Music Saves Rayver Cruz, Rhian Ramos, Glaiza De Castro, Arci Munoz and Matt Lozano in Upcoming Film SINAGTALA

Hearing their names during this press conference made me question myself, why didn't I think of that?

Dance phenom Rayver Cruz, gorgeous Rhian Ramos, rock chick Arci Munoz, talented singer actor Matt Lozano, and multi awarded actress - singer Glaiza De Castro will be starring in this movie called SINAGTALA. This is the handy work of Cinemalaya awardee Mike Sandejas who also did "Tulad ng Dati" and "Dinig Sana Kita".  

It was supposed to be made years ago but schedules made it difficult because much of the cast were doing projects that had continuity in it. The story revolves with the lives of band members who had very interesting lives beyond their usual work.  

Rhian says "You know, I've seen the trailer so many times, but it still gives me goosebumps because the meaning resonates with me. We hope this would touch lives, not just ours. We had already started working in Sanggre, then we got to work in Sinagtala. We will still do the Rastro movie, but I'm so glad that even if we are not together on screen, they still support us. We have more surprises this year. I think the pressure is different now, we are artists that need to grow. We are more mature, our closeness is different now and we hope that translates to a different chemistry now that we're doing this. Artists would relate to this because it's also about passion, to question yourself about the money, the fame, finding yourself and your center. To realize how lucky you are that you get to do your craft."

Glaiza adds "I am proud of this movie, proud of my co-stars because I feel it was fate that brought us together. There were tons of other artists that were considered for the roles but I think the Lord was responsible for this, in orchestrating forming us 5. Our schedules are crazy, but it was so surreal to see this happen. This isn't normal. I know much of them in the past, but haven't really worked with Arci and Matt, and I'm so proud to have had the privilege to work with Direk Mike Sandejas because this story is so personal for him. He wrote this a long time ago, and it now has a different meaning for him. We hope that reaches you somehow. Before this, Rhian and I were in Sanggre, when we learned about this project, I was happy because we were able to talk lengthily about the film. It's not something we expected to happen, and although there are plans to do another film, this is a bonus for Rastro fans. They'll get to see us in a different story, a different role. Rhian is actually very musically inclined, people don't know that she plays the drums and is pretty good at it. She'll surprise you with what she's going to do here. We don't talk about the usual stuff, we make candles, things that make us happy. We talk about personal things, and 10 years ago, that's a long time. We have different dynamics, it's not about just work, but life. When we were young, we dreamed of being stars, but now it has purpose. Through this film, you get to see that, you also have new dreams and see why you need to make an effort to achieve more."

Arci says "We are celebrating a very beautiful story of 5 people, connected with the love of music and love of God. Everyone had their struggles, they found their purpose and I feel people can relate to it because Direk Mike did a great job interpreting it. We hope to be able to save lives with this. I do have a band in real life, we've been together for 17 years and I think about the things we personally go through. It's not easy, you have to find your purpose, your reasons, and how to go through problems that are bigger than you. This also teaches you to be inspired. You will never fail as long as you have the Lord beside you."

Matt says "This film will touch a lot of people. I relate to this because as an artist, I sometimes don't deserve the success that I get. It will teach you about life, Direk Mike certainly worked hard with the story. The only thing I did to succeed was to hold on to God. My faith is a huge factor in everything I do."

Rayver says "I relate to this because we both are going through things. Music is something that makes me happy, when I was called for this role, we call each other bandmates. That makes me so happy even after the shoot."

Here's the press conference on video, get tissues because they've been quite emotional during this event!

This is certainly a very promising film to watch. I hope their individual fans would be able to watch the film because this is certainly something they'd love as a story. It comes out on April 2 under SINAGTALA FILMS. 

KEN CHAN Wishes To Work with JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE and GLAIZA DE CASTRO Soon

Our boy Ken Chan is doing mighty good with his shows and now he's taking his newest single QUARANFLINGS in the promo route. This will be launched in June 12 on AOS, but the track has already been released in social channels and streaming sites so if you're looking for something you could relate to go ahead and listen to it now.

Ken Chan says "We didn't have anything to do but survive during the pandemic, but I think the only person I have had the pleasure of being with during the whole thing was Rita Daniela. For that I am grateful, and yes, there are a lot of people who messaged me but if I've met them, I treat them as friends. During the pandemic, there are a lot of people who have had the experience of having a relationship, and I think they'll be able to relate to Quaranflings. This is a song composed by Lolito Go and produced by Paulo Agudelo under GMA Music."

He adds "I know Rita and I would really have a good following, I am looking forward for more projects with her but there's a good time for that. We both know that we should work with other artists. If I was going to work with other actresses, I wished for Bianca and it came true for Mano Po. Next time, I want to work with some of my closest friends like Julie Anne San Jose or Glaiza De Castro. To clear, I just picked up that quote I tweeted a couple weeks ago on Google, I think I forgive easily." 

Here is Ken's latest single

Here's our blog conference this morning:

With his wish to go back to AOS and soon to work with Julie Anne San Jose or Glaiza De Castro, Ken Chan will surely be a remarkable leading man on GMA and their new shows. Aside from being busy with businesses he's put up in the last few years, he's continuing to make music, to hopefully release more next year or late this year.

GLAIZA DE CASTRO for Endless Beauty by HBS

It was a nice afternoon of re-connecting as our first salvo of live entertainment press conference meant we're meeting the ever talented Glaiza De Castro. It's been a year of milestones for the Kapuso actress and by no means is she shortchanged in shows, programs, and just recently, endorsements. She is now the face of Endless Beauty by HBS.

It's a company produces top quality skin care products for the most common skin issues. Thing is, they've kept most of their products affordable all these years and it's relatively easy to get hold of them as they've devised to employ a lot of people as distributors and sellers here and in other countries.

We met Ms. Jamie Prado and her daughter during the press conference. They had very humble beginnings coming from money borrowed from her husband (Php 1,500) which she used to purchase soaps back in the day. She learned the ropes and constantly expanded her network. She had the trust of a lot of people because of the products she sold, then began thinking of working with other professionals to put up her own brand. That's where "Endless Beauty by HBS" came about and used it to better the lives of other people. Thing is, it's easy to become part of their movement. You may inquire through their official Facebook page over at https://www.facebook.com/hbsbeauty and show your intentions to be a distributor too. They have different price points where you can start, and it ain't that much to have your own business. Best of all,  a lot of people love their products already and are only sold through their members. It's also the reason why they have no physical stores because instead of them earning much of it, they prefer their resellers, distributors and dealers to have that opportunity.

Their current best seller is the Bleaching Soap Advanced. There are tons of other products in their line but suggest you know why it's effective. 

Glaiza De Castro was quite happy that she got to represent the brand because the owner Ms Jamie Prado has always regarded her as a very powerful actress, one that can do lead roles, villain roles and become so amazing with it. This is the trait the owner says that convinced her how Glaiza perfectly represents them, they are VERSATILE. They want you to try the product and see how it works on you.

Here's our interview with Glaiza and Ms. Jamie Prado a few days ago

Glaiza also shared her recent trip to the UK and Ireland with her fiancee David Rainey. She also told us about her new shows, new projects, her plans in music and a few details about the wedding and how she met David's parents. They live in the north western part of Ireland and is a very tight nit family, Glaiza really appreciated how she was loved by them and offered  to be her family when she's there. 

Hope you love our updates about Glaiza De Castro! Congratulations dear, you're going to get that dream wedding I'm sure! I'm really happy for you!

Glaiza, Tj Shines On My Letters to Happy

Just saw My Letters To Happy this evening at their premiere in SM Megamall. I had a notion this would be a love story alone, but it has made me realize they’ve probably made this for the twist of the story which we can’t mention here.

Not everyone was built strong. That line alone would make you think how hard and complicated this relationship is for Abet and Happy. One day they’re fine and dandy, a little bit crazy over each other, the next day they’re all talking serious stuff. They delve into that a lot, I felt uncomfortable at first because as millennials put it, there’s some ghosting involved. How far would a person show his love for someone?

Because we often forget how important our time is. This line had me thinking, do we all really do that? Do we not put importance to that moment we spend with out loved ones and instead just became superficial? How do we count or identify the things we need to put real attention to?

Abet and Happy made me feel a little hurt, especially in that one scene (I couldn’t tell you to spoil it!), a little helpless sometimes, but the fun parts, you encounter several skips of your heartbeat. Story wise, My Letters To Happy has given a subject much importance. Check it out if you want to see how, why you need to be crazy sometimes.

This film shows on July 17, 2019. Take your love struck crazy friends along and learn how to love without conditions, it works for some people. Glaiza, is a fine actress... and this just proves even if she reads lines from a phone book, she makes it work. Congratulations to the production too, but hope you ease up on the camera shake, I felt dizzy in the first frames (sorry).

My Letters To Happy Presscon

What do you do to be in a relationship? Does it make you happy and complete? Or are you okay without it? What if you've given up on love but suddenly, you met someone perfect online that just completely swept you off your feet, but end up leaving you in the end, would you still go for it?

The movie My Letters to Happy will be showing this coming "rainy but alone" season. The Director saw Sleepless and always knew the perfect person for this project, it was always Glaiza De Castro. TJ was a solid actor and they wanted to see how the contrast would work with the two. The character needed a more up tight guy, and he knew he was the perfect one for it during their first few meetings. 

Glaiza remarks “I tried to use new apps to date, it made me braver, more eager to express myself but it really wasn’t successful. It didn’t work for me. It’s a commitment, and I think I should just go out. I am very patient and haven’t experienced getting from one relationship to another. It’s a choice but there are a lot of relationships that are shallow, it’s what happens if you don’t know if there’s a connection. The character I play is very eccentric, theatrical, a little effort to put her out there. Surely you will see a different persona. I wasn’t really troubled working with TJ, he just enters the scene and he could do it. He isn’t selfish at all, I could love older guys and I think that’s what is exciting about relationships. Love has no form, and it’s a very nice feeling. I have a tendency to get in easy going into character but have difficulty getting out of it, TJ also is going to be more sexy here. You should see him! Alyssa also tries new things, it is difficult but she is not filtered and has no acting methods yet so she wasn’t trying too hard and it looked beautiful on screen.” 

Tj says “Here she was refreshing and retained her innocence when I had to be with her in a scene. It releases the tension, I had to give her a few tips but she was very focused. It worked with her advantage (Alyssa). In a sense, it wouldn’t be enough for the director if she didn’t pass the standards and she did.At the end of the day when we help one person, their family or friends, it’ll be worth it and it’s a positive message and worth to take from the film.” 

Alyssa Valdez adds “This was actually very hard for me and very challenging and it was something I wanted to experience so I could know myself better. I get overwhelmed sometimes and second guess myself, try to see what I needed to do but I’m just really happy I get to improve more in this film.” 

When the director was making the script, he wanted balance so it wouldn’t be heavy and dark. Glaiza had range and she was already enjoying it during the second scene with Alyssa. For those who would like to watch an acting showdown between man an woman, the things in between how relationships work or fail, make sure you watch it this July 17 on theaters nationwide! How about you? What would you write if you had to send your own version of "My Letters To Happy". 

LIWAY Shows October 10 Nationwide

I have been able to watch the movie LIWAY during Cinemalaya 2018 a couple weeks ago at the CCP Main theater on an almost SRO audience at that. It’s the highest grossing film this year in the festival and I know why. It was a bit controversial since it is tackling happenings during Martial Law. Marcos’ regime wasn’t all that jazz, so in a way this could tell a new generation of Filipinos, especially the youth to at least get to know how it happened during those times as told by the victims themselves, inside a facility that would make you think about the repercussions of letting go of freedom, dictatorship and its tough consequences. 

They have already done a preview on the last day of Cinemalaya (because they are the highest grosser) but for those who didn’t get to watch it on those dates it will be now shown on theaters nationwide starting October 10. You’ll see Glaiza De Castro raw as she does Kumander Liway’s character as she defines strength, courage even as a mother in a very difficult era. She also is raising her child Dakip who told this story. 

We have a lot of choices in the films come October 10, but this is the story of a real life individual. It’s a love letter of a kid to her mom and how innocent he was when he got out of prison. I had the same feeling when I got out of the comforts of my home much like my parents did, I still carried that principle, the kid is after all our very own director. If I had one thing that I am not comfortable with is the treatment that the woman gets, Contessa in a way is different because I always go to mansions to shoot whilst in this film we had to do it in a Boys Town. For me I felt okay and I respect the jurors and they saw how I did it in my performance of Liway. I got the recognition in a different form and that I am very extremely thankful for. It’s like I won an award because the people were chanting after they watched the film and it’s the first time I’ve seen that happen, it’s surreal and I hope it happens on screen. It is a story about hope, about love. Very cliche as others might thing but it is very true.”

Dominic Roco adds “It’s because of this film that I knew it actually touched someone’s life, that’s important. There are tons of reactions but I pay attention to our families, to people close to us who say it’s real.”

Make sure you watch LIWAY on cinemas tomorrow (October 10) and tickets will be discounted because they want a lot of people to watch this. 

KUMAGCOW

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Glaiza De Castro Topbills New GMA Afternoon Show CONTESSA

Had the privilege to watch the new show Contessa, GMA Entertainment Content Group’s offering for the afternoon time slot of the Kapuso network. This is about how a woman wanted to fight, wanted to be free, who wanted to love and just live.

Glaiza De Castro who takes the lead role says “I feel people will be surprised about how I would be beaten up, slapped, thrown out and abused by people, not the feisty one from Encantadya. It’s old school but hopefully you’ll feel hope for her no matter how hard her problems would be. That in a way will have someone to take care of you no matter how hard life is.”

“It’s as stressful as the traffic in Manila, to be trusted with a good material, we just wanted to give thanks to the people behind this. Of course there is pressure, like I said I just want to make this realistic, focus my energy on what needs to be done rather than just ratings. I don’t think you won’t be rewarded if you do your best. The change of character is very drastic, I need to have someone guard me and my face because I didn’t want it to be too strong like Pirena. I connect with my co stars here. Revenge plots are deep in culture so that mentality is not really gone. In our soaps, you can compare it ti history, people look for hope in times like these and see if the decisions they make are right or wrong. When I read scripts I really enjoy how they are like heroes/heroines, like how it’s out of this world and fascinating like my fantasy shows. Yes Bea will be weak, she also will suffer even after her husband dies, be at fault and go to jail, but that’s where she will meet a whole lot of people with really make her think about the tough choices she had to do later on, it’ll be a little like Orange is the new Black but different delivery of course. Contessa later on will learn her lesson from these ladies that she’ll meet in prison, which will make her plot her revenge.”

Gabbi Eigenmann says “Yes I know it’s so nice to reminisce how Glaiza and I came from Dading and that’s where we actually got so close, so was really looking forward to work with her on any capacity. My character is going to be mean with Bea in this series but as long as I get to work with her I’m good. Dading was raw, it ended nice because we showed real feelings to end the show, this I hope would be the same.”

Phytos Ramirez adds “I am going to be evil but mostly because I’m only following orders, I would do everything for money and that’s what I’ll do all the time. I will be instrumental in my boss’ fall later on but not in the near future, it will be a difficult life for Bea first.”

Lauren Young says “I’m not entirely evil, perhaps a percentage of me will only be in that situation because she’ll be a boss one day then very childish and no backbone the next. The family ties will also hasten her to be part of what they are doing, and the thought of fighting over a man, with Marco, and the situation will get worse because of that even if he dies. That’s where her angst came from. I’ll also be one of the reasons why Bea’s life is going to be difficult. She’s a business woman, a very good one. But what Daniela wants, Daniela gets.”

Denise Barbacena says “I won’t be 100 percent evil, more like the Phytos lady version because I work for Lauren’s character. She’s my boss but I will be comic relief as all of them are already very serious.”

The revenge plot is just the tip of the iceberg and judging from the first episode we watched this evening, you may have to watch and start it from Episode 1 so you understand where the characters are coming from.

You’ll hate the evil ones, but you’ll love their redeeming factors and how their revenge takes play. This will be shown on GMA’s afternoon prime Mondays through Fridays. Visit GMANetwork.com or GMADrama on social media because they’ve got hints about the characters there.

It starts airing March 19, 2018.

KUMAGCOW

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Glaiza De Castro for KUN[G]DIMAN at the Music Museum

Having been able to see Glaiza De Castro grow as an artist these past few years has really been able to make me feel safe, a bit optimistic that there is a future for OPM. Not that I've lost hope, but I'm just so happy to see someone at this day and age to actually affect me, make me see, make me feel her passion. She's nothing short of a phenomenon on TV doing tons of different roles, GMA has taken care of her career but she's not just taking her off time lightly. Singing has been her first love, always have been, always will be. When I began seeing her on different stages, performing with bands, I could see how her face just lights up. When I talk to her, you could see her emotions, genuine and undoubtedly depict her stories as if she's on cloud nine. It's as if she was telling a very sad love story, but she was sparkling at the same time.

This talented and amazing performer showed us a sample of what she could do in her upcoming concert at the Music Museum this coming October 27 at 8PM. Other than excitement during the short program, I was listening to her sing while not looking at her. I know it would have been really distracting to look at her pretty face, I think I got what I wanted. She's matured so fast in just a couple of years, even if I missed some of her presscons and blogcons, seeing her perform in a different level this day had me asking, are they doing a good job managing such a talented artist? I think her music should be more out there... honestly, I began thinking she's extremely underrated. Her songs definitely should reach a wider audience, those who would appreciate it more because she deserves it. I felt tired just seeing her efforts taking her Synthesis album a couple months back, but she's here putting out another set of songs, people, don't stop her.

About how this all began Glaiza shared "I was called into their office (Polyeast Records) and they told me that it would be a good thing to have a concert together with this album. Doing a play on the word KUNDIMAN (kungDman), we will be doing covers of great legendary OPM artists. In the concert, we will have several guests and we already confirmed Mike Hanopol which I don't know if I'm going to be excited or floored because it's so monumental. It's not going to be all original songs, I'll be also doing a special number. Some of which I'll be doing with Gloc9."

She also was asked about her time dedicated to her work in GMA and this singing habit, she explained "I think I do have following in both music and acting. It helps that I have both, it just happened and there are a lot of opportunities. It would have been good to just have it in garage band but I had the right people to help me at the right time. It was chop suey, but there were people who pushed me to concentrate on it. It helped that my fans see me on tv and then get interested in what I listen to. They now know who I am through my music."

I think we do. See more of her in these photos.

So remember, watch her upcoming concert at the Music Museum this coming October 27 at 8PM. If you love her, show her you do. Be at the gate early or purchase tickets at PolyEast Records office 3/F Universal Tower, 1487 Quezon Avenue, QC during office hours.

I see. Dreams never end.