RADYO5 TRUE FM'S PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE GETS HIGHER RATINGS & WINS BEST RADIO STATION AWARD FROM PMAP

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO RADYO5 TRUE FM!!!!

IT has marked another important milestone by winning the “Best Radio Station” award at the recently concluded 11th Makatao Awards of  the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).

This recognition highlights the big strides that Radyo 5 has made since it successfully rebranded its radio station in March of this year and transformed its programming to deliver truthful and impactful news and public services shows on the FM band.

 

Its rating have also improved greatly! 

According to NIELSEN ratings, the station holds the No. 7 position in the FM band and the No. 8 spot among all radio stations in the country, surpassing DZBB, which ranks No. 10. Meanwhile, based on KANTAR ratings, TRUE FM secured the Top 5 spot for the second quarter of 2023.

 

Moreover, Radyo5 TRUE FM has boosted its weekly listenership, which now stands at an impressive 23%.  The number of its Facebook followers has reached 5.2 million, making it the most followed radio station page in the country. 

 These metrics confirm the significant progress that the station has made in becoming the top choice of radio listeners for “real, relatable and reliable content” anchored on its battlecry, “Dito Tayo sa Totoo!”

 

TRUE FM’s leading programs include Mon Gualvez’s “Bangyon Bayan with Mon,” “Ted Failon & DJ Chacha,” the flagship news program “Radyo5: Balita Pilipinas,” Lourd De Veyra’s “Sana Lourd,” Danton Remoto’s “Pinoy Konek,” Bro. Jun Banaag’s “Dr. Love,” Senator Raffy Tulfo’s “Wanted sa Radyo,” Dr. Edinell Calvario’s “Healing Galing,” Cristy Fermin’s “Cristy Ferminute,” and more.

 

“With these achievements, Radyo5 TRUE FM reaffirms its commitment to transparency, accuracy, and fairness in journalism while continuing to provide quality content that resonates with its target audience,” said Raul M. Dela Cruz, Radyo5 TRUE FM General Manager.

“Tune in to the country’s real, relatable, and reliable radio station and find out why more and more listeners are getting hooked to Radyo5 TRUE FM’s engaging programs.” he added.

 

For more information and updates, check out Radyo5 TRUE FM’s social media pages on Facebook, the X app, and TikTok.

Continue reading

PAOLO GUMABAO & PAUL SALAS HAPPY & PROUD TO BE PART OF REGAL'S 'SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL EXTREME'

 

PAULO GUMABAO and Paul Salas are both proud to be part of the coming Regal horror flick, “Shake Rattle & Roll Extreme", but they belong to different episodes of the trilogy. 

Paolo is in the “Rage” episode directed by Richard Somes while Paul is in the “Mukbang” episode directed by Jerrold Tarog. 

So what is “Mukbang” all about? 

“It’s about a group of social media influencers, vloggers and content creators invited to a meeting in a huge mansion so they can collaborate in a project,” says Paul. 

“We have a big cast and we didn’t know the place is haunted and meron palang napasama sa aming monster na gustong kainin kaming isa-isa.”

Paul says he’s happy to do another “Shake Rattle & Roll (SRR)” movie. 

“The first time I was a part of SRR was in 2005, when I was only 6 years old kasi nga, I started as a child actor,” he adds.

“Ang title ng episode namin was ‘Aquarium’ at kasama ko po sa episode sina Ara Mina and Ogie Alcasid as my parents. It’s about an aquarium na meron palang nakatirang halimaw sa loob.”

The episode is very memorable for him. “It was in SRR that I first won an acting award,” he beams. 

“Ako pong nanalong best child actor that year sa festival.”

Paul is now 25 years old and was last seen on TV in “The Write One”.

He’s now part of a forthcoming series, “Shining Inheritance”, a local adaptation of a Korean series. His relationship with Mikee Quintos is going strong. 

As for Paulo Gumabao, he says this is also the second time for him to appear in an ‘SRR’ movie.

“My first time was in ‘SRR15’, na siyang last SRR in 2014, almost 10 years ago,” says Paolo. 

“I was a newcomer then, teenager pa lang, and I played a bit role as a male model in the episode which starred JC De Vera and Erich Gonzales.

"It feels surreal nga at talagang nakakatuwa namang sa pagbabalik na ito ng SRR, kasama uli ako and I play one of the lead roles pa this time.”

In the “Rage” episode, he is paired with the last Darna, Jane de Leon, who also feels proud to be part of “SRR Extreme” as she grew up watching a lot of last SRR films.

Paolo says he and Jane play a couple who join a lot of young people in watching a rare meteor shower in a nearby town. Their co-stars include Rob Gomez, Sarah Edwards, Dustin Yu, Mika Reins and Bryce Eusebio.

“What we didn’t know is the meteors coming from outer space carry viruses that infect people and turn them into killers,” Paolo adds. 

“This episode is really scary at kami mismo, natakot while we were shooting it.”

Paolo has done some sexy flicks where he disrobed like “Lockdown” (which gave him a best actor award), “Sisid” and “Silip sa Apoy”.

But he’s now resting from doing sexy movies as he has a wholesome romcom coming up to be shot abroad no less.

“Yes, we are shooting ‘Spring in Prague’ on location in the Czech Republic,” he says. 

“I will be paired with Czech actress Sarah Sandeva, produced by Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.

"We will fly there in January habang marami pang snow sa paligid as it’s part of the story.”

Continue reading

THE SOCIETY OF PHILIPPINE ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS OR SPEED ANNOUNCES THEIR NOMINEES FOR THE 6TH EDDY AWARDS

THE SOCIETY OF PHILIPPINE ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS OR SPEED, with Eugene Asis of People's Journal as president, announces the nominations for their  6th EDDY AWARDS (Entertainment Editors Choice).

Hosted by Piolo Pascual and Iza Calzado and directed by Eric Quizon, this will be held on October 22, 2023 at EVM Convention Center.

Produced by Airtime Marketing Philippines of Tessie Celestino-Howard, its delayed telecast will be on October 28 at NET25.

Nominated for best picture are Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin produced by Firestarters and Viva Films; Blue Room from Heaven's Best Entertainment, Eyepoppers Multimedia Service and Fusee; Doll House from MavX Productions; Family Matters from CineKo Productions; and Nanahimik ang Gabi from Rein Entertainment.

For best director: Marla Ancheta (Doll House), Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan (Blue Room), Real S. Florido (Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin), Nuel Crisostomo Naval (Family Matters), and Shugo Praico (Nanahimik ang Gabi).

For best actress: Kim Chiu (Always), Max Eigenmann (12 Weeks), Janine Guttierez (Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin), Nadine Lustre (Greed), Heaven Peralejo (Nanahimik ang Gabi) and Rose Van Ginkel (Kitty K-7).

For best actor: Elijah Canlas (Blue Room), Baron Geisler (Doll House), Noel Trinidad (Family Matters), Ian Veneracion (Nanahimik ang Gabi) and JC de Vera (Bakit ‘Di Mo Sabihin).

For best supporting actress: Mylene Dizon (Family Matters), Matet de Leon (An Inconvenient Love), Althea Ruedas (Doll House), Ruby Ruiz (Ginhawa) and Nikki Valdez (Family Matters).

For best supporting actor: Nonie Buencamino (Family Matters), Mon Confiado (Nanahimik ang Gabi), Soliman Cruz (Blue Room), Sid Lucero (Reroute) and Dido dela Paz (Ginhawa).

The EDDYS Icon honorees are Aga Muhlach, Richard Gomez, Gabby Concepcion, Niño Muhlach, Snooky Serna, Jaclyn Jose, Barbara Perez, and Nova Villa.

The Isah V. Red special award goes to Herbert Bautista, Coco Martin and Piolo Pascual for helping our countrymen in need.

The Joe Quirino Award does to Aster Amoyo abd the Manny Pichel Award goes to Ed de Leon..

Viva Films is named Producer of the Year while MavX Productions is Rising Producer of the year.

Producer of the Year na naman ang Viva Films, habang ang Rising Producer of the Year ay igagawad sa MavX Productions.

More nominations. For best screenplay: Anna Isabelle Matutina for 12 Weeks, Mel Mendoza del Rosario, Family Matters; Shugo Praico, Nanahimik ang Gabi; Onay Sales-Camero, Doll House; Racquel Villavicencio, Lampas Langit

For best cinematography: Neil Daza, Blue Room; Yam Laranas, Greed; Tom Redoble, Doll House; Noel Teehankee, An Inconvenient Love

and Moises Zee, Nanahimik ang Gabi

For best production design: Marxie Maolen Fadul, Blue Room; Marielle Hizon, Nanahimik ang Gabi; Erik Manalo, Doll House; Cheska Salangsang, An Inconvenient Love; Elfren Palpan Vibar Jr., Family Matters

For best editing: Vanessa de Leon, Blue Room; Michael Lacanilao and Anna Isabelle Matutina, 12 Weeks; Noah Tonga, Doll House; 

Noah Tonga, Mahal Kita Beksman; Moises Zee, Nanahimik ang Gabi

For best musical score: Teresa Barrozo, An Inconvenient Love; Pipo Cifra, Katips; Jesse Lasaten, Doll House; Jazz Nicolas and Mikey Amistoso, Blue Room; Emerzon Tecson, Mahal Kita Beksman

For best sound: Aizen Andrade, How to Love Mr. Heartless; Andrea Teresa Idioma and Emilio Bien Sparks, Nanahimik ang Gabi, 

Janina Mikaela Minglanilla and Michael Keanu Cruz, Blue Room, Immanuel Verona, Reroute; Immanuel Verona and Fatima Nerikka Salim, LiveScream

For best visual effects: BB Studio, Deleter; Carl Regis Abuel, Tricia Bernasor, Geraldine Co, LiveScream; Gaspar Mangarin and Walter Monte, Reroute; John Anthony Wong, Nanahimik ang Gabi; Visual Magic, Bahay Na Pula

For best theme song: “Aking Mahal" (Mamasapano: Now It Can Be Told), composed and sung by Atty. Ferdinand Topacio; "Hihintayin Kita (Broken Blooms). composed by Louie Ignacio and sung by Jeric Gonzales; "Nais Ko" (Yorme: The Isko Domagoso Story), composed by Joven Tan; "Sa Hawak Mo" (Family Matters), composed by Paulo Zarate and sung by Floyd Tena; "Unang Araw ng Pag-iisa" (Blue Room), from the poem of Jeng Plata, composed by Mike Dagnalan and sung by Rebel Rebel

Good luck to all the nominees!

Continue reading

NEW VIVA SEXPOT MANANG MEDINA OF 'LANGITNGIT' CONFESSES HER BF IS ONYOK, THE SON OF ROSANNA ROCES

 

           MANANG MEDINA WITH HER BOYFRIEND, ONYOK, SON OF ROSANNA ROCES

                                      MANANG WITH ITAN ROSALES AND ZIA ZAMORA

AFTER HER first solo starrer, “Lagaslas”, Manang Medina is given a follow up project in “Langitngit”. 

We got to interview Manang at the film’s presscon in Viva Cafe and she said her real name is Maebelle Medina. 

Her screen name Manang came from a film she’s supposed to do with Director Darryl Yap, “The Unmaking of a Manang”.

“Hindi po natuloy yun, but the name stuck,” she says. “I started as an actress sa theatre group ni Direk Darryl in Olongapo, where I was born and raised. 

"Tapos, when he started doing movies for Viva, sinama niya ako at naging extra ako in his past films like ‘Pornstar’, ‘Revirginized’, ‘Gluta’, and others.”

She is the youngest in a brood of four. 

“I have two kuyas, twin boys sila, then an ate. We only have our dad kasi our mom died of lupus when I was only five years old.”

How does her family react to her going sexy in Vivamax movies? 

“Noong una po, siempre, nagulat sila. But now, tanggap na nila na ito talaga ang gusto kong gawin, ang mag-artista. 

"Ang dad ko supportive naman, he even posts the trailers of my movies.”

Does she have a boyfriend? “Meron po. He’s in business selling shoes sa bahay namin.”

How does he accept her doing sexy scenes with her leading men?

“Okay lang po. Tanggap naman niya. Yung mother niya kasi, nasa showbiz din. Yung mother niya ang nagpakilala sa aming dalawa.

"I was working with Direk Darryl as production staff in charge of wardrobe in the series ‘Kung Puede Lang’. Nandun ang mother niya and introduced us to each other. 

"Tapos, nag-extra rin siya sa ‘Revirginized’.  I now live with them sa bahay nila sa Antipolo and yung partner ng mother niya ang manager ko.”

Guess who is her biyenang hilaw? None other than Rosanna Roces and her BF is Osang’s son Onyok.

That’s why Onyok can freely accept her going sexy as his own mom used to do it before. 

How is “Langitngit” different from “Lagaslas”? 

“Sa ‘Lagaslas’ po, probinsiyana akong pinalaki ng isang matanda, si Julio Diaz, na nung lumaki ako, ginagalaw ako. Sa bukid at bundok ang setting noon.

"Itong ‘Langitngit’, sa city ang setting. I play Layla, breadwinner ako ng family namin. I have my mom at dalawang kapatid who depend on me.”

As Layla, she is able to finish college then applied for a job in a company that is so far from their home. 

“Masyadong malayo sa bahay namin yung work ko, so I rented a room in this old house with two old women, Ruby Ruiz and Aurora Yumul, na parehong weird.

"May apo si Miss Ruby na gusto niyang magpari, si Popoy played by Itan Rosales, pero nagkagusto sa akin at nagka-affair kami. 

'Doon po tumakbo ang story na magiging thriller kasi may mga papatayin po.”

How is it working with a newcomer like Itan Rosales? 

“First big role niya ito and first lead din niya, so hindi pa siya sanay sa love scenes.

"Kaya lahat ng ginawa namin, iba-ibang positions, pinag-usapan muna naming mabuti kung paano ang blocking then tinatanong namin si Direk Chris kung okay ba sa kanya.

"At kung okay sa kanya, hinahayaan na niya kami on our own on how to execute it for the camera.”

Continue reading

WHY WAS 'ITI MAPUKPUKAW’ (THE MISSING) CHOSEN TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY IN THE 2024 OSCARS WHEN IT DOESN'T MEET A BASIC REQUIREMENT OF THE ACADEMY?

 

‘ITI MAPUKPUKAW’ is the rotoscope animated film that won best picture in the last Cinemalaya and has now been chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines or FAP to be our entry in the Oscars best international feature category next year. 

It has Ilocano dialogue and the title means “the missing”.

The story is about a young man, Eric, who works as an animator and has obvious feelings for his co-worker, Carlo. You’d quickly notice that he doesn’t have a mouth.

Later on, he will also lose an eye, an ear, a hand, even his sexual organ.

It turns out this is because he is the victim of a sexual predator, his own uncle, when he was still a child. 

The traumatic experience also causes him to have nightmares that aliens are out to get him. 

In the end, he gets back all his missing parts when he dug up the grave of his uncle, opened the coffin and took back all the significant body parts of his that are hidden inside the casket. 

The Oscars has a separate category for best animated feature, so we don’t how well this film about child abuse will sit with the Oscar voters. 

Before this category was created in 2002, where “Shrek” was the first winner, the only full length animated film that got a best picture nomination was Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in 1991, which is undeniably oustanding.

No local film has ever been nominated in the Oscar best foreign film category since it started in 1956. 

The closest we got to being nominated was in Gil Portes’ “Mga Munting Tinig” in 2002 which got to Number 7. And we recall the late Gil really campaigned hard for that.

We don’t know how our current entry will appeal to the Oscar voters, but we just read online the requirements of the Oscars in this category and it says that a film submitted to them for consideration must “be first publicly exhibited for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theater for the profit of the producer and exhibitor.” 

We’re afraid “Iti Mapukpukaw” won’t qualify since it was not shown in a commercial theater for seven consecutive days.

It alternated its screening with all the other Cinemalaya entries in various venues. At kapag nasilip yan, for that alone, the film might be immediately disqualified by the Oscars.

We remember that Cinemalaya winners which were sent to represent us in the Oscars were released on a commercial run to fulfill this criteria, like “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros”, “Babae sa Septic Tank” and “Bwakaw”. 

We have nothing against “Iti Mapukpukaw” but why was it even considered when it doesn’t comply with the basic requirement of the Oscars of being shown in a commercial theatre for seven days?

The deadline of submission is this Monday, October 2. Are they really prepared for it?

Continue reading

'SPARKLE U' GMA NETWORK'S EXCITING NEW YOUTH-ORIENTED SHOW, STARTS ITS CLASSES SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 6 PM

 

           SHAYNE AND ABDUL in 'FRENEMIES' ON SPARKLE U

SPARKLE U, GMA Network's new youth-oriented series 'Sparkle U' starts its classes on Sunday, October 1, 6 PM!

Can the youth of today survive in the real world where people used to social media cannot just mute or delete someone in their life?  

 

Get ready for exciting school adventures as the newest youth-oriented anthology series ‘Sparkle U’ starts its classes on GMA Network this Sunday, October 1.

 

Set in a fictional universe called Sparkle University, Sparkle U is an anthology miniseries that revolves around the complicated lives of today’s youth, including the relevant struggles and issues they’re facing.

From the effects of social media use and family conflicts, a different facet of teenage life will be explored in each episode, 

with the story confined in the halls of Sparkle University, which is described to be a “conservative, parent-funded, all-inclusive” institution  that offers educational programs from elementary, high school, senior high school, to undergraduate studies.

 

Bannering the first story of Sparkle U are two of GMA Network's brightest and talented teen stars, Shayne Sava and Abdul Rahman.

In Sparkle U: #Frenemies, Shayne is set to excite audiences with her bubbly portrayal of Bekang, while Abdul plays the role of Drake -- the ladies' man of Sparkle U and famous for his quirky you-only-live-once type of videos online.

 

Joining them are Sparkle artists Roxie Smith as Yazzi, Michael Sager as Marco, Zephanie as Sue, Princess Alliyah as Raeka, Vanessa Pena as Yam, Anjay Anson as Wado; with the special participation of Matt Lozano as Basti, Leandro Baldemor as Reb, Sue Prado as Zarah, Geleen Eugenio as Miranda. 

 

Sparkle U: #Frenemies, follows the story of Bekang (Shayne) and Yazzi's (Roxie) lost friendship.

They were childhood friends before but Yazzi will treat Bekang as her nemesis when they meet again in Senior High. Both Bekang and Yazzi have strong personalities that have something to do with their parents' past. 

 

The second story of Sparkle U, on the other hand, introduces the new faces of campus life: Sparkle Sweethearts and popularly known as ‘Team Jolly’,  Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay. 

Catch them as Alessi (Sofia), Sparkle U’s campus smarty pants, and Zac (Allen), the university’s athletic heartthrob, in 'Sparkle U: Ghosted'.

 

They are joined by Marco Masa as Leon, Liana Mae as Sela, continuing her role from story one is Princess Aliyah as Raeka, and Ruffa Mae Quinto as Ms. Emilia Gaspar. 

 

Sparkle U: #Ghosted, chronicles the stories of five teens who are going through difficulties in their lives and a ghost teacher who is trying to make up for her past mistakes by helping these teens avoid committing mistakes of their own. 

 

Catch the premiere of “Sparkle U” on October 1, Sunday, 6:00 p.m. on GMA Network and simulcast on GTV.

Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www.GMANetwork.com.

Continue reading

GMA NAMED MEDIA NETWORK OF THE YEAR BY THE PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ADVERTISERS (PANA)

 

(L-R) PANA President Adi Timbol-Hernandez, GMA VP for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz, GMA Consultant for Sales and Marketing Riza Garduque, GMA Chief Marketing Officer Lizelle Maralag, GMA AVP for Sales and Marketing Johanna Jacinto, and PANAta Awards 2023 Chairperson Rey Marc San Juan.

GMA was named as the Media Network of the Year by the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA).  

Broadcast giant GMA Network, Inc. was honored as Media Network of the Year at the prestigious PANAta Awards of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) last September 22, 2023.

 

 As the top Philippine media conglomerate, GMA is also known for its strategic marketing and advocacy campaigns.

From edutainment series to seamless integration of brands in programs, the Kapuso Network has been the advertisers' preferred one-stop shop for customized multiplatform projects.

 

“We are humbled to receive the inaugural Media Network of the Year award from the Philippine Association of National Advertiser," says GMA Network's Chief Marketing Officer Lizelle Maralag. 

"Part of our vision is to be the advertisers’ preferred partner, so this recognition means so much to us. 

"This is a testament to our innovative and collaborative programs, forged alongside incredible brands and industry partners. Thank you PANA for honoring GMA’s work with this prestigious award.  

"We look forward to building more high-impact partnerships that enrich the lives of Filipinos."

 

Organized by PANA—the longest-running association of local and multinational advertisers and brand builders in the Philippines—the PANAta Awards has recognized campaigns that demonstrate brand effectiveness, creativity, strategic thinking, and impact. 

The Media Network of the Year Award is given to the media organization which has showcased inspiring and innovative execution of media ideas that resulted in an enhanced and amplified relationship among the agency, the brand builder, and audiences. 

 

A distinguished jury of brand luminaries, media experts, academe, and esteemed advertising agencies determined the winner based on a set of criteria. 

Among the campaigns GMA was cited for was the Kapuso at Kasambuhay ng Kalikasan advocacy campaign with Nestlé Philippines.

 

“We share this recognition with the whole Kapuso Network and with Nestlé Philippines—our partner for Kapuso at Kasambuhay ng Kalikasan—an advocacy to protect our environment," says GMA Network’s Vice President and Head for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz. 

"Our advertisers and brand partners are very important to us, and we thank you for the trust. We will continue to work with you in delivering superior entertainment and responsible news."

GMA Network’s long-standing commitment to promoting environmental awareness and ecological regeneration is reflected in its programs and in the way the Network operates.  

It has institutionalized green advocacy through the Kapuso ng Kalikasan, the Network’s flagship program that collaborates with institutions to save the planet's critical resources.

GMA is also recognized as one of the notable organizations that promote sustainability in the country, being the first media and broadcasting company in the Philippines to sign with the United Nations (UN) Global Compact. 

Continue reading

REVIEW OF 'BJJ : W0MAN ON TOP', A FEMINIST FILM ON HOW WOMEN SHOULD LEARN TO STAND ON THEIR OWN

 

the cast of WOMAN ON TOP at the presscon. KEANNA REEVES, ALEXA OCAMPO, DIRECTOR LINNET ZURBANO, ANGELA MORENA and JIAD ARROYO 

DIRECTOR LINNET ZURBANO has come up with a message movie in “BJJ (Brazilian JuJietsu”: Woman on Top” that has very strong feminist sentiments. 

Angela Morena plays Elise, a young woman who is drugged and sexually assaulted while in a party. 

She’s able to ward off her attacker but the experience left her traumatized as she keeps on having nightmares about it. 

She’s then encouraged to train in Brazilian JuJietsu or BJJ with Ace (Yuki Sakamoto) as her sympathetic coach. 

BJJ teaches even a frail woman on how to take an even bigger opponent to the ground by taking a dominant position to force her adversary into submission.

Eventually, Elise is able to learn how to stand up for herself and even defend herself against an aggressive suitor, Marco (Jiad Arroyo), and his vengeful and violent girlfriend, Riza (Alexa Ocampo), who cannot accept that Marco’s true love is Elise, not her.

Elise falls for Ace and sleeps with him, but she slowly realizes that he cannot get over the memory of his dead girlfriend (Jela Cuenca). 

In the end, Elise gets to feel empowered enough on her own and not to let her happiness depend on any one man. 

Angela Morena is splendid in the lead role, handling both her fight scenes and dramatic scenes with equal competence. 

She’s one Vivamax bombshell who really knows how to act persuasively. 

This is former Bidaman Yuki Sakamoto’s first lead role and he gamely disrobes for all the bed scenes. 

No doubt he has good screen presence and his height is his advantage over the other vertically challenged Vivamax studs, but somehow, this huge unsightly tattoo on his entire back is really very distracting. 

It will surely limit the roles that he can portray convincingly. 

We’re glad that Viva continues to give breaks to women directors, like Direk Linnet Zurbano who makes sure her films are not just all soft core sex scenes but also imbued with a valid message. 

“Woman on top in this film does not just refer to a sexual position,” she explains. “Women can be on top of the world in anything and everything, as long as she believes in herself and she is in control of her own story.

"The opening scene of the movie shows a man and a woman in various positions na akala mo, they’re making love, but actually, they’re sparring in a Brazilian juejitsu match.

"The sport is really helpful, specially for women, because learning the discipline it instills can really help us in coping with the adversities that we face in life.” 

“BJJ: Woman on Top” is now streaming on Vivamax.

Continue reading

VIVAMAX HAS MANY HEROINES NA MAY SAYAD, BUT RUBY RUIZ IN 'LANGITNGIT' TOPS THEM AS THE BADDEST BITCH OF ALL!!!!

 

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: TRIXIE EMANUELLE, ERIC BALAGTAS, ZIA ZAMORA, RUBY RUIZ, MANANG MEDINA, AURORA YUMUL, ITAN ROSALES & DIR. CHRISTOPHER NOVABOS

“LANGITNGIT” is a Vivamax psycho-sex thriller set in a decaying old house that starts streaming on October 6.. 

The sex scenes are provided mainly by Manang Medina (first seen in “Lagaslas”) and Itan Rosales (first seen in “Kamadora”) who has about five different brazen love scenes in the movie. 

But the true central character in the film is Manay Flor, the owner of the house who turns out to be a not so distant relative of Norman Bates from “Psycho”. 

It’s an acting piece and Ruby Ruiz really delivered and made it a personal showcase of her formidable acting talent.

We tell her she’s truly a very bad girl and she’ll give a very good girl a run for her money.

Ruby is on the threshold of making a splash in Hollywood with the new 6-episode TV series she just completed shooting in Hongkong with Nicole Kidman, ‘Expats’, where she plays an overseas Filipino worker who gets to work for Nicole’s character. 

Ruby says it will be shown on Prime Video in January of 2024. 

It is said that Nicole Kidman usually doesn’t allow her co-stars to have a picture taken with her. 

But in the case of Ruby, she was even the one who requested that they have a photo together. 

This means that Ruby’s acting must have really impressed her a lot. 

Vivamax movies have a lot of heroines na may sayad, but Ruby in “Langitngit” really tops all of them as the meanest, baddest bitch of all. 

Move over, all those who pretend to be good girls!

In “Langitngit”, Ruby dominates the movie and gives an authoritative, finely nuanced performance as a very religious woman who turns out to be deranged psychotic. 

The title refers to the noisy creaking of the old bed that makes lots of scandalous noises while Manang and Itan are making out on top of it, which sends Ruby to the infernal regions of lunacy. 

This is about all we can share as anything else would surely be a big spoiler.

But since this is a Vivamax flick, regular subscribers who look for the usual soft core porn scenes will surely not be disappointed. 

All the performers are more than game in exposing themselves in the bed scenes. 

Itan has steamy love scenes not only with Manang but also with voluptuous newcomer Zia Zamora, who agrees to have her breasts gleefully mashed by the lustful Itan. 

Lovers of kinky scenes, blood and gore scenes will also not be disappointed as the movie has many violent scenes of cold-blooded murder coupled with insanity, voyeurism and fornication. 

The most gruesome is the manner by which an unsuspecting priest is killed. Pero bilang pagbabangong puri, the movie also has many scenes showing the characters praying the rosary while kneeling in front of an altar.

Aurora Yumul also gives a remarkable performance as Doreng, the hunchback lifetime partner in crime of Manay Flor.

We just wish the movie were paced a bit more swiftly as several parts really dragged, like the ones involving Manang’s family that do not have a direct bearing to the narrative. 

It’s okay to establish that Manang is a devoted breadwinner but several scenes involving her mother and sister (like that scene where they visited Manang and Manay Flor tried gives them a drugged drink) can be easily edited out without having any adverse effect on the flow of the story.

Viewers today have a very short attention span and the moment they get bored, they can easily switch the shows or movies they’re watching.

We just want to remind Vivamax filmmakers that fast-paced storytelling is a big factor, specially on streaming platforms.

Continue reading

REGAL'S 'SHAKE RATTLE & ROLL EXTREME' REVEALS ITS NEW EPISODES & HUGE CAST LED BY IZA CALZADO'S COMEBACK AFTER GIVING BIRTH

 

REGAL'S ROSELLE MONTEVERDE WITH THE HUGE CAST OF 'SHAKE RATTLE & ROLL EXTREME'

                              IZA CALZADO STARS IN 'GLITCH' episode of SRR EXTREME

ROSELLE MONTEVERDE is the first producer to host a grand presscon for a possible entry, “Shake Rattle & Roll (SRR) Extreme”, in the coming Metro Manila Filmfest in December. 

The very first SRR was shown in 1984 with the memorable episodes “Pridyider” by Ishmael Bernal and “Manananggal” by Peque Gallaga.

The last one “SRR 15” was shown in 2014. And now, after nine years, Roselle felt it’s time to come up with a new SRR movie. 

“Kasi uso ngayon ang horror,” she says. “Malakas ang horror films, like ‘Insidious’ and ‘The Nun’. People love getting a good scare.”

So what is the difference of “SRR Extreme” from its predecessors?

“If you’d notice, wala na siyang number,” she says.

“Instead of calling it SRR16, we chose Extreme. Even in Hollywood, they no longer put numbers in their new horror movies, like Halloween, wala ng number at ang title na nila is ‘Halloween Kills’ or ‘Halloween Ends’. 

"Even Evil Dead, wala ng number, the last one was ‘Evil Dead Rise’. 

"Itong Extreme, we chose terrifying stories with a twist, yung magugustuhan ng lahat ng viewers, from millennial and Gen Z viewers to the loyal viewers from various generations of the past 40 years. 

"The stories in SRR Extreme will surely cater to all of them.”

The three stories of SRR Extreme are “Mukbang” (a Korean term for eat all you can), “Rage” and “Glitch”.  

“Mukbang” is directed by Jerrold Tarog who co-wrote the script with Onay Sales.  

Jerrold has helmed three previous SRR episodes, all acclaimed: “Funeraria” (2010, with Carla Abellana),  “Parola” (2011, with Kathryn Bernardo), and “Ulam” (2014, with Carla Abellana).

“Mukbang” is the story of social media influencers and content creators who meet for collaboration in a huge mansion that turns out to be haunted and it turns out that two of them are actually shape-shifting monsters out to eat their other colleagues.

The huge cast includes RK Bagatsing, Jane Oineza, Paul Salas, Elle Villanueva, Francis Mata, and newcomers AC Bonifacio, Jane Taladro, Ninong Ry, Ian Gimeno and Esmyr Ranollo. 

They shot on location in a big mansion in Tagaytay that turns out to be really haunted.

“Rage” is directed by Joey de Guzman, with script by Trisha Delez. 

It’s the story of thrill seeking young people who go out of town to watch a rare meteor shower, not knowing that the meteors are carrying a virus from outer space. Whoever is infected by the virus turns into a flesh-eating zombie. 

The big cast is led by Paolo Gumabao, Jane de Leon, Rob Gomez,  Dustin Yu, Bryce Eusebio, Mika Raines and Sarah Edwards.

“Glitch” is directed by Richard Somes, who directed one of the scariest SRR episodes, “Lihim ng San Joaquin: Aswang” in 2005, starring Mark Anthony Fernandez. 

Written by Anton Santamaria and Noreen Capili, the story is about a fashion designer and single mom with two kids who has lost her faith in God until she discovers that their home has been the lair of a sinister creature of the night. 

“Glitch” stars Iza Calzado (her first film since she became a mom) with Migz Cuaderno and Jewel Milag as her kids. Supporting them are Angel Guardian and Donna Cariaga as their religious housemaid. 

Iza Calzado is so happy to see the press people in the presscon.

“This is the first presscon I attended since the pandemic and it’s so nice to see you all again,” she says. 

“It feels great to be working again and I really enjoyed making this film. Sana, makapasok siya as official entry sa MMFF and I pray na bumalik na sana talaga ang moviegoers sa mga sinehan.”

She’s happy to be part of SRR again as she has previously appeared in SRR8 in the episode about a killer babysitter, “Yaya”, with Sheryl Cruz and Nash Aguas. 

She is asked to what are the Extremes she has experienced in her life.

“Naku, ang dami kong Extremes sa buhay ko as I have lived a full life. 

"Once, I almost left my career because of love, buti hindi nangyari. Some of the extremes are extremely shocking so it’s better to leave it at that and hindi puedeng i-share.”

Continue reading