44th METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL

The 44th Annual Metro Manila Film Festival will kick off on Christmas day December 25, 2018. It's been quite a tradition for me to watch at least 3 or 4 films on the first day of the festival, but this year, I'm afraid I might not be able to do this since I will be busy on Christmas day. I think I can only watch one film or may be none at all. 

I don't know but looking at the list of entries this year, only a few films piqued my interest.  Last year I watched four films including Vice Ganda's entry which was the festival's top grosser. I was curious and a bit excited to watch 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach on screen.  I guess I'll just have to wait for the reviews in a few days and then select which one to watch.

We will see if Vice Ganda can maintain his box-office supremacy this year and if the tandem of Vic Sotto and Coco Martin can beat the "unkabogble star."  

There are two horror flicks in the line up, one is a youth oriented film starring young hardcourt hunk Ricci Rivero and Jerome Ponce and the other one stars Anne Curtis. Another interesting entry is "Rainbow's Sunset" which tackles the LGBT theme and stars octogenarian actors Eddie Garcia, Gloria Romero, and Victor Mabesa. 

Real life sisters Toni and Alex Gonzaga plays estranged sisters in Regal Films entry "Marry Marry Me" opposite Sam Milby.  The synopsis says Alex is engaged to Sam who's her sister's ex.  The trailer looks promising and entertaining enough to pull a surprise at the box-office.  Two other romance genres will give "Marry Marry Me" a competition. These are "A Great Love" starring Kim Chiu, Dennis Trillo and JC de Vera and "The Girl in Orange Dress" starring Jericho Rosales and Jessi Mendiola.  

Here's the full list of 8 entries with different genres ranging from family drama to comedy, action and fantasy.

RAINBOW'S SUNSET
Starring: Eddie Garcia, Tony Mabesa, Gloria Romero, and Sunshine Dizon
Directed, by Joel Lamangan
Produced by: Heaven's Best Entertainment
Genre: Family Drama

ONE GREAT LOVE
Starring: Dennis Trillo, Kim Chiu and JC De Vera
Directed by Eric Quizon
Produced by: Regal Films
Genre: Romance, Drama
MARRY, MARRY ME
Starring: Toni Gonzaga, Alex Gonzaga, and Sam Milby, 

Directed by RC Delos Reyes
Produced by: Ten17 Inc
Genre: Romance, Comedy

OTLUM
Starring: Ricci Rivero, Jerome Ponce,
Directed by Joven Tan
Produced by: Horsehoe Productions
Genre: Horror, Comedy

AURORA
Starring: Anne Curtis,
Directed by Yam Laranas
Produced by: Viva Films
Genre: Thriller, horror, suspense

FANTASTICA: The Princess, The Prince and The Perya
Starring: Vice Ganda, Richard Gutierrez, Dingdong Dantes, Kisses Delavin, Donny Pangilinan, Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte, Maymay Entrata, Edward Barber, and Bela Padilla
Directed by Barry Gonzalez
Produced by: Star Cinema and Viva Films
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

JACK EM POPOY
Starring: Coco Martin, Maine Mendoza and Vic Sotto
Directed by:Mike Tuviera
Produced by: CCM Film Productions, APT Entertainment, M-Zet Productions
Gene: Comedy, Action, Thriller

GIRL IN THE ORANGE DRESS
Starring: Jessy Mendiola, Jericho Rosales, Tom Rodriguez
Directed by Jay Abello
Produced by: Quantum and MJM Films
Genre: Romance, Comedy

CATRIONA GRAY WINS 4TH MISS UNIVERSE CROWN FOR THE PHILIPPINES

The whole nation was ecstatic Monday morning when Catriona Gray was announced the winner in the just concluded 67^th Miss Universe pageant held at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province, north of Bangkok, Thailand.  Many people stayed at home and shops closed business for a few hours just to watch the live telecast.

Catriona Gray, 24, was born in Queensland, Australia to a Scottish-born Australian father and a Filipina mother from Albay, Bicol Region in the Philippines.   Before joining the national pageant for Miss Universe, Catriona represented the country at Miss World in 2016 and placed 4^th.  She won three special awards including Multi-Media award, 2^nd place in talent competition and a top 5 spot in the Beauty with a Purpose category.   Many believed that she should have placed higher than just being 4^th placer and two years later,  she decided to join Bb. Pilipinas and won the right to represent the country in the Miss Universe pageant.  Catriona was the runaway winner and mind you, she won 7 special awards.  She is a very articulate young woman and a no nonsense beauty queen having involved herself in noteworthy projects and advocacies including HIV/AIDS awareness program and  three years ago, she joined a non-profit organization called “Young Focus” that helps impoverish children in Manila.  She raised funds to buy the building used for the youth organization program and the whole community was jumping with joy when she was proclaimed as the new Miss Universe.

Well-Planned Preparation

Catriona immersed herself  in months of preparation  with the help of her glam team and sponsors and everything paid off.  She’s a media sensation even before she set foot in Bangkok for the finals, enjoying media mileage that no other Filipina beauty queens ever experienced. Wearing a Thai inspired dress, she was mobbed by fans and supporters when she arrived at Bangkok Chang Mai Airport.

The sensational slow motion Lava Walk

Catriona stunned the audience at the preliminary competition during the swimsuit round when she walked down the runway doing a twirl that carried her hair moving in a slow motion.  Her trainers call it the "lava walk" which was coined after the slow moving lava coming out from the world famous and perfect coned Mayon Volcano in Albay where her mother comes from.  Several memes of the "lava walk" surfaced online.  She live up to all the hype about her.

Early Favorite
Catriona easily clinched to the top 20 round and climbed all the way to the top and finally the Miss Universe crown was put on her head by outgoing Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa.  As expected it was a fierce battle between Miss Philippines and Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green, who was her closest rival from the beginning.  She nailed the final Q&A with her simple and on point answer to the final question. 

Final Question:
"What was the most important lesson you've learned in your life and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?

She said "I worked a lot in the slums of Tondo, Manila, and the life there is very...it's poor and it's very sad.  And I've always taught myself to look for the beauty in it, to look in the beauty in the faces of the children, and to be grateful.  And I would bring this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson, and this, I think, if I could teach also people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their faces."

Catriona Gray is the 4^th Filipina to win the Miss Universe crown.  The first one was Gloria Diaz in 1969, followed by Margarita Moran in 1973 and just three years ago Pia Wurtzbach won the third Miss Universe crown for the country.

Rounding the top 5 were Miss South Africa, Miss Venezuela, Miss Vietnam, Miss Puerto Rico and the Philippines.  Other finalists were delegates from Costa Rica, Canada, Nepal, Curacao and Thailand.

Delegates from Indonesia, USA, Brazil, Jamaica, Australia, Ireland, Poland, Belgium, Hungary, Great Britain and Ireland made it to the top 20. The Best National Costume went to Miss Laos.

The presentation this year is fantastic.  Thailand did an excellent job as a host country showing the Thai elements in a modern setting.  Congratulations Thailand,  Sawadee Khap and Kho Phung Ka.

Catriona's gorgeous boyfriend Clint Bondad turn heads at the Arena's lobby and was interviewed by the media.

2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzach does a selfie together with former Miss Universe titleholders namely (L-R), Iris Mittenaere (2016 MU - France), Gabriela Isler (2013 MU - Venezuela, Denise Quniones (2001 MU - Puerto Rico), Lupita Jones (MU-1991- Mexico) and Natali Glebova (MU-2015-Canada

BEAUTY UNDER PRESSURE

No doubt The Philippines' Catriona Gray is of one of the front-runners in the ongoing Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, enjoying media mileage probably more than any other candidates. Major international sites such as UK’s The Daily Mirror and Spofsbet put her as the likely girl to take home the Miss Universe crown. Thai fans love her and calls her “Nong Meaow’ (literally the sound of a cat). Many believed that she should have placed higher at 2016 Miss World but she’s back now to prove that she deserves to win a major international beauty title.

Cat has all the qualities to be the next Miss Universe with a notable bio and background to boot. She is an HIV/AIDS advocate at Love Yourself PH, and volunteers as a Teacher’s Assistant to the students of Young Focus NGO. She earned a certificate in Music Theorry from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachussets and in addition to this, she is also a martial arts black belter and yes….Catriona is super ready for Miss Universe. Her glam team is now in Thailand to support her.

Accordingly, this year’s presentation will be similar to last year’s format. There will be top 20 where 5 delegates will be selected from 3 continents and combined regions plus 5 wildcards. Then top 10 will be chosen and compete in both swimsuit and evening gown rounds, then trimmed down to 5 and finally the top 3.

Three time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo will perform during th coronation night at Impact, Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok, Thailand.

Other favorites includes delegates from South Africa, Puerto Rico, Canada, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico and Spain's Angela Ponce, the first ever transgender to compete in Miss Universe.  Former Miss USA and 2014 Miss Universe 1st runne-up Nia Sanchez has Catriona Gray on top of her list.   

Please watch her video on YouTube on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG58PlR3_mc (We're In This Together - Music Video by Catriona Gray for Young Focus Philippines.

"KADENANG GINTO" - MODERN VERSION OF MARA-CLARA?

Teen stars Andrea Brillantes and Francine Diaz consider their roles in the top rating afternoon drama series “Kadenang Ginto” their biggest break in showbiz. Their roles are likened to the characters of the defunct hit series Mara-Clara that launched the movie careers of Judy Ann Santos, Gladys Reyes, Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes. Andrea plays Marga the contra-vida while Francine plays Cassie, the modern version of Mara. Daily teasers of the hit series keep trending on Youtube averaging over half a million views.

The hit series also stars Beauty Gonzalez,Albert Martinez Dimples Romana, Adrian Alandy, Ronnie Lazaro, Susan Africa. Teen star Kyle echarri and Hashtags Nikko Natividad and Luke Conde are also in the cast.

STEAMY HOT LOVE SCENE OF TONY LABRUSCA AND ANGEL AQUINO GOES VIRAL ONLINE

The trailer of the digital movie "Glorious" has gotten millions of views in just less than 24 hours. The film is set to be streamlined by IWant, an over-the-top content platform that is owned and operated by ABS-CBN.  The movie with a May-December affair theme stars hunky and athletic commercial model Tony Labrusca and seasoned actress Angel Aquino.  The trailer shows the two lead stars in intimate and passionate scenes that has become viral online.

Tony Labrusca is the son of actor Boom Labrusca and singer Angel Jones.  Before he joined showbiz, the young Labrusca appeared in various print and commercials ads including his TVC for McDonald's back in 2016. He later joined the local franchise of "La Banda" called "Pinoy Boyband Superstar" however, he did not make it (well almost...he ranked 6th).  Tony was said to be disappointed, but that did not stop him in pursuing his showbiz career. He landed a meaty role in the top rated fantaserye "La Luna Sangre" which pitted him with the country's top young stars Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo.  From then on, Tony  established himself  as the new "It Boy" and one of the most outstanding newcomers. Tony appeared in two indie film festival entries namely "ML" and "Double Twisting Double Back" for Cinemalaya and Cinema One Original, respectively.  Both films are yet to be shown on commercial run. He also dished out his first single called "Tanging Ikaw"  released in August. 

There are unconfirmed reports that Tony might be Liza Soberano's leading man in the new sequel of "Darna." With the way things going on with his career and with giant network ABS-CBN behind him, surely Tony Labrusca is destined to become the next big star, why not.

              

VIETNAMESE BEAUTY WINS MISS EARTH 2018

Phuong Khanh Nguyen, 23 year old  Marketting Student representing Vietnam wins the 18th edition of Miss Earth annual beauty pageant held Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena. Mexico’s Melissa Flores e), Colombia’s Valeria Ayos (Water), and Melanie Mader of Austria (Air) completes the royal court of Miss Earth 2018.

Before the coronation night, Miss Vietnam was already one of the top contenders for the crown along with Miss Ecuador, Miss Colombia, Miss Philippines and Miss Slovenia.

Here's the transcript of Miss Vietnam's winning answers during the Q&A:

Being a millennial, what do you think is the most pressing issue of your generation?

"Good evening, everyone. My answer is our ignoring. We have so many technologies, and we just use social media and only care about ourselves. We should spend our time to think and feel with what's happening with the Earth right now. One small action multiplied by a million people can transform the world."

#Hashtag Confilict

Mabuhay, Pilipinas! This isn't my first language, but I will try my best. My hashtag is conflict. In our world, there's no perfection. Conflict is a part of our daily life. As a human, we can avoid conflict by being honest with ourselves. By being honest with ourselves, we can create the power to transform the world. Thank you.

Full list of Top 18: Miss Netherlands Margaretha de Jong, Miss Chile Antonia Figueroa, Miss Romania Dennise Vivienne Andor, Miss Brazil Sayonara Veras, Miss Japan Mio Tanaka, Miss Portugal Telma Madeira, Miss Slovenia Danijela Burjan, Miss South Africa Margo Faith Fargo, Miss Italy Sofia Pavan
Miss Philippines Celeste Cortesi. Miss Ghana Belvy Naa Teide Ofori, Miss Colombia Valeria Ayos
Miss Vietnam Phương Khanh Nguyễn, Miss Montenegro Katarina Šećković, Miss Venezuela Diana Silva Miss Austria Melanie Mader, Miss Nepal Priya Sigdel (Miss Eco video) and Miss Mexico Melissa Flores.

The production values for this year's presentation is way better compared to its past editions held in UP Diliman Little Theatre. American R&B singer Brian McKnight serenaded last year's winners.

Miss Earth is an annual international environmental-themed beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness.  

BEAUTY PAGEANT SEASON BEGINS

Katarina Rodriguez bested out 39 other candidates in the 8th editiion of Miss World Philippines that took place last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.  She will represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss World 2018 slated on December 8, 2018 in Sanya, China.  Rodriguez is not new in pageants. She represented the Philippines in Asia's Next Top Model back in 2014 and placed 2nd runner-up. She also won 1st runner up in Miss Inter-Continental 2017 held in Egypt last year.

TOO MANY PAGEANTS?

Another Filipina won an international beauty title. Mutya ng Pilipinas Sharifa Areef Mohammad Omar Akeel was crowned 2018 Miss Asia-Pacific International, besting 48 other beauties during the coronation night held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila the other night.  

Meanwhile Miss Earth 2018 kicks off in Manila and the candidates have already started to arrive.  The finals   will be held on November 3, 2018 and the Philippines is represented by Fil-Italian beauty Silvia Celeste Cortesi. 

Currently ongoing in Myanmar is Miss Grand International 2018.  The Philippines has been doing consistently well in this pageant but the country has yet to win the title.  This year’s representative is Eva Patalinjug of Cebu City.  And don’t forget, Miss International is also coming soon. Atissa Manalo will try to bag the 7^th Miss International crown for the Philippines.   On the other hand,  the mother of all beauty pageants – Miss Universe will take place in Bangkok, Thailand on December 16, 2018.  Catriona Gray will compete with more than 90 beauties including transgender beauty from Spain (Angela Ponce).  There is also unconfirmed report that Mongolia will send a transgender beauty.

POPULAR MOVIE STARS AND BEAUTY QUEENS GRACED ABS-CBN BALL "SHARE THE LOVE" FUNDRAISING EVENT

The country's most popular stars and beauty queens slayed their glamorous attire on the red carpet at the 2018 Star Magic Ball, renamed "ABS-CBN Ball: Share the Love."  

The grand event is not all that glitz and glamour, but it is also a fundraising event for the benefit of  Bantay Bata 163, a social welfare program of the ABS-CBN aimed to help re-open the Bantay Bata 163 Children's Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan slated in December.  The village will serve as a home to abused, exploited, and neglected children.  

Among the beauty queens who attended the event were Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, 1993 Miss World 2nd Princess Ruffa Guttierez, 2013 Miss Universe runner-up Ara Arida, and 2016 Miss International Kylie Versoza to name a few.  

Popular Kapamilya loveteams Kathniel (Kathryn Bernard and Daniel Padilla), Jadine (James Reid and Nadine Lustre and Joshlia  (Joshua Garcia and Julia Baretto) were also present. Other celebrities who attended the event includes: Vice Ganda, Piolo Pascual, Luis Manzano, Angel Locsin, Jessy Mendiola, Sarah Geronimo, Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson, Bea Alonzo, Xian Lim, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcacid, Judy Anne Santos, Ryan Agoncillo,  Anne Curtis, Matteo Giudecelli, Angelica Panganiban, Carlo Aquino, Inigo Pascual, Richard Gutierez, Sarah Lahbati, Erwan Heussef, Ronnie Alonte, Ryan Bang and a lot more. The event was hosted by master of couture Rajo Laurel, International Model, coach, and women of style Joey Mead-King, and Tim Yap. 

Noted Film Director Mike de Leon posted on Facebook criticizing the event a waste of money wherein celebrities spent millions of Pesos for their gowns and suits they wore for the affair.  The outspoken director says: "Many people will not like this question but I have to ask it - In these dark times of murder and hunger, who really needs the ABS-CBN ball?" He also likened the event as "Bread and Circuses again a la Imelda Marcos."  De Leon drew flak from angry fans citing his outlandish remarks being uncalled for since the event is a fundraising event. 

Photo credits:  all pictures on this article are properties of ABS-CBN and this article has no copyright infringement.   Please visit this link to view all pictures from ABS-CBN site

WHAT MAKES "EXES BAGGAGE" CLICK?

The first team up of real life ex-teenage sweethearts Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino on the big screen continue to soar high at the box-office with an impressive 10 day gross of P206,693,044.  But what makes "Exes Baggage" click? The storyline looks plain and simple, just another love story about two people trying to move on from previous failed relationships; but as simple as it is, it is a story just about everyone of us which we may have been through at one point in our lives. Director Dan Villegas and Scriptwriter Baltazer concocted their script into a quite engaging film in a contemporary setting that audience can easily relate to.  

Pia (played by Angelica) is a  free spirited career woman, a go getter, who spends her time off from work in bars socializing with friends and even goes to bed with man she fancies. Carlo Aquino plays Nix, a furniture designer, who still can't get away from a previous failed relationship. Like Nix, Pia had been through a stormy relationship, but with a married man. The film begins with the two ex-lovers meeting again after two years at the inauguration of a bar owned by a common friend. The chance reunion got them reminisce their past and perhaps figure out an unfinished love affair and both realized that they still care for each other.  But Pia found herself in a dilllema whether to consider having Nix back or stay with her current boyfriend.

Director Dan Villegas treated his audience with a different style of storytelling, injecting a series of flashbacks in between, making the movie's narrative feel even more interesting to watch. Some might find the movie a bit low paced but nonetheless I enjoyed watching the movie.  Aquino and Panganiban, who both started in showbiz as childstars, portrayed their characters with  ease and competence and have blossomed into fine performers to reckon with.  

Everyone knows that both were former teenage sweethearts and more so, both undeniably excludes a great chemistry on and off-screen.  Coincidentally, both Aquino and Panganiban have just been through with similar situation off screen.  Earlier this year Angelica broke up with John Lloyd Cruz (who left her for Ellen Adarna) and Carlo broke up with his non-showbiz girlfriend.  The two have been seen together in public but both neither confirm or deny their current status.  

One of the best scenes of the movie is when Carlo Aquino sang "Maybe The Night" in a beautifully orchestrated romantic scene with Angelica; the song's soothing melody and catchy lyrics is just apt for the scene.  Thanks to the movie, the song is now gaining more views on YouTube and jumped to nearly 4 million views after the movie's release last week.  At first, I thought it just a cover from a foreign artist but it is actually composed by a local band called Ben&Ben. 

Dan Villegas is the director behind the success of low budget indie and mainstream movies such as "That Thing Called Tadhana," "Always Be My Maybe, "English Only Please" and "Walang Forever."  His unique style of film-making is what sets him apart from the new breed of directors, combining art and commercial success.

"Exes Baggage" is directed by Dan Villegas and written by Dweign Baltazar. It is the first venture of Black Sheep Productions and released by Star Cinema.