindi Ka na Mag-iisa.

REEL DEAL: Ruby Sparks SPOTLIGHT

Sparks fying for Zoe Kazan 

Zoe Kazan’s spark is aglow all over as her debut lead role and screenplay “Ruby Sparks” continuously merit positive and rave reviews since it recently opened in the U.S.  More than ripe and timely for reaping movie audience internationally looking for a new kind of high in romantic movies, “Ruby Sparks” will soon open in Phil. cinemas on September 19.

In the enchanting, reflective and very funny “Ruby Sparks,” Paul Dano plays Calvin, a brilliant young writer who dazzled the literary world a decade ago when he was a young student. His first novel was greeted with accolades and awards.  But since penning that book, he has failed to live up to expectations and that early promise. He hasn’t written anything for a decade. Life changes one sunny California day when Calvin wills the perfect woman into his life by the sheer power of his imagination. Ruby (Zoe Kazan) leaps off the page and into the kitchen of his house, filling it with her warm and joyful personality. But Calvin will have to decide soon what awaits Ruby at the end of his story.

ART IS A BANG: Walang Kukurap

The story of corruption is not really new to the country and the Filipino people, yet many still don't know the very complex and dark plans and people behind them. This year, Tanghalang Pilipino introduces WALANG KUKURAP by Layeta Bucoy that tackles the complexity and morbid truth about corruption, politics and power. 

WALANG KUKURAP shows the political network that is interlinked with drugs, money, strategies, loyalty, and family. It shows the darkside of both parties and all who are involved. In a town controlled by powerful leaders with political masks to decieve the public of their true intention. However, it also shows that the problem is also fueled by the poor who tolerate and benefit from corrupt culture. The question that goes into my head is "When will this end? How will we end this?"

It is actually my first time to see Tanghalang Pilipino (either I was too young to remember, or it was my past life), and it shocked me. Though I have seen stage plays with a violent theme, this one is the most moving I have seen so far. They have a set design that is surprisingly simple yet very multipurpose. I was also want to crumple like a paper upon seeing real hammers and handsaw as props. It spooked my soul when they are using them, but they did a wonderful job of executing them to be so realistic. 

MUSIC LYF: Yonel's Top 30 - September 15

WOW! GOODTIME by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen still remains on top for this week! . 2nd place goes to  PLAY HARD by David Guetta featuring Akon and Ne-Yo. The third place goes to THAT'S MORE LIKE IT by Katy Perry. See the rest of the countdown after the jump and also like Yonel's Top 30 hits on Facebook!

MUSIC LYF: X Plus album previews what’s next for Christian Bautista

Ten years has passed since Christian Bautista was introduced to showbiz, but he remains to be one of the most sought-after balladeer of his generation here and abroad.  Universal Records joins Christian as he celebrates his first decade with the release of X Plus, a collection of songs which celebrate his 10th year.

X Plus includes Christian’s rendition of three of the biggest theme songs from top rating teleserye – Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan (from Walang Hanggan), Nag-iisang Bituin (from Princess and I), and Nag-iisang Ikaw (from Precious Hearts Romance presents Pintada).

X Plus also gives a glimpse of what’s next for the balladeer by the inclusion of the remix version of Unphotographable, used during the Philippine Fashion Week. The sweeping ballad What Can I Do is also part of the compilation.