SBNLifestyle

May 23, 2019

America’s Got Talent Season 14 Returns with a Bang Starting May 30 on AXN

America's top variety competition series, America's Got Talent, is set to hit the screens with its 14th Season at the end of this month.

A stark departure from its previous seasons, fans of the global ratings juggernaut are in for a big surprise as the upcoming season will bring with it a few changes including a fresh host and two new judges.

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Terry Crews will take over Tyra Banks as host of the hit series, a role he is familiar with, having emceed the highly rated spinoff "America's Got Talent: The Champions". Meanwhile, award-winning actress, author and producer Gabrielle Union as well as actress, dancer, singer and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Julianne Hough will debut as the series' new judges, alongside executive producer Simon Cowell and fan favourite Howie Mandel, to shake up the judges' table.

Union and Hough will replace singer Mel B and model Heidi Klum who had both been sitting on the judges'panel since Season 8. Together, the refreshed panel of judges will sift through hundreds of auditions nationwide in search of the most unique, jaw-dropping and show-stopping performers worthy of the chance to be crowned as the ultimate winner of America's Got Talent.

"The Got Talent is indeed a successful reality format due to its ability to move and bring fans and participants together despite of cultural and geographical differences. This year, we're looking forward to the new and bold changes that America's Got Talent Season 14 has to offer. It'll be another season of surprising highlights, wild and unimagined discoveries and tons of chatter. Seasons after seasons, we will continue to build AXN as the Home of Talent," said Virginia Lim, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Distribution and Networks, Sony Pictures Television.

Once again, this year's series promises to be a season of spectacular talents and extraordinary participants. Fans can catch the brand-new season of America's Got Talent from Thursday, 30 May 2019 at 6pm (5pm JKT/BKK) on AXN, within 48 hours of the U.S. telecast. Same-day encore telecast is available at 8pm (7pm JKT/BKK).

For the latest videos and updates on America's Got Talent, subscribe to @AXNAsia YouTube channel and follow @AXNAsia on Facebook.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 10:12:00 PM

Top PH Beach Volleyball Teams vs the World in FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open 2019

Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) returns in blazing fashion to host the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open 2019 featuring 48 teams from countries all over the world from May 23 until May 26 at the White House Beach Resort, Boracay Station 1 and will be shown on an ABS-CBN Sports platform.

Twenty-eight teams will be competing in the Men's Division while 20 pairs will dispute supremacy in the Women's Division for the tournament that is being held in the country for the second-straight year.

The Philippine contingent for this year is composed of three pairs for the Men's Division and five for the Women's Division

Competing in the Women's Division are Negrense pair Dij Rodriguez and BVR founder Bea Tan; UST's Genesa Eslapor and Belove Barbon; Iloilo's DM Demontano and Jackie Estiquia; the Iloilo and Negros connection of Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain; and the team of Bernadeth Pons and UAAP Beach Volleyball queen, Sisi Rondina.

Leading the battle in the Men's Division is the Cebuano pair of Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria. They will be joined by the likes of teammates Ranran Abdilla and Jesse Lopez and the pair of James Buytrago and Anthony Arbasto, who hails from National University (NU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) respectively.

Winning teams will earn points and get a shot at joining the prestigious FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals.

The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour is the new system which employs star points for the biggest circuit of beach volleyball in the world. Teams that accumulate certain points from competing in tournaments that enables them to earn star points over a total of 47 tournaments in a calendar year.

Aside from the three-day tournament, BVR is also spearheading a beach cleanup drive at Boracay along with a Sandroots Beach Volleyball workshop with the players teaching aspiring youth about the sport.

BVR had another calendar year in 2018, where it successfully staged nine two-day tourneys, visiting provinces and their breath-taking beaches in Ikthus beach, Ilocos Sur, White Beach, Puerto Galera, Sta. Ana Cagayan, Bantayan Cebu, Blue Beach Dagupan, Legaspi, Gran Ola Surigao, Lio Beach El Nido, and Dumaguete, while also holding a National Championship tourney and a FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour leg.

Bea Tan, one of BVR's founders expressed gratitude to the organizations and athletes that believe and support in BVR's mission to grow the sport in the Philippines and that one of the biggest achievements for the girls who built BVR was the holding of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour leg for the second year in a row.

"We're looking at this FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour as a long term project. We want to annually be able to hold this big tournament here which is not only an opportunity for our beach volleyball aficionados but for the international community to take notice of the Philippines' potential as a beach volleyball hub," she shared.

For news and updates on the tournament, head to sports.abs-cbn.com or follow @abscbnsports on Facebook and Twitter. Also follow @BeachVolleyballRepublic on Facebook and Instagram, and @bvr_ph on Twitter.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abscbnpr.com.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 10:02:00 PM

“Spider-Man: Far From Home” Reveals Character Posters

Columbia Pictures has just shared the character posters for Spider-Man: Far From Home, shining the light on Tom Holland as Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio, Zendaya as MJ and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Check out the one-sheets below and watch Spider-Man: Far From Home in Philippine cinemas July 3^rd.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 10:00:00 PM

Inigo Pascual Teams Up with Australia’s Biggest YouTube Star Wengie for New Single “Mr. Nice Guy”

Filipino pop star Inigo Pascual is set to captivate more audiences with his music as he partners with Australia's most popular YouTuber, Wengie, for a new single entitled "Mr. Nice Guy."

This exciting collaboration with the Chinese Australian singer will be part of Inigo's upcoming sophomore album, this time under ABS-CBN Music International.

"I was surprised to be offered to work with someone from YG. I've been a K-Pop fan for so long. I've been so overwhelmed. I'm so grateful," shared Inigo.

Aside from working with Wengie, Inigo is also scheduled to team up with more international artists and release another collaboration single in May.

Wengie is a lifestyle vlogger and voice actress who currently has 13 million subscribers on her main, self-titled YouTube channel. She also has several other channels, including Wengie Music, featuring her own hit singles like "Oh I Do," "De Ja Vu," and "Cake."

Inigo is currently one of the VJs of the country's number one music channel, MYX, and one of the hosts of the online show "One Music POPSSSS." The official lyric vid for his big hit "Dahil Sa'Yo" is also one of the most viewed OPM videos on YouTube with 92 million views so far. In 2017, he released the Philippine version of "Remember Me," Disney movie "Coco's" official theme song.

The rising performer is only one of the Kapamilya artists who is slowly breaking into the international music scene as ABS-CBN continues to champion Filipino talent on the world stage.

Watch out for Inigo and Wengie's "Mr. Nice Guy," coming on digital stores this April. For more details, like Star Music on facebook.com/starmusicph, and follow it on Twitter and Instagram @ StarMusicPH.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 09:55:00 PM

The Next OPM Star Could Be Singing Along the LRT Tracks

Reality competitions on TV? Singing contests? Talent shows? If you're looking for the next big OPM star, you won't have to look everywhere or very far—try the LRT-1 on a weekend and youcould discover an act that's totally fresh and unexpected.

Say, for example: if you were getting on the train at the Baclaran station last May 16 in the late afternoon, you may have heard soulful local songbird Miss Ramonne belt out OPM hits both covered and original. If you stuck around a while, you'd have heard how amazing of a singer she was, and you might have checked out her songs on Spotify.

That potential discovery—along with many other local acts waiting to be heard—is what led the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) and ikotMNL, alongside their partners the Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM) to host something that's totally unique for both the Filipino music scene and the LRT lines: Railway Jam, a series of busking sessions where local musicians and acts perform at the Baclaran, Doroteo Jose, and Monumento LRT-1 stations for the commuters' entertainment.

"We recognize the wealth of musical talent in our local OPM musicians, and we wanted to give them an open space to showcase those gifts," said LRMC president and CEO Juan Felipe Alfonso. "In doing so, we also wanted to entertain our riding public and ease the stresses of commuting."

"OPM is really grateful to LRMC for the avenue they provided us," said OPM president Ogie Alcasid. "All our acts are talented and eager to perform for the public, and we believe they deserve to be heard and supported by as many as possible."

And you don't have to miss out—you can keep discovering the next big OPM act at select LRT-1 stations every week until June! Just like their page at OPM – Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-Aawit on Facebook or @opmsingers on Instagram for the full Railway Jam schedule. Who knows, the next one you catch might break out, and you can say that you were right there up close at their Railway Jam session!

ikotMNL is a tourism campaign launched by the LRMC in August 2018 that connects local and foreign travelers to Manila's top heritage, and food destinations by way of riding the LRT-1, allowing them to experience the city's colorful history and diverse culture through the train route.

For more details, visit ikotmnl.com, like ikotMNL on Facebook, and follow @ikotmnl on Instagram and Twitter.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 09:53:00 PM

“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” Reveals Brand New Trailer

In this town, it can all change…like that. Watch the brand new trailer of Columbia Pictures' Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, the 9th film by Quentin Tarantino.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/jdJWFOrWO9I

In Philippine cinemas August 28, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Use the hashtag #OnceUponATimeInHollywood

About Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age.

Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is produced by David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh and Quentin Tarantino. The cast is led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 09:50:00 PM

MYX Welcomes New VJs Anton Fausto, Aya Fernandez, and Dani Mortel

The MYX VJ Search 2019 officially came to a close with three new victors—Anton Fausto, Aya Fernandez, and Dani Mortel.

From the hundreds who braved auditions to 12 who faced weeks of vlogging and hosting challenges, three personalities emerged from the competition, proving they have what it takes to take the daily MYX stage.

An events host and choreographer, Anton Fausto is a natural born entertainer, ready to bring in good vibes as well as smooth moves in the music channel. He shared how grateful, shocked, and pressured he was during the process. "I just can't find the right words to sum up this journey but I'll always be so thankful and proud to have been given a voice throughout this competition," said bubbly Anton.

Mutya ng Pilipinas 2018 winner Aya now holds a new title—"MYX VJ." The University of the Philippines Diliman student also divulged that she went through finals in school the same time the MYX VJ Search finals commenced.

Football player, lifestyle livestreamer and writer Dani really went for what makes her happy: becoming a MYX VJ.

Dani took her feels to Instagram saying, "The #MYXVJSearch2019 was definitely one for the books. . . . I'm thankful I took that leap of faith to pursue my dream. And I'm thankful to have overcome insecurities in the most unexpected, most humbling of ways."

Follow VJs Anton, Aya, and Dani in their exciting new journey as incoming hosts on MYX. Watch MYX on ABS-CBN TVplus channel 12, SKYcable channel 23, and SKYdirect channel 37. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 09:48:00 PM

Pokwang Plays Igorot Woman Who Fights for Her Dreams in “MMK”

Pokwang will once again show her acting prowess as she portrays an Igorot woman who breaks with tradition and fights for her dreams to have an abundant life in "MMK" this Saturday (May 25).

Growing up poor, Diana (Pokwang) desires to finish her studies to give her family a bright future. But her parents think otherwise, believing marrying a man from a family of farmers would give her a comfortable life.

This pushed Diana to leave her family and try her luck in Manila where she worked as a helper. Her employers instantly noticed her dedication and helped her finish college. She eventually landed a job in the municipal office, which helped her provide for her parents in the province.

She then met Victor, the man whom she fell for and became her husband. However, the man she thought would complete her life was also the one who would destroy her dreams for her family as Victor became an alcoholic and constantly hurt their children.

Will Diana be able to pull through from this obstacle?

Don't miss the longest-running drama anthology in Asia, "MMK," every Saturday on ABS-CBN. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 09:46:00 PM

2019 Bb. Pilipinas Hopefuls vie for the First-Ever Bb. Poten-Cee Gandang Palaban

"I just constantly tell myself that I should be the only one to define my worth and what I'm capable of and how I perceive myself. And that I should never source that worth from other people…" – Catriona Gray, Bb. Pilipinas 2018 and Ms. Universe 2018

Beautiful. Strong. Confident. These are the traits that Poten-Cee, the official vitamin partner of the 2019 Bb. Pilipinas, is looking for in its first ever
Bb. Poten-Cee Gandang Palaban. Pascual Laboratories, Inc. (PascualLab), makers of the #1 Adult Vitamin C brand Poten-Cee (based on the latest IMS Report), recently announced its search for the Bb. Poten-Cee Gandang Palaban through its subsidiary, Pascual Consumer Healthcare Corp (PCHC). The lucky winner will be chosen from among this year's Bb. Pilipinas candidates and will be awarded during the Binibining Pilipinas coronation night.

PCHC Marketing Head Beth Sheba "Pepsi" Alacar announced this during the ladies' visit to PascualLab manufacturing plant, where she expounded on what makes one a
Gandang Palaban. Alacar said: "PascualLab has partnered with Binibining Pilipinas to award the young lady who truly exemplifies how the Filipino woman of today can face her responsibilities and challenges with grit and grace, be trusted to deliver what is expected of her, and feels empowered to rise above any occasion. And, whoever wins the crown this year, we hope you bring the same spirit of Poten-Cee's Gandang Palaban with you wherever it may take you."

Gines Enriquez, head of Binibing Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) shared: "The partnership will enable the organization to build relationships with brands such as Poten-Cee that have wellness and health in mind. He added: "Both BPCI and Poten-Cee are Pinoy-based institutions that are set out to empower the modern Pinay who are beyond beauty and who exemplify health as well. "

During the candidates' visit and engagement with Pascual Laboratories, the ladies already showcased their Gandang Palaban. The candidates were eager to learn more about Poten-Cee Vitamin C and its dual benefit of beauty and immunity, how it is made, how to arm themselves against sickness and other challenges, and what they can achieve with a healthy lifestyle.
The ladies toured four areas of the manufacturing plant, as well as the rest home of founders Isosceles and Leonora Pascual, which is located at the back of the Bulacan property. The 70's- style house has been transformed into a museum, showcasing memorabilia and other items of importance for the Pascual family, and from Pascual Laboratories' history.

Leading the tour was Director for Corporate HR, Design Services and Corporate Communications (DSCC) Mia Pascual Cenzonwho was supported by PascualLab Vice President for Supply Group, Engr. Higinio Porte, Director for Supply Chain Management and Plant HR Charmaine Abueva, Director for Quality Assurance, Product Development and Plant Organizational Development Mario Soliven, and Associate Director for Manufacturing Jesse Santiago.

As a prelude to the search, the ladies joined theGandang Palaban Selfie Contest where they were asked to pose with their complimentary PotenCee products in their most creative pose and then use the hashtag #GandangPalaban. The most creative pose and definition ofGandang Palaban with the most likes wins.

Aside from Gandang Palaban, the 2019 Bb. Pilipinas will also award five top winners who will then vie for the following international titles: Binibining Pilipinas International, Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational, Binibining Pilipinas Globe, and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, foremost of which is the Binibining Pilipinas Universe whose last winner is Filipino-Australian Catriona Gray who eventually won as Ms. Universe 2019.

By: JENG On 5/23/2019 09:43:00 PM

May 13, 2019

A Touching Funny Movie for Mother’s Day “Mamu and a Mother Too” Showing in Select Cinemas

One of 2018's Cinema One Originals featured films, "Mamu And A Mother Too," will hold special screenings this May to present an amusing and heartwarming motherhood story in celebration of Mother's Day.

On Sunday (May 13), the film will have a special Mother's Day screening at Cinema Centenario at 5:30pm. It will also be shown at the UPFI Film Center - Cine Adarna gala screening on May 22 (Wednesday) at 5pm and 7pm. On May 24 (Friday), the film will have regular screenings at micro-cinemas in Cinema '76.

Hailed as C1 Originals' Audience Choice and Young Critics Circle 2019's Best First Feature, "Mamu And A Mother Too" is directed by Rod Singh and features a middle-aged transgender who finds herself instantly becoming a surrogate mom to her transgender niece.

"Mamu And A Mother Too" made headlines last year when its lead star, Iyah Mina, won Best Actress in C1 Originals, the first transgender woman recognized for best acting in Philippine cinema. Meanwhile, another cast member and Iya's long-term boyfriend in the film, Arron Villaflor, was hailed as Best Supporting Actor.

According to Leo Balante's review on adobomagazine.com, the film has the right combination of realistic comedy and drama. He said, "This effortless, symbiotic relationship made it easy for the audience to grow as the characters grew with the right blend of real-life drama and comedy. . . Overall, 'Mamu; and a Mother Too' is a ride you will enjoy as you will not forget for a long while."

Meanwhile, Ryan Piolo Veluz hailed the film's take on motherhood in abttheflame.net, the official student publication of UST Faculty of Arts and Letters. "Ultimately, the film teaches viewers that the core of being a mother is not determined by gender and blood relation; rather, motherhood is a choice fueled by unselfish motives and unpretentious affection," he wrote.

The film was recently rated R-13 by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Witness the unfolding of a mother's love in "Mamu And A Mother Too" in selected cinemas this May. For more details, like Cinema One Originals on Facebook and follow @c1origs on Twitter and @c1originals on Instagram.

By: JENG On 5/13/2019 12:30:00 AM

Join the Worldwide Celebration of X-Men Day on May 13

Mark your calendars for Monday, May 13, when 20^th Century Fox will kick off X-Men Day – a celebration of the culmination of the X-Men saga, its global fanbase, all of the beloved characters, its groundbreaking impact on popular culture, and its enduring audience appeal for nearly 20 years.

On Monday, fan celebrations of all things X-Men will happen online and all over the world, including the debut of exclusive X-Men content, special events, and unexpected surprises for our most loyal fans.

Check out official pages: 20th Century Fox (PH) Facebook, Youtube 20thcenturyfoxph and IG 20centuryfoxph for the latest and live updates!

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters, and Jessica Chastain, and is scored by composer Hans Zimmer.

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX arrives in Philippine theaters on June 5 starting at 2:00pm (available in 2D, 3D, IMAX 3D and 4D). Book your tickets early at your favorite cinemas!

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By: JENG On 5/13/2019 12:26:00 AM

PH Most Trusted Anchors Lead ABS-CBN News’ “Halalan 2019: Ipanalo ang Boses ng Pilipino” Special Coverage

True to its election campaign "Halalan 2019: Ipanalo ang Boses ng Pilipino," ABS-CBN News will go full force to let the voice of the Filipinos be heard with the most comprehensive election coverage during and after the May 13 national midterm elections on TV, cable, radio, and online.

Leading the way in telling the stories of Filipinos from different points in the country and the world, through ABS-CBN Regional and ABS-CBN News' news bureaus in North America, Middle East, and Europe, are the nation's most trusted and awarded news anchors led by Noli "Kabayan" De Castro, Ted Failon, Karen Davila, Julius Babao, Bernadette Sembrano, Henry Omaga-Diaz, Zen Hernandez, Alvin Elchico, Gretchen Ho, and Anthony Taberna.

The coverage of the country's largest news organization begins at 4:30 am on ABS-CBN with the airing of DZMM's Special Coverage, followed by the Halalan 2019: ABS-CBN Special Coverage from 5 am to 12nn.

The Kapamilya network then goes to regular programming and will resume its special coverage at 5 pm followed by "TV Patrol." The coverage takes a break again at 8 pm and returns at 10:15 pm for the election edition of "Bandila."

ABS-CBN News will wrap up its special "Halalan 2019" coverage on Tuesday (May 14) at 5 am to 8 am.

For DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 and DZMM TeleRadyo, there will be a 36 hour marathon coverage from 4 am of May 13 to 4 pm of May 14, 2019. As the leader in news and public service, DZMM will also offer assistance to Kapamilyas who may encounter problems while voting through linking them with concerned government agencies.

ANC will also have a 36-hour coverage starting at 4 am with live reports and up-to-the-minute updates delivered by ANC reporters in precincts around the country and around the world. At the helm of the coverage are well-respected broadcast journalists Tina Monzon-Palma, Karen Davila, Lynda Jumilla, and Cathy Yang.

Overseas Filipinos and those who are mobile can follow the coverages on ABS-CBN, DZMM, and ANC via news.abs-cbn.com, which will integrate the three platforms online. They may also watch on youtube.com/ABSCBNNews or on the Facebook pages of ABS-CBN News (https://facebook.com/abscbnNEWS), DZMM TeleRadyo (https://facebook.com/DZMMTeleRadyo), ANC (https://www.facebook.com/ANCalerts/).

Live election results from the COMELEC data from the senatorial down to municipal level contests will also be available on the #Halalan2019 results page https://halalanresults.abs-cbn.com.

ABS-CBN News began its "Halalan 2019" coverage last November when it began special reports on election-related topics on its multiple media platforms. It also launched the DZMM Ikaw Na Ba: The Senatorial Candidates' Interview series, which was able to feature the most number of senatorial candidates, and four "Harapan 2019 Townhall Debates," where Filipinos all over the country and the world got to know, hear the platforms and stands on issues of those running for senator. Its citizen journalism movement "Bayan Mo, iPatrol Mo" also went all over the nation to promote vigilance and media literacy in schools and communities.

To highlight the issues and concerns of ordinary Filipinos, ABS-CBN News also partnered with artists, songwriters, and rappers in creating election-themed murals and songs that were featured on TV and online on ABS-CBN News' platforms.

Stay updated this elections. Catch the "Halalan 2019: Ipanalo ang Boses ng Pilipino" special election coverage on ABS-CBN, ANC, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, DZMM TeleRadyo, news.abs-cbn.com, and patrol.ph. Follow @ABSCBNNews, @ANCalerts, @DZMMTeleRadyo on Facebook and Twitter or visit news.abs-cbn.com and patrol.ph. Watch online via iWant News on iwant.ph or the ABS-CBN News YouTube channel.

By: JENG On 5/13/2019 12:24:00 AM

Get to Know the Leading Men of UAAP Women’s Volleyball

The Final Four cast is set in UAAP Women's Volleyball with the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Lady Eagles leading the way followed by the surging UST Golden Tigresses, the defending champion DLSU Lady Spikers, and last year's finalist the FEU Lady Tamaraws.

Before semifinals action starts this Saturday (May 4) on ABS-CBN S+A, LIGA, and iWant Sports, let us put the spotlight on the distinguished men in the sidelines that are behind the scintillating seasons of the tournament's top four squads. As much as the players have given everything they have and left it all on the floor, so too have their coaches!

Let us get to know the individuals that have motivated, guided, and paved the way for the likes of stars like Bea De Leon, Sisi Rondina, Des Cheng, and Heather Guino-o to fight for the championship trophy in UAAP Season 81.

1.) George Pascua, Far Eastern University

Pascua was a former player for the Men's Volleyball team of FEU and was teammates with volleyball legend, and DLSU head coach, Ramil De Jesus. As a coach, he won four titles for his alma mater's men's squad. His championship run continued in the semi-pro circuit where he notched three titles as a women's volleyball coach. He rejoined the FEU program in 2017 and under his tutelage, the Lady Tamaraws seems to be on its way to bringing back FEU's glory days as a UAAP volleyball powerhouse. After a return to the Finals in Season 80, his young team has another crack in the title, though they have to do it against league-leading Ateneo.

2.) Kung Fu Reyes, University of Santo Tomas

Coach Kung Fu used to be a utility spiker for UST where he won three titles as a player. As a coach, he has handled a lot of stars in the juniors ranks before they became household names like Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, sisters Dindin and Jaja Santiago among others, when he was an assistant to Francis Vicente. One of his best moments came in 2013 when he coached the Junior Tigresses to the title. Two years later, he took over the UST program that has seen a resurgence with the likes of Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure, Dimdim Pacres, and Milena Alessandrini. Will this be the year the Golden Tigresses romp back to the Finals with Coach Kung Fu at the helm?

3.) Oliver Almadro, Ateneo De Manila University

Coach O, as he is fondly called by his players, is one of the league's best motivators on the floor. But that does not take away the tactical genius of Almadro who steered the Ateneo Blue Eagles to the Finals for five straight years after being a down-and-out program back then. He built the team to the powerhouse that it is now before taking the head coaching position for the Ateneo Lady Eagles following Tai Bundit's exit. No one expected the Lady Eagles at the top of the heap at 12-2entering the Final Four, but it is a testament to how much Almadro has shaped one of the youngest teams in the league into a formidable force. His success is not surprising as this former Letran varsity player had only the next guy in the list as his mentor when he started coaching.

4.) Ramil De Jesus, De La Salle University

The man needs no introduction at all. You want to have the best in Philippine volleyball? All you have to do is look at the way of Taft and just marvel at how Ramil De Jesus has built a volleyball empire at DLSU. He is one of the winningest coaches in the land with a 246-65 record. Not only that, he has 10 championship belts under his belt and a long line of stars who are proud to have been mentored by him. Manilla Santos, Maureen Penetranter, Desiree Hernandez, Chi Saet, Iris Ortega-Patrona were there when volleyball started to boom. Then De Jesus was armed with the likes of the towering Jacq Alarca, Michele Gumabao, Aby Marano, Kim Fajardo, Cha Cruz, and many, many more stars. Arguably, he has the best program in the country and his rings more than do the talking for recruitment purposes.

Catch these four gentlemen as they try to rally their ladies to victory in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 81 Women's Volleyball Tournament that starts this Saturday (May 4) with the Ateneo-FEU match at 4 pm. UST and DLSU will figure in a derby in the other match-up that will be played on Sunday (May 5), also at 4 pm.

Catch all the action LIVE only on ABS-CBN S+A, S+A HD, LIGA, LIGA HD, via livestreaming on sports.abs-cbn.com and iWant Sports.

For more stories and news on the UAAP, follow @ABSCBNSports on Twitter and Facebook or visit sports.abs-cbn.com. For updates, follow @ABSCBNPR on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or visit www.abscbnpr.com.

By: JENG On 5/13/2019 12:09:00 AM

New York Times Best Seller “The Sun is Also a Star” Now a Motion Picture, Opens in PH Theaters on May 16

Can a poet and a pragmatist fall in love? What if they only have 24 hours to find out? Something like love at first sight has struck Daniel Bae (Charles Melton), but he soon learns he has just one day to not only get Natasha Kingsley (Yara Shahidi) to fall for him, but to convince her that romantic love exists in the first place. One day. Because tomorrow she could be gone.

(Watch the film's trailer at YouTube: https://youtu.be/6KPq9MB4__c.)

In "The Sun Is Also a Star," opposites attract against the backdrop of one of the busiest and most vibrant cities in the world: New York. And in a city of more than eight million people, what are the odds that anyone will find the one…or that their paths will even cross?

The film pits the law of attraction against a U.S. deportation law that will, in just 24 hours, put the character of Natasha and her entire family on a plane to Jamaica, away from everything she knows and loves, everything she considers home.

The film is based on the acclaimed bestseller of the same title by author Nicola Yoon (Everything, Everything). The Sun Is Also a Star was #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list and has received multiple accolades, including: 2016 National Book Award Finalist; Amazon's Best Book of 2016 in YA; Amazon's Top 20 Children's Books of 2016 in YA; the New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2016; and Entertainment Weekly's 10 Best Books of 2016.

Nicola Yoon was inspired by the serendipity of her own relationship in creating the characters—though she and her husband did not meet at such a problematic time as Natasha and Daniel.

"We did not meet whilst I was being deported, or anything like that," Yoon confirms. "But I'm Jamaican-American and my husband is Korean-American, like Natasha and Daniel, and we did have a lot of the conversations that I included in the book. We talked about philosophical things and I was always the one asking, 'What does it really mean?' which, I'm sure, was kind of annoying. And we did go to karaoke a lot," she smiles. "My husband is a great singer, and so is Daniel."

In conceiving the pair who are both at a pivotal time of life—nearing the end of high school, preparing for college—Yoon drew from her own experiences as a student at Cornell University, particularly from a series of lectures by noted astronomer Carl Sagan. "He was so good at taking complex scientific concepts and making you really feel the human impact of these complicated things. All of this was in my mind when thinking about the forces that push Daniel and Natasha together, and the ones the pull them apart."

Director Ry Russo-Young offers, "The key things that seemed important to Nicola and myself to maintain from book to screen were a sense of cultural authenticity for both main characters, as well as the love story. Then, in the execution, to get everything right in terms of the chemistry between Natasha and Daniel…well, we couldn't have gotten any luckier than casting Yara and Charles.

Nicola Yoon was impressed with Shahidi's take on the character right away. "Yara's fantastic, a brilliant actress, and also a great activist for young black women, which was wonderful to bring to the role," she says. "Being on set and watching her take over Natasha but still really maintain the spirit of her from the book…I couldn't have been any luckier."

The author was equally over the moon about Charles Melton. "I love his energy. He's always moving, he's so enthusiastic and game for the next thing. I remember watching one scene—an emotional scene—and it was a real location so there was a lot of ambient noise, a lot happening around us, and he was crying. And then I was crying. And I thought, 'How, in the middle of all this, is he make me cry right now?'"

In Philippine cinemas Thursday, May 16, "The Sun Is Also a Star" is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

By: JENG On 5/13/2019 12:06:00 AM

May 12, 2019

3 Lessons on the Impact of Technology on Relationships from iWant’s “Touch Screen”

"Touch Screen," a three-episode original anthology series on the streaming service iWant, explores the impact of technology on how we connect with each other as people, whether it's with family members, friends, or a potential partner. Our gadgets and devices allow us to interact with each other – it's true. But as the series says, "sometimes, life happens when we disconnect," and it definitely forces us to look not just at our screens, but at ourselves, and teaches lessons about how to treat our loved ones better. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)

Lesson 1: It doesn't matter where you find love

In the episode "It's A Match," relationship-phobic and cynical Elvi (Denise Laurel) dreams of meeting the man of his dreams in a coffee shop. But after she "matches" with Justin (Joseph Marco) on a dating app and decides to go out with him, she learns that it doesn't really matter where the magic begins. What counts is the connection you both feel when you hang out in real life that will allow you to get to know each other on a deeper level. Also: Don't judge a person by their online profile!

Lesson 2: Seeking online validation won't always bring you joy

We are so obsessed with our social media "clout" these days, that building ourselves up online sometimes leads to heated arguments with people we don't even know. In "Wittyrella," Mandy (Janella Salvador) hopes to gain more followers to get her celebrity crush to notice her. However, when she finds out that the person behind the account she's feuding with is close to her, she realizes that her fangirling has become detrimental to her relationship with her family – the people who truly care about her – and that having thousands of followers does not automatically lead to happiness or satisfaction.

Lesson 3: "Old-schoolers" don't have to be afraid of technology

Technology indeed makes everyday life easier and more convenient. But it becomes a threat to old-school househelp Inday (Pokwang) in the episode "Vixee vs. Inday," as she finds herself neglected and undervalued when the father brings home a fully functional smart gadget named Vixee. She later comes to terms with the reality that the gadget is not her enemy, but her partner in taking care of the people who matter to her and have always treated her like family.

Stream "Touch Screen" and other original movies and shows on iWant, which is available on iOS and Android or may be accessed through the web (iwant.ph). Watch the trailers of the episodes here:

Touch Screen: It's A Match -- https://youtu.be/xcbdqcw5ids

Touch Screen: Wittyrella -- https://youtu.be/L-vxfmvniR8

Touch Screen: Inday vs Vixee -- https://youtu.be/bBopixfP0B8

For updates, like www.facebook.com/iWant and www.facebook.com/IndigitalProduction, follow @iwant on Twitter and @iwantofficial and @indigitalproduction on Instagram, and subscribe to www.youtube.com/iWantPH.

By: JENG On 5/12/2019 11:59:00 PM