WILBERT ROSS and ERIC EJERCITO on Korean-Filipino Produced Film "THE GUARDIAN"

Good news to those who love KDramas, action flicks and worthy series as the film called "THE GUARDIAN" will be shown this September 2nd in cinemas nationwide. This film by Jeong Jang-Hwan stars KPOP Idol Nam Woo Hyun, Park Eun-Hye, Han Jae-Suk, our very own Yassi Pressman, Wilbert Ross and Eric Ejercito. 

This is produced by GV Labs and Will Studios of Korea, and Ovation Productions, Parallax Studio, Robosheep Studios and Viva Films of the Philippines. The film will be distributed by Noori Pictures in South Korea and Viva Films here in the Philippines. In a nutshell, this is BIG!

What's good is that this film is entirely shot and made in the Philippines which means we are more than capable of doing it. The film tells a story of a son (played by Nam Woo Hyun) who sacrificed going to the Philippines to be with his mom who then got kidnapped by Korean gangsters. He needs to save her within 48 hours, a feat that may prove to be difficult within that time frame.

Actor Eric Ejercito says "They work on Korean time and they accomplish everything they have on paper. It's a different system but Filipinos could adapt to it. I've done a few action films but we switched with Wilbert, I did the romcom part. We are both nerds and we got to bond off cam. I am also very organized going to this character because it needs a month long shoot, I prepared for it. We also had them try Filipino food, sisig. They had fun here "

Wilbert says "In the action role, I had to go to Davao but I couldn't because I had to train for it. I worked out and did training, had to push my self because I had no martial arts background. The action sequence went smooth. We went out with the Korean actors, even though there was a language barrier, we got to let them experience night life. The character was new to me, I always play dumb roles but being a villain was so much fun."

Here's the media conference on video:

Producers Wesley Villarica of Parallax Studio Inc. and  Micah Fernandez of Robosheep Studios just confirmed today that the film will also be released by Lionsgate for international distribution. They also shared some appreciation on both sides as they learned a lot on this opportunity to not only line produce, but become actual producers of the film. They also mentioned some issues regarding some issues with other LGU's (which they kept secret) who made the production experience miserable. Good thing Quezon City gave them help, a place to do their work more liberally, and an LGU that really cares when they needed it (permits and locations included) which they hope won't happen if they plan to do movies here again soon. Yes, they plan to do more of these productions now that it has been done. Hopefully, it'll be easier to do (with them in the cast maybe?) but who knows, they might be making one already. 

THE GUARDIAN will be out on theaters this September 2, make sure you watch and support them! 

ROBINSONS APPLIANCES Feature LG Home Appliances For Your Own HALLYU HOME!

Spent the afternoon at Robinsons Magnolia as Robinsons Appliances and LG Philippines got us to experience "The Hallyu Home". Experiencing the comfort of living in a Korean home you often see on K Dramas and KPOP Music Videos certainly was a great idea. 

LG showcases the latest LG OLED EVO AI TV's that utilizes AI to improve video quality, programming and recommendation. It also has an AI chat bot so you can easily troubleshoot the device, a great companion if in case something happens. You can also mirror your tablets or phone if you need to use it for other functions. They also have the new LG XBoom AI speakers which you can use for those events and parties. If you need to cook like a pro, the LG Neo Chef can now sear protein or make it crispy while grilling, all can be done at the comforts of your home. The new LG QNED EVO AI on the other hand can be controlled via the proprietary app.

The air conditioners and air purifiers can also do a lot, from cleaning on its own, it eliminated bacteria, odors, and also has free installation included.

They also showed us the WashTower, a combo washer dryer that saves you space, where settings are at the center so you don't have to bend down or reach too high. It uses AI to lessen the guesswork on your laundry because it detects your fabric type and does the turbo wash fast and in best results, without damaging your clothes. It also dries it faster, lessening shrinkage as well. The combo washer dryer LG AI DD on the other hand can do it without the need of transferring clothes, while the LH CordZero help you with vacuuming, no more wires when doing chores around the house!

Ms. Donna San Luis of Robinsons Appliances says "Who are real LG users here? We all know you use them for quality, and these are available in Robinsons Appliances and you get 15 percent off on most of them (til August 31st), this would be perfect for your homes!"

So if you are looking for a way to make your home a "HALLYU" one, just visit any Robinsons Appliance branch near you because LG and their various home products are available there.

Celebrate Mothers Day with NOVA VILLA, CES QUESADA, FYANG and JM: "PICNIC" A Tagalized Korean Film Released by Nathan Studios

While the rest of the world is happening, there's this Korean film called PICNIC that's taking the theaters by storm. This is a film directed by Kim Yong-gyun and will be showing today (May 7th) in theaters nationwide.

We were at Gateway Mall last night to cover the premiere night, and the lobbies were filled with JMFyang fans and movie goers who were screaming on top of their lungs when they saw stars on the red carpet. We were able to record the media conference before the screening, so please enjoy!

The film is certainly a tear jerker. It revolves around the characters Eun-Sim played by Na Moon-hee (voice dubbed by Ms. Ces Quesada) and Jun Geum-soon played by Kim Young-ok (voice dubbed by Ms. Nova Villa) and their friend Tae-Ho played by Park Geun-hyung (voice by Kuya Bodjie Pascua). The younger version of Eun-Sim and Tae-Ho was dubbed by Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra.

 

 

 

They are a rowdy bunch despite the number of octogenarians included in the cast, and there's certainly no shortchanging of "landi" if you could say that out loud. Super happy about scenes where they were able to throw shade at each other. It didn't matter if their backs would hurt at each turn, they will tell you a spade is a spade even if it hurts your feelings, even if it means bringing back the past. The conversations were so amusing that when you're about to cry, they'll insert humor in between so you would giggle about the situation. I think this was clearly done that way to make sure it wouldn't be heavy and cerebral.

 

I super love the banter between Ms. Nova Villa and Ms. Ces Quesada. It was a good decision to provide Filipino dubbing for it as it felt a lot like home. No need to rush reading subtitles to understand the story because it could easily be understood in cinema audio. Should you watch it? DEFINITELY. I bet you'll find the story more apt for the children rather than for the Grandmas or Mothers involved in it. They'll learn a lot about how to go through the intricacies of love for family. It's a gem, and if you find KDramas so good for watching in the corners of your room, go do this in the cinemas because the experience hits certainly different.

 

Congratulations to CEO Ria Atayde and COO Ms. Sylvia Sanchez who knew right from the start that this would be a good thing to bring in Philippine shores.

NETFLIX Had Us Experience SQUID GAME 2

Looks like NETFLIX is getting ready for highly successful Korean series Squid Game as they premiere on the platform this coming December 26, 2024. It's been a while since we've seen the first installment, but their Director Hwang Dong-hyuk promises that it will all be worth the wait.

We had ourselves experience this during the Netflix thanksgiving event at Green Sun a few weeks ago, and certainly, we had ourselves go through the various games they played in the series to earn points, and exchange it for exclusive merch later on in the evening.

The character Gi-hun will be starting off the second season after he leaves the airport, there will be some that will still be part of this installment, while a few will be new characters you should look out for in the show. Times will be different this time because after winning that game 3 years back, it'll be a whole lot different now especially when they get to win 45.6 Billion, and new players will have them running after their money. They also teased some characters from Season 1 will have appearances, so watch out for that!  

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They didn't win the Emmy's for nothing, so make sure you do download and subscribe through Netflix because as you can see, they definitely have a LOT up their sleeve!

Hon. LUIS CHAVIT SINGSON Set to Give 7 MILLION "E-GRACIA" On His Birthday

Luis Chavit Singson talks about E-Gracia, his birthday and more! (photo credits: 258 Tri Media and his official FB Page)

It's TRUE and I've personally verified it from the man himself.

Former Governor of Ilocos Sur, Mayor of Narvacan, Deputy National Security Adviser of the Philippines and Filipino Businessman Hon. LUIS CHAVIT SINGSON is giving away a whopping 7 MILLION Pesos on his birthday this coming June 21.

6 Million of this prize will be for 200 Winners of 10 Thousand Pesos each, and 1 Million will go to one lucky winner.

Here's his announcement when we talked to him over dinner:

 

Here's the mechanics on how you can join:
 

 

Instead of him receiving gifts on his birthday, he chose to do this instead. He was very eager to share his blessings and want to actually just spend it in Singapore or some other country because it gives him time to rest and just enjoy life. He's 41 (verified by him too), and he's been working hard all these years. He also got resuscitated thrice for his second life and got in danger more than 7 times. Some people fear him, look at him differently because of his stature, but at that short time that I got to talk to him, he's a very nice and approachable guy.

He also talked lengthily about his future projects including a plan to put up investments from Korea to the Philippines, perhaps produce a couple of shows too.  I heard some little talk about VAGABOND one of the highest rating series from Korea and Lee Seung Gi, plus his business plans, a Korean studio in Vigan, his adventures with Manny Pacquiao in Japan, and a few more things so you might want to listen to that too. 

 Here's our short talk after dinner:

Now, there's more than one reason to download their app called E-Gracia on Android and the App Store. If you want to win, just follow the instructions on his giveaway and who knows, you might just be the lucky one!

LG Celebrates 10 Years of OLED

LG is celebrating their milestones especially the LG OLED TV. It's been a standard, and with good reason because they're the best in this technology. Back then, it wasn't common to see Organic Light Emitting Diode on TV screens but today, the same tech has changed the landscape of not just theirs, but every company that comes out with their own TV screen, all because they have pushed for its innovation.

Today, they've got LG OLED evo that has got a Brightness Booster, an a9 Gen5 AI Processor so you see those pixels with unbeatable clarity. Thing turns off on screen so those blacks are now deeper, but colors still remain rich and vibrant, something that you probably have never seen before on TV.

A history lesson ensued, they displayed generations of their OLED TV's from the beginning HD to now their OLED evo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gaming on it even has it's own setting, to enhance not just experience, but latency and better framerates

Some sets even had close to no gaps at the back, so you're basically looking at something that could depict artwork to change the feel of a space. That was nice!

They used a PS5 without a speaker attached, but it sounded quite nice. It's also Dolby Atmos ready, so for acoustic freaks, this would be satisfying.

They utilize their own LG WebOS 23 that's got apps, quick cards, easily accessible through the clicker that comes with the OLED TV from LG.

 

It's also got HDR like quality visuals, those textures would come quite handy in some games you need to play.

In a studio setting, you can teach KPOP moves with ease. It's also got multi screens if you need to look at materials and see yourself at the same time.

Shortcuts to use if your favorite team has a game, or use it to follow them if you miss one.

The brightest because the pixels light up independently.

LG Executives, several celebrities like Enrique Gil, Michelle Dee and Dominic Roque were in attendance, no interviews but just seeing them was precious!

It was certainly a good thing that they also did this in the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines where some got to dress up in cultural garbs like Hanboks and Jeogori. Thank you for the fun event LG! Congratulations and I fervently hope you'll continue to innovate, perhaps introduce new ones in the coming years. Real progress! Cheers!

Made in Korea Designed for Filipinos: Bela Padilla x Aera사랑

 

SM Megamall's Upper Ground and Second Floor was filled to the brim as Korean skin brand Aera launched their collaboration with Actress, Director, Writer, Author, Songwriter and Entrepreneur Bela Padilla. She's best known for her work in films like "100 Tula Para Kay Stella", "Meet Me In St. Gallen", "The Day After Valentines", her work "Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko" and so many more.

This new collaboration with Aera is called Lights, Camera, Cosmos; also under the same people who brought you iWhite Korea products which has been trusted in the Philippine market for over 20 years. Their call is for you to be LIMITLESS in terms of taking care of yourself and not hold back because after all, you deserve it!

What's included in the new products is the Aura Water Sunscreen, Stellar No Oil Face Gel, and the Milky Way Glow Drops Serum. I have personally tried the products before I slept and yes, this can be used by men too. The Aura Water Sunscreen feels different because it's not sticky, almost like water, no white casts so you don't look like a ghost when going out with it. It's got SPF 50 to get you protected from harmful rays of the sun and non greasy. 

Here's our interview with Bela Padilla and some scenes at the SM Megamall event we covered yesterday, so please enjoy!

 

In a hot humid weather like ours in the Philippines, it's something that skin brands should pay attention to and Bela told them about this right at the very beginning. The Stellar No Oil Face Gel (named after her character Stella) gets you "no hulas" feel for over 8 hours. Bela felt the need to have this since she also experiences feeling fresh at home then feel miserable in the heat right when you step outside. She's got you covered, as it mattifies and prevent oiliness, also hydrates your skin. The Milky Way Glow Drops Serum on the other hand finishes things by giving you that certain glow so you feel even more confident as it lasts long. Just like Bela, there's LIMITLESS possibilities you can do with AERA, you can get them in Watsons stores and leading online shopping apps (even on TikTok Shops) so go get them today and take that limitless journey with Bela and Aera!

MUST WATCH: Hit Korean Movie REBOUND in PH Theaters May 3

Just got off the advanced screening of hit Korean movie REBOUND starring Ahn Jae-Hong (who also appeared in Reply 1988), Jeong Jinwoon (who's in Dream High 1 and 2), Jung Gun-Joo (who's in TV drama True Beauty in 2021), Kim Taek (who was a Prince in TV drama The King's Affection), Kim Min, and Lee Sin-Young (who also was in Crash Landing on You and several dramas). This film is based on a true story about a high school basketball team who used to win championships but had a long stretch of losses and almost didn't continue to their basketball program. They had to resort to getting an inexperienced coach (an alumnus of the same school) with a skeleton team that had no interest in the sport. Some eventually quit, for multitude reasons, and the coach had to scout a few players to exist and join tournaments versus other schools. 

They ended up with 6 players, and this starts the grueling task of making the impossible, possible. I definitely liked the story. It's also the personalities of the different players that will get you hooked. Aside from that, it's a journey, and really... this is the first time that I saw a cinema where people who were watching were clapping and rooting for Busan Jungang High School. I'm sure it's the innate Filipino love for basketball, that story of the underdog who's trying to win on the court and in life. Will they win in the end and make their dreams come true?

This is being released in the Philippines by 888 Films. For me, this scores a well deserved 8/10 for the story and entertainment value. It's something you should DEFINITELY watch if you're a fan of KDrama and Korean TV shows. Plus points too because it is based on a TRUE STORY. Make sure you stay to see the ending because it'll surely pull heartstrings. I hope Filipinos troop to cinemas, because even as a skeptic going inside the theater, I really appreciated it! Again, it shows in cinemas on May 3!

Thank you to Ms. Sylvia Sanchez and Sir Art for inviting us to this screening! I'm telling my friends!

Experience CITADEL Differently on LG SMART TV's

Do you own an LG Smart TV? Or are you planning to get one? This news item is certainly made for you. Every LG Smart TV owner is set to get astounded with a new spy thriller show called CITADEL, seen on Prime Video and Amazon Studios. What's good is that you'll be loving it even more on the LG OLED TV as it's scenes will be set in deep blacks and crisp life like color. This also sits so good on the models that have Automatic FilmMaker and Dolby Vision, for an even immersive experience just like in the movies.

The show starts streaming on Prime Video on April 28 and stars Richard Madden and the beautiful Priyanka Chopra Jonas. You'll be obsessed with the spy angled story that goes through a chase around the world. There's also a love story in between so make sure to bring popcorn as it'll be a long one. This will also be streamed in over 240 countries and territories, online, from the store and even in Times Square in New York on one of those displays.

There's also more where this came from as more of the LG OLED TV will be seen on stores nationwide to deliver content with the right colors and details that LG can deliver. Titles from Prime Video, MGM+ and Amazon Freevee will churn more in the future and there's nothing like a good set to watch it in.

You may follow LG Philippines on social channels to know more about their products and where to buy it. If you prefer online, it's also in Shopee and Lazada, so go get them now!

Celebrate SAMGYUPSALAMAT All This March!

Looks like you're gonna be off saying SAMGYUPSALAMAT a little longer as the restaurant known for offering premium unlimited K-BBQ is celebrating Sangyeopsal Day on March 3 (same as in Korea) and extending festivities til the end of the month. This means, there's going to be more time to enjoy Korean food, banchan (side dishes) and meat for only Php 333 (a special rate they did on March 3, 13 and 23) on March 30. Patrons who avail of this promo and decide to participate with the Samgyupsalamat Hallyu Challenge can win a trip to Jeju Island, any KPOP or KDrama fan would relly love that!

After weathering the pandemic, SAMGYUPSALAMAT has continued to grow with the help of their loyal customers in over 70 branches across the country. This is why they are doing this huge "THANK YOU" on these dates. If you want to know more about their recent promos or offers, just search for SAMGYUPSALAMAT on social channels, there's certainly more to come!