10 Reasons Why You Should Watch THUNDERBOLTS

I've asked myself a couple of times, I didn't get to answer why. One, I wasn't quite familiar with the superhero group even if I was a big fan of films from the outfit. But when I heard that THUNDERBOLTS was in SM Cinemas this month, I saw Filipinos lined up like clockwork. This is a film by Marvel Studios, spread by Disney in theaters, and I got more than what I bargained for. 

1. Thunderbolts had really good actors. Even though I didn't know most of them, one thing they didn't lack is the ability to convey emotion, Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, David Harbor, Wyatt Russel and Sebastian Stan all made it easy to digest because characters were believable, funny at times, and easy to relate to. It's like you know them even though you really don't know them.

2. Florence Pugh as Black Widow is different, but I like her take despite of us being a more Scarlett Johansson fan. While new, she took this on like a pro so you'll see her as a bored working assassin from Russia. Trained and gifted as a kid, she becomes her own persona. She doesn't become a hero overnight and this is her movie (even though they're a group).

3. Bucky is back, Sebastian Stan gains a suit and played politics as a day job. By no means that would hamper him from becoming the Winter Soldier that he is. He is still explosive as ever. That iconic arm of him gets clowned by fellow heroes, and this isn't an exception. You'll be reassured though that he's got it all together. He's more matured, and I love it.

4. Lewis Pullman plays Bob. Just Bob. You need to see how he changes. He's extra. But he's just Bob.

5. Director Jake Schreier had a brilliant vision. Executed it well, and doesn't need a forensic scientist that these things are connected. There will be various times you'll see Easter eggs in the middle and end credits scene like what normal Marvel movies do.

6. David Harbor is an absolutely adorable human being. His character might be funny most of the time, but that's where he's going to just chuck you with his ability to pull heartstrings. Then attempt to make you cry, he's going to do a remarkable job in doing it.

7. Wyatt Russel's version of the US Agent is a tiring and frustrating one. He reminds me of a Taco. Watch out for his story. 

8.   Hannah John Kamen as Ghost wasn't given much of an interesting scene although this counts as her origin of some sort. Maybe she'll be in future MCU scenes where we'll get to see even more of her abilities. Maybe she was too hard to edit in. 

9. It ain't a filler, I think it's a necessary prelude to something big. 

10.  It was able to pull its own weight. It might have mentioned bigger ones but it's a story worthy to be known now. Definitely deserves to be seen in SM Cinemas, because it feels different. It wouldn't really make justice if it's just seen in a computer/phone screen if you want to stream.

NASHIE BOY BONUS

 

It's also a great movie to watch with friends who equally love the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I met Nash Aguas, his wife Mika Dela Cruz, Nashies Admin Philip, my neighbor Rai and actor Andre Garcia (whom I also haven't seen in a while). Man, I couldn't hug them but I miss them a lot. Nash is different, but still the same humble guy I've met back in the day. So proud of him and his achievements. It was also my first time to see Mika in person, super cute couple. Ugh, this moment made the movie even more special!

A Story of Triumph, Hardships and Unending Love | "IDOL: The April Boy Regino Story"

If you're a fan of OPM songs, you're bound to listen to one of the most talented singer-songwriters of the 90's and 2000's... and his name is April Boy Regino. He's made remarkable achievements during his time, and made the title IDOL resonate with the masses. This 2024, a movie will be done telling his story under Water Plus Productions. It's called "IDOL (The April Boy Regino Story)", and we got to watch it earlier at the press screening.   

This film stars John Arcenas who plays April Boy Regino and Kate Yalung to play the role of his wife Madelyn. I've seen John do several projects in the past, and he's quite a spirited singer doing the classics. He's also an architecture graduate, and managed by star maker Tyrone Escalante (both of them). John has bested 27 people in the auditions, and it was obvious, he's got the voice and mannerisms secured. He studied quite extensively using April Boy's previous movies and TV appearances which he took to work while filming. This is also directed by Efren Reyes Jr. who quipped how much they had to work on finishing this film even before the pandemic. Kate on the other hand is no stranger to films, modeling, commercials and stage. They look lovely on screen, and you could tell, the camera loves them.

Making this film was no walk in the park. They had to dish out production budget for the songs they needed to secure prior to filming. But it was producer Madame Marynette Gamboa's promise to him, before he passed... and they knew, they just had to do it.  

Here's the media conference which was done after the screening, please enjoy!

The film really had a very colorful story line. While this is a biopic, it's being told from the eyes of April Boy Regino. His sadness stemmed from a lot of things including getting sick thrice, and the challenges of life was no joke. It also mirrors the crazy life of a celebrity in a Philippine setting, and where he succeeded, got to help his wife and kids, his community, and ultimately be loved. This is something that you would see in the film, and I'm telling you, there were a few members of the press that cried in the dark corners of that theater.  

You will learn how to cherish every moment with your family after watching it. If you feel that's something you would like to feel, it comes out in theaters this November 27th. It's also rated PG so you can take your whole family to watch it.

CABRINI Hits Philippine Cinemas Today June 19th

If you are religious, faithful, care about other people, or know an OFW, you definitely should watch this movie called CABRINI. This stars Cristiana Dell'Anna, John Lithgow, David Morse and an ensemble cast of Italian-Americans, because this is mainly, a story about them.

Cristiana plays the role of Francesca Cabrini, a woman who after landing in New York's shores, saw the shocking plight of immigrants, their children, and the condition they live in. The story is TRAGIC right from the moment she stepped foot in Five Points, a place where she saw the orphaned children, the abused women, the people who live through unbelievable means. She was frantic, and wanted to do something about it. 

Cabrini was also with other nuns, whom all worked from sun up to sun down preparing what's supposed to be an orphanage so they could house the kids, take them away from the streets and burrows, the sewers of the same city. They began feeding them, cleaning them up. They did sew a lot of clothes, they looked quite nice in dresses and suits which the nuns personally had woven, and sewn together. Though this was the time they began noticing, they needed funds in order to serve a lot of children (bambinis).

But just like the Philippines, the politicians had a different view. They felt there should be no funds, and they should never be seen as part of the city. It was disheartening to see how when Chrisitana was making headway together with the nuns and community, they began sabotaging, do unnecessary things to stop them from flourishing on American soil. It felt like when they already had a roof on their head, they begin throwing a ton of bricks on top, or burn them to the ground because they didn't like what they were seeing.

She started to device a way to put the spotlight on those who need help specifically the immigrants, Italians, and children. After getting displaced, lack of funds, she began believing she could do more for the voiceless, those who are quarantined and in the slums, the ones with dignity and still have the chance to live. She does ALL these while suffering from an incurable disease (back then). A woman who in spite of adversities, used art, a second language, her faith and love in order to make sure the women, children and people she serve gets adequate medical care, nourishment, and dignity they deserve.

Watch this trailer to get a grasp of the story

Her story based on real events is so inspiring. The dark treatment/color grading for this masterpiece by Director Alejandro Monteverde was apt for the mood they wanted to exude. Its excellent, and warrants you to definitely see and hear her story, on how this once sickly but feisty lady from Italy became the first American saint, and patron of immigrants.

It shows in the Philippines starting today, June 19 in theaters nationwide!

What's Good with the realme 12 + 5G

realme 12+ 5G

Just had this phone used for a few weeks now and I wanted to tell you the experience. For starters, a phone dubbing itself as a "Portrait Master" would have been a tall order, but the realme 12 series so far has been able to deliver that promise. They got portrait shots from an actual realme 12+5G and used it to shoot ordinary folks (like me), and saw quite amazing results. First off, I looked good in it.

This is a photo taken using a realme 12 Pro+ 5G, and image was even compressed on FB. Imagine the things you can do with this phone model in real life!

Here's our unboxing of the realme 12+ 5G

 

What I like most about this phone is the really good details on static shots, the video, and the actual display. It seems so crisp and  bright, the colors are in a different league. When I played MOBA games in it, I get amazed whenever characters are being selected because it's all so vivid and the effects and music felt awesome... I was ready to switch and make this my primary phone.

 

realme 12 Series Phone Launch

These phones were launched a couple of weeks ago at the Green Sun events place in Makati. It was simultaneously streamed on FB and YT in the Philippines and they got us to walk through a photo gallery, all showcasing what the 12 series could do in real life. 

The design and features of the realme 12 Pro+ 5G and the realme 12+ 5G were also quite impressive especially when it comes to taking portrait shots of people, moments, which you can do in one click. If you are taking interest in the realme 12 Pro+ 5G, it comes with a 12GB+512GB storage in Submarine Blue or Navigator Beige colorways. The price for the said model is only Php 25,999. If you want the realme 12+ 5G, you can get it in two varieties like the 12GB+256GB or the 8GB+25GB. The first one is Php 19,999 while the other is Php 17,999. Both models come with really good flagship level cameras and don't break the bank despite having those lenses in the handsets.

If you get them early, they have  a promo on their official Shopee, Lazada and TikTok shops til the 15th where one could get Php 3,400 off since it's a brand day sale. They also have realme Care+ thrown in for the first 1000 customers for the realme 12 Pro+ 5G and the first 2000 consumers who would get the realme 12+ 5G. They got you extended warranty for it after the default one is done. You get peace of mind, which is priceless in my books.

You can also get the phone through Home Credit who they partnered up with for 18 month installment programs at 0% interest. They also did it in selected credit cards, so there's no reason not to have it. There will also be freebies in realme stores and selected merchants like the TechLife 4.5L airfryer whic you can see through while cooking. They also have a hair dryer or digital rice cooker (til stocks last). You can check their social channels if you want to know more about it.

I can vouch for the realme 12+ 5G. The 12GB+4GB Ram and 256GB Storage feels like I don't even have to delete photos or files anymore. It also has a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, a screen size of 6.67 inch and a 16MP Front Camera which you can use for selfies with friends and family. The rear 50+8+2 MP cameras also give you the capability to shoot portraits, landscape and wide shots like a pro, without resorting to a pricey DSLR if all you want is a decent photo. Congratulations on making this one of the best things people can get this quarter realme! You've outdone yourselves!

Mallari's PIOLO PASCUAL, JC SANTOS Might Bag MMFF 2023 Acting Awards

It's Christmas Day and what better way to enjoy it but by watching MMFF 2023 entries at SM North EDSA. The streets there were pretty weird as there was no traffic. I had a hunch that people may have not flocked to cinemas, and as soon as I alighted from the car, the mall was full to the brim.

The lines were crazy, there were people in the actual ticket booth (about 20), but right across was the actual line (because SM prepared seating for them) and it was almost 50-100 people, even more as the day progressed. For those who would want to watch movies, I would suggest you get tickets online so you don't have to line up.

I've watched a few entries already, but the recent good reviews about the film MALLARI just got me interested in seeing it. Piolo Pascual in the lead role was a given. I wouldn't want the reviews to influence me, but reading how they've described this as a technically excellent made film right at the get go, I had to be extra observant on how they executed it. His role was a little difficult because he had to play a Mallari from 3 different generations. One is from the Spanish times, the other would be in the 40's, and the modern one too. Piolo's ability to do the 3 different personas was something he had to really prepare for so watchers could differentiate them from the other. Aside from that, they had to also scare people in the theaters, and you'll get attempts right from the very beginning of the film. Piolo Pascual's character is pivotal. He's the anchor wherein much of the journey through time happens, but you have to watch out for several characters that are also going to be involved in the conflicts introduced in this film.

When the movie started, they stopped a few minutes in because PIOLO PASCUAL went in the actual theater!

 

It would be happy to note that JC Santos' performance here was just AMAZING. When you look at him throw lines and tremble in various scenes, you can feel him across the screen. We don't want to spoil things, but just look at him every time he's on frame as each little nuance and appearance would matter. Their story structure is interesting because you wouldn't have to be a scientist to know what would happen if they suddenly get their timelines intertwined. Yes, there will be time travel involved but unlike cars on Back 2 the Future, they had a special way of doing it. Aside from that, you'll have bouts of ghouls, monsters, and legendary beings from Filipino folklore. The story after all is based on real events, but mighty glad to see a rich interpretation of it.

It's not all horror, not all drama, it delves on family, revenge, the tendency to wreak fear with different kinds of people. They put this together quite nicely. I even felt proud seeing Warner Brothers in the opening credits, I'm sure they see something special in Mentorque's entry in MMFF 2023. Now it's your chance to see this in cinemas. Don't just stay at home and do nothing, grab your friends, your family and try MALLARI out for size.

There's a huge reason why it's getting sold out in cinemas yesterday. The story is interesting, and with Piolo and JC's superior performance, it'll be a tough one to battle out with the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories. 

They might just get it.  

The film also stars Janella Salvador, Elisse Joson and Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz. They will be great contenders as well.

Go watch them all!

INASAL REPUBLIC Opens West Avenue Branch On July 15th

 

Chicken Inasal by Inasal Republic - The meat is soft, evenly cooked, has a crispy skin outside. The garlic rice can be smothered by the good Chicken Oil set on the table. I had a separate dish with Soy Sauce and Sinamak, a spiced vinegar. They have master grillers prepare this for us!

If you're a frequent local traveler, you probably have landed somewhere in Negros Occidental and visited Bacolod City. Much of its charm lies in its people, on how they talk so "malambing" (so soft even when they're mad) and party hard during festivals. I too am from this region, so I'm no stranger to food coming from this place and when I heard Cong. Arjo Atayde, Direk Richard Somes, Gabby Atayde, Ivan Villamar and Mark San Diego were putting up a Chicken Inasal brand called INASAL REPUBLIC, I packed my bags and camped out to see it in Quezon City.

The owners of Inasal Republic can't wait for you to taste their Chicken Inasal

Congressman Arjo Atayde personally served us that afternoon, he was so nice!

Although for some of them, this isn't their first venture into the food business, the partnership blossomed over the last taping day of action film TOPAKK. Arjo was already full from the food served during dinner, but after a while, Chicken Inasal was served on the table and got everyone started raving about it. Direk Richard said Arjo shouldn't leave the table without tasting it, and so he did! 

The Chicken Inasal and other food served that day came from Direk Richard's family recipes, it was passed on from generations of Bacolodnons who loved to eat and cook. Here's a short video of the event, I also included some clips of the food and celebrities that came that afternoon!

 

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Here's some of the food items that's going to be served at Inasal Republic, let me share a few that you'll surely enjoy!

Kansi Soup, comforting and fruity, not too sour which I like! (We were served half the serving because we will be having a lot of food that afternoon!)

Bangus Inasal - I liked how light and soft it was, the very savory sauce complemented it. It was nicely paired with Garlic Rice

Pusit Inasal, for those who love seafood, this would be a dream!

The desserts, Biko, Alupe (in Banana Leaf) and Maja Blanca. I love the Maja Blanca the most as it's so soft, sweet and a little salty on top because of the cheese. The Alupe was new for me, but reminds me of Pangasinan's Tupig, but was actually steamed. Go get them both!

If you're excited as I am about what's about to happen, it'll all go down on July 15th as they open up shop at 25 West Avenue in Quezon City. They also have other items on the menu like the Chicken Inasal Flakes (also in bottles) and Laing that people were loving that afternoon. You can also choose to mix them up with the Garlic Rice, it's as good as it looks in photos. I will probably have to line up that day just to get a taste of it again. Make sure you get ahead of me on July 8 and line up, see why even celebrities loved the Chicken Inasal from Inasal Republic!

There's going to be more branches of it nationwide, so make sure you follow their social channels by searching Inasal Republic on FB, IG and TikTok to get updates where they plan to put them up soon!

Endless Rice + Fire Grilled Chicken Goodness at El Pollo Loco!

When they say Fire Grilled, they're not LOCO huh? This is El Pollo Loco!

See, I've always been thinking of this whole Fire Grilled Chicken since I last visited El Pollo Loco. For those who don't know, El Pollo Loco all started from a Mexican family recipe that was handed down to generations. Founder Pancho Ochoa sold it on the streets initially, and found himself catering to a line in no time. Then he opened his first shop in Southern California which bared the name El Pollo Loco.

In the Philippines, they are under the good people of The Bistro Group. If there's something good in El Pollo Loco like what I've tried in their Megamall branch for years now, it's the Fire Grilled Chicken. There's something about it that's quite mysterious, because it doesn't taste like the usual roasted chicken we have in the PH. It's got that little flair, something that has deep spice, something fruity, citrusy and a little savory. Plus it's expertly Fire Grilled, leaving a really soft, juicy, smoky chicken that you'll surely appreciate once you get a taste of it. Together with it is a side of salsa, freshly chopped and prepared every day, it was amazing!

It's pretty hard to explain in words, so here's a video of my food adventures that afternoon at their Venice Grand Canal Mall branch in Taguig:

 

"Endless Spanish Rice"

For Rice lovers, I bare good news about their current offer called "Endless Spanish Rice" which you can avail of when you order 2 piece chicken with salsa meal. That means, you can have as much Spanish Rice as you want when you dine in the restaurant. I had a few cups myself and I bet, you'll love how it would taste like since it's probably got a smoky paprika and annatto seed base, it's hearty and filling. Who knows, you could battle it out with office mates if you get to have meals at El Pollo Loco.

If you prefer other things on the menu, they've got a wide spread of Loco Sets, Sides, Tortilla, Tacos and those custom made for the Filipino palate. Here's a preview!

Barbecued Ribs, I don't have to convince you do I? It's quite tender, just dip it in the barbecue sauce that comes on the side.

If you've got room for dessert, there's this tortilla bread that they toast up with hazelnut spread inside plus honey and walnuts.

I didn't get to have this because I was already full, but friend says it's good! They had a variety, just ask!

To go with the Fire Grilled Chicken, you might want to have Salad first! They do it fresh!

And because the Venice Grand Canal had water, we might as well take photos under the sun! It was sun bathing! LOL!

There's just so many food items to discover with the El Pollo Loco menu. There are also other side dishes available, so I advise you to just go ahead and ask what's available when you get there. Aside form the Megamall and Venice Grand Canal branch of El Pollo Loco, I heard they're about to open new ones in Robinsons Magnolia, Eastwood City and Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. If you're all been asking yourselves where to eat, you might want to give El Pollo Loco a try this week. I like what I saw, I didn't have take out because I finished my plate, plus it's not that expensive. Meals could probably run around 3-500 pesos a head, depending on what you prefer to order. Go get acquainted with it before the new branches open, it's super good especially the Fire Grilled Chicken. I wouldn't recommend take out because you need to eat it while it's hot, fresh off the grill. Then again if you prefer that, I wouldn't stop you!

As they say, it ain't the same without the flame! Go follow their social channels via @ElPolloPH for more information about it!

JENNIFER LOPEZ and OWEN WILSON Surprisingly Good in Romcom MARRY ME

Just got out of the cinema after watching MARRY ME, the much awaited movie starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Lopez. In it, they commit to a marriage through a live audience. This advanced screening is a treat from Universal Pictures and of course Araneta City's Gateway Cineplex. 

The premise is a wedding wherein there's 20 million people in attendance, a marriage on stage of a pop star and a latin hunk, dubbed as the biggest wedding in the world... but what happens if she finds out that he’s cheating? 

 

Owen Wilsom plays a mormal Dad (Charlie Gilbert), a divorcee who takes good care of his daughter. He’s also a math professor, who didn’t hear about Kat (Jennifer Lopez) and Bastian (oh he's such a dbag - played by Latin star Maluma) prior to this. He had to go to the concert because he got complimentary tickets, brought along his daughter too so that he wouldn’t pass the opportunity to become a cool dad for once. When she (Kat) found out that she was getting cheated on by Bastian, she thought of choosing a random guy in the audience, and Owen was seen holding a "Marry Me" placard, and she then said yes. He went on stage after being egged by everyone, and that started their story. 

I like the part where Kat (the character of JLo) said “If you want to do something different, you have to do something different.” Also loved the different outfits JLo wore, plus the song numbers are also concert worthy, you get a movie and a concert all in one! I loved it, kinda liken it to her 2002 Maid in Manhattan work but a whole lot better story wise. She made me cry a few times during the Mathlon, but you've got to find out why (no spoilers here!).

 

Oh by the way, Gateway Mall has pretty nice cinemas. They're currently employing one seat apart and no food rule inside theaters. You can carry drinks though, understandable because they are following IATF rules. Novotel also is offering wedding and Valentines day packages (if you haven't thought about arranging a lavish date for your boyfriend or girlfriend this might be an opportune time to do it). They're under Accor who also manages 5 star hotels in the Philippines. Pizza Hut also is doing food promos which you can avail in restaurants nationwide, you may opt to eat before or after the movie. 

Marry Me will be shown in theaters starting February 9th in cinemas nationwide, but if’s a good thing to watch in Araneta City Gateway Cineplex if you are near the area. If you are a fan of JLo, you definitely should not miss this. Valentines date? yeah!

BL Series LOVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD Showcases Extreme Love, Relationships, Hope and Sea Monsters

Temporary Insanity Pictures has released the BL series LOVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD today on the GagaOohLala App. Honestly, I was trying to find the right words to say how fitting this is to end 2021. I wouldn't fit this as just a series, but more of a quality collection of short films that discuss love and all your inner desires in one boat. It basically answers what you would do if you only had 7 days left to live on earth... director and creator Shandii Bacolod's genius lies on that premise and she doesn't disappoint. 

The series is pretty much, WEIRD. I say that with good premise, it's a good kind of weird because you kinda get in the head of the director. The film gets pieced together, individually introducing the characters that tell a tale of their personalities, their past, what they're doing in the moment. She tries to ask you, what would you do if you knew that it’s the end of the world? Now that's going to be a tough cookie to swallow, you dream of this happening one day, but when met with it, you're going to either just close all your doors, dig a hole and pretend you're a carrot, or go out there and live your life, do things that you've never done before. They're all different guys, have different personalities, emotional baggage. Seeing the first episode, Kristof Garcia and Rex Lantano's characters delve into relationships that dwell on the past. It's a piece about mental health, some intimacy, adult desires, fantasies and how it affects their realities. We talked to them after the premiere and I bet, you'll like what you'll see on the first episode.

 

Theirs is an insanely elaborate structure of living and hoping in a love that gives, and how it's become possible to let the other appreciate love he gives without ruling out the man he loved in the past. It's amazing to start this way especially with actors that are experienced and new to this BL genre. You'll see the act of defiance to norms, which Direk Shandii will present in this first salvo. They didn't just leave themselves drown in fear, they did it before the world ends.

 

Markki Stroem and Khalid Ruiz's episode plays on the emotions of sanity, mental health, unending love, ducks, asteroids and death. It borders on the possibilities of relationships and shows at what lengths you can go to show it for a person. We talked to Markki and Khalid after the advanced screening and here's what they think about the series:

I must say, this opens up a lot of talk regarding age, the nature of partnerships and the value of life. What would one want during an end of the world scenario? This will certainly ruffle feathers (there's a duck reference), and make you think about how one should measure happiness when you get to that age (or have disabilities). Markki and Khalid delivered, and passionately have their own set of scenes that either make you yearn for more, or squirm with the situation, something that deserves to be watched and your subscription. 

 

Not to be outdone, Nico Locco and Gold Azeron's episode was my personal favorite. It had proper elements of a good story that discussed mental health, the many ways to die, profanity, comedy, family, commitment, using people, money, depression, hope and unexpected endings. Nico understood who the character was and remains pivotal for the decisions made in the story. Gold's persona was more of a filo guy, who gets to be the one that's needed, definitely unusual... especially when we often see foreigners that look this good be needed rather than the other way around. Needless to say, theirs is the most romantic, showcasing how love can make one vulnerable, and make it hard to decide if you want to share it with the other. Nico also spent days shooting the underwater scenes, you'll love that part certainly not just because of exposures, but how it was done artistically... without a doubt.

This is also Yam Mercado's first inning as a BL actor. The guy has done several projects that are more commercial in nature, including dramatic ones from previous MMFF entry Culion. Man now has acting chops and he's also part of production for this series. Paired with Elijah Filamor of film Best Partee Ever, it was easy for them to do this since they've known each other from previous projects. These two will showcase extremes in their episode - from cheesy romantic small talk to ravaging hormone filled foreplay (then some) and high intensity fights, that's how their dynamics were played. It also talks about confusion, hunger, donuts, getting lost, driving, high blood, tension, caring about each other, fighting multiple times, making up, extremes, getting hurt, apologizing, toning down, crying and its healing effects on people. You'll also love the scenic shots, which I heard was shot in Socorro in Oriental Mindoro. Knowing Yam personally, this was out of the box for him because I've known him as a goody two shoes who always had a smile worn, and throws jokes when we can at each other. He's up there, and I'm quite proud of what he's done in this flick. We talked to him after the screening, sorry it was so noisy since we were at Aurora Boulevard's traffic lanes, and a celebrative mood after the series was shown.

 

LOVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD would definitely be a good thing to watch today. It's out on the Gaga Ooh Lala App which you can download on Google Play and the App Store. Subscribe to the service and watch the rest of the episodes which comes out every Thursday at 12am, it's a little NSFW as there are adult scenes, but sans that, this proved to be so filling with everything you would desire before you get hit by a meteor. I haven't seen the other episodes (only 5 at this point because of the advanced screening) so I'd be glad to watch with you once the others come out. The actors divulged there's a lot more to be seen other than what we saw, and judging from the first ones, it'll be worth every penny.

Congratulations to the men and women of LOVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD, because in my books, you did good!

Feisty Femme Scenes Seen on Brillante Mendoza's PALITAN

Man meets woman, fall in love, get married, have children, that seems to be the norm. A few nights ago, we had the chance to see Cannes Best Director Brillante Mendoza's latest film "PALITAN" under Viva Films, meant to be shown on their platform VIVAMAX.

The film stars GMA's Luis Hontiveros, Rash Flores, Cara Gonzales and Jela Cuenca. It talks about marriage, its intricacies, and why one should know the one you're marrying. Brillante did this Girls Love themed film with subtlety, you can feel the need for shock value at first then give you reasons why you would root for the ladies that wanted to be together. It fits on the premise that it'll never work because of societal issues you would face, including religion, and their own existing relationships.

The ladies Cara Gonzales and Jela Cuenca did not hold back on their scenes as they needed to to fill a void of not seeing each other for years. They kept the feelings, understood the hunger which is why I called this film pretty feisty. Luis and Rash on the other hand are your hetero male dose that don't even need to over act machismo, they're ones that could convey confusion, friendship, lust and disappointment in several acts. You will be taken to their place, understand why they would react that way and in some instances, feel what they feel in the movie. 

A Brillante Mendoza work of course had a sense of reality. Think of it as something that Filipinos won't be talking about on a regular day as it also showed hetero, femme, and group scenes that tells their gender, social construct, no matter what their biological assignment tells them to do. As you may probably know, this would be for a matured audience. They're already thinking of putting this as an entry into LGBT themed festivals as it's pretty late to do so for some of the festivals Brillante Mendoza has joined already. It's also a really nice place to showcase the caliber of Viva artists who are part of this film, at a very international and artsy caliber. Needless to say, I'm impressed with this latest Brillante Mendoza masterpiece and he's slated to do three this year and a couple more next year (a lot in the pipeline) but they're generally mum about it til it happens.

This film will start streaming on the VIVAMAX app come December 10 so make sure you download it off Google Play or the App Store and subscribe to watch a lot of other movies from their library and this film called PALITAN. Here's part of the presscon we had with them prior to screening.

 Congratulations to Direk Brillante MA Mendoza, Viva Films and VivaMax because you've got a really bravely depicted movie in your hands with this one!

ASUS Outs All-New ZenBook 14 (UX425EA)

Looks like ASUS is at it again as they release a new ZenBook 14 UX42EA which is a 14 inch ultraportable laptop which is good for everyday office requirements, school packed with power, speed and better fit for productive sessions, something that does the job. I own one (a latter model) and just as I needed something that would also do video editing and tons of word processing, it's been my companion for all the things you see on my blog, social networks and even my YouTube channel.

The new one is better, it's got 2.8K resolution with its QHD display. Videos and photos stay livelier, brighter, and delivers smooth picture and video quality yet not power hungry like other machines of its kind. Your movies, YouTube or Netflix videos would be sick as it's got 90% screen to body ratio, you can chill while writing away on a separate space on your screen (which I do often).

It's got more power because of the Intel Iris Xe graphics card and 16GB RAM, with 512GB PCIe 3.0 x2 NVMe SSD so you've tons of space for your videos and photos. It's also equipped with WiFi 6 so no issues if you're going to get higher wifi rates later on. What's also new is their ASUS USB-C Easy Charge feature so you can be at peace when you are out for work or in a coffee shop (if government permits lol). Still has full i/o capabilities and two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, a microDS Card reader on the side so you don't have to run cables for your cameras or storage devices. Those file transfers would be easy especially for those who usually copy huge video files like you :P

Best of all, it's designed well, very classy and would impress anyone who would see it. The ASUS NumberPad 2.0 also can make you forget you're working on a laptop as you can see numbers on the center, computing would be absolutely fun. It's very thin at 13.9mm, weighs 1.17kg and is on a metal chasis, you'll impress your seat mates and be comfortable too with the ASUS patented ErgoLift. It costs Php 64,995 and comes with ZenBook Sleeves and preinstalled Windows and Office 2019 so you don't have to bother and look for em and work right from the day you purchase it. It's my personal companion during those hard days when I need to do a lot of things, and it's amazing I could even play Valorant in it casually. Timeless, beautiful, and very portable. I love it!

SAMSUNG Outs Two Entry Level Phones Galaxy M02 and M12

The Samsung Galaxy M02 and the Samsung Galaxy M12

Looks like Samsung is going to be giving consumers a LOT of choices this year. Recently, they launched 2 new entry level phones in the market and we've gotten to test out one of them, the Samsung Galaxy M12. The other one they launched is the Samsung Galaxy M02. 

Here's our first impression of the new Samsung Galaxy M12 on video:

The Galaxy M12 comes in Black, Blue and Green. It's got a 6.5 inc HD+TFT display, an Octa Core 2GHz Exynos 850 Processor, comes in 4GB and 64GB storage. You can also expand it to 1TB on a separate micro SD card and enjoy hours of social media, streaming and gaming as its got a 5000 mAh battery. It also has Quad rear cameras featuring a 48MP main cam, 5MP ultra wide, 2MP Macro and 2MP for depth of field. The front camera is an 8MP, so you can still take awesome selfie shots with apt amount of details. The phone also has got 15W fast charging capability, a finger print scanner on the side and dolby atmos audio. I have had the privilege of editing photos, videos, recording them as well and it performed at par/even better than other entry level phones on this price range. It did run Mobile Legends and Call of Duty Mobile on it, I've enjoyed several minutes of games before I started browsing social media channels on it. 

The more affordable Samsung Galaxy M02 on the other hand carries a Quad Core MT6739WW processor. It also got a 2GB RAM and 32GB storage for all your photos and videos. It comes in Black, Blue and Gray colorways and has dual back cameras that have 12MP main and 2MP for macro shots. It also has a 5MP front camera which is ample for selfies and taking videos for socials. Currently, the prices for these two land on Php 7,490 for the Samsung Galaxy M12 and Php 4,490 for the Samsung Galaxy M02.

Samsung also has an exclusive #MakeYourMove sale on Lazada so if you prefer the Galaxy M12, it would be best to get it from there. The Galaxy M02 on the other hand can be bought in Samsung partner stores like MX MemoXpress Online, Shopee, Abenson, Gizmo Central, Galleon and Samsung.com. There's lots of things Samsung is introducing soon, perhaps more AIOT devices? Smart homes? They're just starting!

Hello Stranger The Movie, Worth It!

Just got off the "Hello Stranger: The Movie" Premiere Night. 

This is the hit BL series that Blacksheep Productions showed on YouTube for several weeks starring Tony Labrusca and JC Alcantara. The love story of Xavier and Mico continues and starts where they left off in the series. Structurally, to go straight to the point, it's a very good movie but there might be a few misses in the beginning. Just like a diesel engine it had to warm up as it had to establish things after what happened to them in the series. They also had to give time re-drawing the connections, but after that, they introduced the conflicts of the story. Now we don't want to spoil who that is and what they did, but I agree that it's not petty.

Aside from the main actors they will be telling a little side story for the character of Vivoree (Kookai) which I think adds a little flavor. Though not really connected to the main plot, it's something that happens in real life, so you still get something out of it.

After the premiere, JC Alcantara cried happily and said "Thank you to my Blacksheep family, this was the opportunity I always prayed for. I am just so thankful!"

Tony Labrusca on the other hand lauded the men and women behind the show, he mentions "Props to everybody who took part to do this movie. This is such a special project for us, to be part of one of the first BL series, I just hope you just enjoyed. Thank you for supporting us!"

 

Is this worth your money? YES. Especially if you are a fan of the series so you would know how their story ends. It's a movie that is not too stressful, very light, and it's got really nice stories in between. There's also talk about family, relationships, and love, which we all need at this time. Now go get a ticket off of KTX.PH. Tony and JC made an effort to tell you more about the realizations of Xavier and Mico, will it be worth all the hurt and pain?

You have to know. 8/10, worth every cent. I'm a huge fan.