REEL DEAL: Scarlett Johansson Frees Her Mind In “LUCY”

Portraying strong, unique female characters on the big screen is always a welcome challenge for Scarlett Johansson. So when casting his latest action-thriller “Lucy,” and writer-director Luc Besson needed to find an actress who could be believable as extremely vulnerable, as well as superpowered, when her exposure to an illicit substance inadvertently makes her acquire incredible skills, Johansson quickly came to mind.

Producer Virginie Besson-Silla describes the unlikely heroine of this story: “Lucy is an average girl who’s having fun with her friends in Asia, and there’s a lot of partying going on. She’s discovering life, but she’s going to discover it the hard way…and go much further than she would ever expect.”

MUSIC LYF: Get to Know Bea Valera 12 Stone's Newest EDM Artist

Bea Valera (born on December 12, 1991) better known as “BV” is an Electronic Dance Music (EDM) recording artist and songwriter born and raised in the Philippines. As a child, she started doing theatre in and eventually made her way to UP Diliman to study theatre arts. With a true passion for music, she decided to try her luck and focus full time on her work. In 2011, BV turned heads when she was featured as the lead on a music video called “Biglang Liko” by Ron Henley which currently has over 18 million youtube views. Eventually, this led her to do more music videos for other artists like Chicosci, Save Me Hollywood and many more. She is also quite experienced behind the scenes, working as a stylist and production designer from time to time.

BV was first heard in a collaboration with rapper Ron Henley called “Langit” and started singing choruses on live shows for her friends in the hiphop industry like Stick Figgas and Loonie while working as a creative executive for an advertising agency in 2012. Attending music festivals and watching foreign EDM inspired her to make her own music and collaborated with Kidwolf to make her first track “Unbroken”. After releasing the track on youtube in December 2013, BV along with her producer (Kidwolf) were asked to make the anthem for the Summer Siren Festival 2014. The song entitled “Free” exceeded their expectations as it entered the myx charts and was regularly played at different radio stations. The success of “Free” has allowed BV to perform around metro Manila, Zambales, Pampanga, Subic and Baguio. Staying true to her electronic pop sound, she is currently working with young EDM producers from all around the Philippines, hoping to take original Filipino EDM the next level.

REEL DEAL: “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD” Unfurls Charcater Banners

Meet “Max,” “Furiosa,” “Nux” and “Immortan Joe” – the four lead characters of Warner Bros.' upcoming action-adventure, “Mad Max: Fury Road” in their own individual posters.

“Mad Max: Fury Road” is the fourth film of George Miller‘s Road Warrior/Mad Max franchise co-written and directed by Miller. The post-apocalyptic action film is set in the furthest reaches of our planet, in a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, and most everyone is crazed fighting for the necessities of life.

Within this world of fire and blood exist two rebels on the run who just might be able to restore order… There’s Max (played by Tom Hardy from “The Dark Knight Rises”), a man of action and a man of few words, who seeks peace of mind following the loss of his wife and child in the aftermath of the chaos.

And… Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron from “Prometheus”), a woman of action and a woman who believes her path to survival may be achieved if she can make it across the desert back to her childhood homeland.

Also starring Nicholas Hoult as Nux and Hugh Keays-Byrne as Immortan Joe, Nathan Jones, Zoe Kravitz, Riley Keough, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, “Mad Max: Fury Road” opens across the Philippines in 2D and 3D theaters on May 14, 2015.

United States Supports Disaster Resilience In Benguet

(L-R:) Tublay Mayor Ruben Paoad, US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director Praveen Agrawal, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director Reed Aeschliman visit the women coffee farmers of Tublay, Benguet, who have been assisted by the US Government through WFP for the disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (DRR/CCA) programme. The US Government has announced an additional US$340,000 assistance to the province of Benguet to further improve disaster resilience in the area.

Photo credit: WFP Philippines/Anthony Chase Lim

REEL DEAL: “THE BOOK OF LIFE” Poster Reveal

Producer Guillermo Del Torro and director Jorge Gutierrez push the boundaries of animation in the upcoming “The Book of Life” where three childhood friends Manolo (Diego Luna), Joaquin (Channing Tatum) and Maria (Zoe Saldana) take on their most important journey within an enthralling landscape and larger-than-life visuals.  

As the story unfolds, all the world is made of stories but the greatest story begins in “The Book of Life,” the day when spirits pass between worlds and anything can happen.  “The Book of Life” sees the journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. Rich with a fresh take on pop music favorites, the movie encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.

Check out this cool poster of “The Book of Life” as it opens us up to a stunning world created with rich details in a powerful story that celebrates life and the after-life. 

“The Book of Life” (3D) opens October 16 in theatres nationwide (Philippines) from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Statement of Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC on PNoy’s SONA 2014

The Department of Education is one with President Benigno S. Aquino III in fulfilling his promises to the Filipino people. We remain committed to the Filipino learner. After addressing the inherited backlog of basic inputs, we continue to address the incremental requirements of enrollment growth and additional requirements with the introduction of Senior High School. In fact, it is only now in the history of the agency that we are going to build classrooms in preparation for FUTURE requirements. We are also hiring teachers at unprecedented levels that position our schools to provide quality education. The continued roll-out of the K to 12 curriculum sets the foundation for lasting reform of the Philippine educational system.

REEL DEAL: “FIFTY SHADES OF GREY” Heats Up Web With Teaser Trailer Images

Universal Pictures and Focus Features have just uncovered the sizzling teaser trailer and images of Sam Taylor-Johnson's feature film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The trailer may be viewed at http://youtu.be/bdagP6--_-s.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is the hotly anticipated film adaptation of the bestselling book that has become a global phenomenon. Since its release, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has been translated into 51 languages worldwide and sold more than 100 million copies in e-book and print—making it one of the biggest and fastest-selling book series ever.

Stepping into the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, who have become iconic to millions of readers, are Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.