Tagum City is Palarong Pambansa 2015 venue

After careful deliberation, officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) have selected Tagum City, Davao del Norte to host the 2015 Palarong Pambansa. The city beat out five other bidders – Dipolog City, Pagadian City, Koronadal City, Lanao del Norte province, and CARAGA region.

Before announcing the results of the vote, Education Secretary Br Armin Luistro FSC asked for the support of the cities that were not selected. “This is a vote for Mindanao. This year we were surprised at the number of bidders. We hope that we still have your support.”

When asked what he expected from the host Luistro replied, “The only thing we need to expect is for Tagum to deliver.” He added, “Ang maganda sa Tagum ay mukhang handa na ang lahat. Hindi na kailangan pa ng dagdag na buwang preparasyon.” The Palarong Pambansa is held in May with hosting duties rotating yearly among the island groups.

Competitive bidding

Months before the official presentation, DepEd and Philippine Sports Commission officials inspected each venue to see if the facilities and billeting areas are adequate. PSC Commissioner Jose Luis Gomez reported to the body the rating system that they used, which included international standards, distance from the main complex, power supply, and security, among others. DepEd’s Schools Sports Events and Activities Unit Head Cesar Abalon reported on the status of the billeting areas, which are evaluated based on the adequacy of rooms, bathrooms, kitchen areas and medical provisions.

REEL DEAL: "TAKEN 3" Tops Wolrd Box-Office - Ranks No. 1 In The Philippines With P107 Million Opening Weekend

20th Century Fox has just delivered 2015’s first big hit when “Taken 3” muscled in a strong global haul clocking in at $161.8 million to-date.

Variety’s report states that, “Among notable markets, “Taken 3″ pulled in $5.4 million from the United Kingdom, opened with $2.5 million in the Philippines, kicked off with $2.2 million in Russia and debuted to $1.2 million in Spain.”

In the Philippines, showing in more than 200 screens, “Taken 3” grossed a massive Php 107 million during its first five-days since it opened (January 14).  Hauling in almost 600,000 admissions nationwide, “Taken 3” has locked itself to be the highest grossing film of the franchise based on its five-day weekend release with the first “Taken” opening at Php 4.7 million and “Taken 2” at Php 65 million.   

REEL DEAL: Asian Superstars Casts In Pivotal Roles In “BLACKHAT”

Asian superstars Wang Leehom and Tang Wei, best known for both starring in Ang Lee's controversial 2007 erotic drama “Lust, Caution,” join Chris Hemsworth in Universal Pictures' cybercrime thriller “Blackhat.”

Directed by Michael Mann (“Public Enemies,” “Miami Vice”), “Blackhat” follows convicted hacker Nicholas Hathaway (Hemsworth), furloughed from federal prison, and his American and Chinese partners as they try to identify and hunt down a world-class and dangerous cybercrime network from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, Perak, Malaysia and Jakarta. But as Hathaway gets closer to his target, his target becomes aware of Hathaway and the more personal the stakes become.

MUSIC LYF: Michael Bublé Releases "TO BE LOVED" Asian Tour Edition

Michael Bublé’s highly acclaimed studio album “To Be Loved” has been released with 5 new bonus tracks which is entitled “To Be Loved – Asian Tour Edition”. “To Be Loved”, Bublé’s sixth studio album follows his “Christmas” CD which sold seven million copies internationally and was the number two biggest selling album of  2011 (after Adele).

“To Be Loved” produced by Bob Rock was recorded in Vancouver and Los Angeles and includes a mix of standards as well as four original songs all co-written by Bublé. “After All” one of the four originals was co-written and performed by fellow Canadian Bryan Adams.  The new album also includes hits previously recorded by some of Buble’s musical heroes including the Bee Gees hit “To Love Somebody”,  Dean Martin’s “Nevertheless (I’m In Love With You”), the Jackson 5 early ‘70’s smash “Who’s Loving You”, Jackie Wilson’s “To Be Loved” and the Elvis Presley classic “Have I Told You Lately”.  Bublé is joined by actress Reese Witherspoon on the classic Frank and Nancy Sinatra duet “Something Stupid”.    

PETA closes its 47th season with Cherry Orchard remake, Arbol de Fuego

Capping  the  Philippine  Educational  Theater  Association’s  47th season is Arbol de Fuego, Rody Vera and Loy Arcenas’ reimagining of Anton Chekhov’s classic Cherry Orchard. After three successful Rak of Aegis runs, and original Filipino production, FnL, PETA simmers down from the fitful comedy-musical first half of the season with a grounding of a world classic this February 2015.

Arbol  de  Fuego is  a  tragicomedy  about middle-aged  matriarch  Enriquetta  Jardeleza-Sofronio, played by  veteran actress  Cherie  Gil,  who comes  home after  having  squandered  the  family fortune on a long stay in Madrid. Buried in debt, she and younger brother Adjie (essayed by Jake Macapagal) is  advised  to  sell  the  estate  to  avoid  bankruptcy,  but  refuses, insisting  on  keeping their ancestral house and the flourishing rows of fire trees that frame the estate. The Jardelezas instead, throw party after lavish party, reminiscing their opulent past in an effort to forget their depleting wealth. 

REEL DEAL: “AMERICAN SNIPER” Gets 6 Oscar Nominations Set For IMAX Theaters January 21

IMAX Corporation, Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures have just announced that “American Sniper,” the newest film from legendary director Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® format and released into all IMAX® theatres in the Philippines on Wednesday, Jan.21, 2015.

“American Sniper” has just earned six major Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. It also got Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing nods.

REEL DEAL: Emma Stone Nominated For Best Supporting Actress At The Oscars For Her Role In "BIRDMAN"

This year’s frontrunner at the Oscars, “Birdman” will open exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas on January 28 and has thus far dominated the Academy Award with nine nominations in major categories including Best Picture.  Other notable nominations for “Birdman” includes Best Director (Alejandro González Iñárritu), Best Actor (Michael Keaton), Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton),  Best Supporting Actress (Emma Stone), Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

In “Birdman,” Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s black comedy, Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) hopes that by spearheading an ambitious new Broadway play he will, among other things, revive his moribund career. In many ways, it is a deeply foolhardy move – but the former cinema superhero has high hopes that this creative gambit will legitimize him as an artist and prove to everyone – and himself – that he is not just a Hollywood has-been.