Tribute to Spanish actress Angela Molina
THIS February, Instituto Cervantes de Manila presents a film series in honor of Spanish actress Ángela Molina. The film cycle will be shown through the Instituto Cervantes channel on the Vimeo platform (vimeo.com/institutocervantes) and freely accessible for 48 hours from their start date and time. The film series, composed of three films that marked Molina’s career, will kick off on Feb. 13 with the screening of La sabina (which will be available for 48 hours until Feb. 15 at 3 a.m.); followed by the drama La mitad del cielo (1986) on Feb. 20; and ending with the musical Las cosas del querer (Jaime Chávarri, 1989) on Feb. 27. The films will be in Spanish with English subtitles. Admission is free. For further information and updates on this film series, visit Instituto Cervantes’ Facebook site (www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila) or the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/161791552193592. For fore information on Instituto Cervantes’ cultural program, visit its website (http://manila.cervantes.es) or Facebook page.
CCP holds writing event
THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP), together with the Freelance Writers Guild of the Philippines, will hold an event on writing and mental health on Feb. 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., via the CCP and CCP Intertextual Division Facebook pages and Freelance Writers Guild of the Philippines Facebook page. The Write Side Up! event will be conducted online. Guest speakers and their respective topics include writers Maria Fatima Villena (Preliminary Research on Writers’ Mental Health), Dr. Ellay Nadera (The Practice of Mental Wellness especially for Writers and Artists with Q&A), Ramil Gulle (To Break Away: Writing exercises to help calm the mind), Imelda Morales (Writing as Meditation), Anna Felicia Sanchez (How to Survive through Writing and Reading), and Dr. Vim Nadera (Arterapiya). The moderators are writers Hark Herald Sarmiento and Ina Avellana Cosio. For inquiries, contact the CCP Intertextual Division via e-mail (ccpintertextualdivision@gmail.com) or mobile (0919-317-5708).
Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day in Robinsons Malls
PHOTOGRAPH one’s happy moments at Robinsons Galleria’s Love Bear and in Robinsons Magnolia’s Giant Ox display, and upload the photo onto social media accounts for a chance to win special prizes by having the highest number of reactions. Head to Robinsons Place Manila and have photos taken at the Rose Bear and Golden Tree to usher the New Year with fun and luck. Get a chance to win items from partner stores while shopping at Robinsons Galleria on Feb. 7 to 14 (with a minimum single receipt purchase worth P3,000 from Robinsons Supermarket or Robinsons Appliances, or P2,000 from other participating stores). Dine at Robinsons Magnolia from Feb. 8 to 14 and get a chance to take home special items for a minimum single receipt purchase of P1,500 from any restaurant at the mall. Avail of free delivery of gifts with a minimum purchase of P2,000 at any store in Robinsons Place Manila from Feb. 11 to 14 through the RPersonal Shoppers Robbie and Rosie. To see the complete line-up of upcoming performances, events, and promos, visit www.robinsonsmalls.com or its Virtual Directory bit.ly/RMallsVirtualMallDirectory; or follow RobinsonMalls on Facebook; @RobinsonsMallsOfficial on Instagram; and @RobinsonsMalls on Twitter.
Welcome the Year of the Ox at Ortigas Malls
USHER in the year of the Metal Ox as the Ortigas Malls — Greenhills Mall, Tiendesitas, Estancia, and Industria — roll out a grand welcome that is festive and safe. Ortigas Malls has a host of activities on-site or and virtual, including zodiac forecasts and mall serenades. Astrologer Maritess Allen presents her forecast based on your Chinese animal zodiac sign, and shares her predictions on the year ahead for each sign at each Ortigas Mall. Whether one’s sign is one of the more auspicious ones or not, she will discuss one’s prospects on money, relations, health, and life in general.
Justin DeDios in ‘Yakap’ music video
SB19’s Justin De Dios makes a surprise cameo in the music video of Alex Bruce’s song “Yakap” which was released on Feb. 5 on YouTube. De Dios portrays Bruce’s love interest in this music video filled with surreal and romantic scenes. “Yakap” was penned by Bruce as a tribute to young love, and was conceived as a three-way collaboration featuring the 14-year-old teen star, her Australia-based dad, and music producer Cursebox. The song garnered significant attention in late October 2020 for its infectious pop sensibilities and, to quote Rappler, for its “first brushes at puppy love.” The “Yakap” music video is out now via Sony Music Philippines.
Valentine’s Day with K-drama
STAYING in for Valentine’s Day? Wine, dine, and relax with a K-drama marathon with Samsung and Viu. With every purchase of select Samsung TVs, the buyer gets a one-year free Viu Premium subscription, so they can binge watch their favorite K-entertainment content on the big screen uninterrupted and ad-free. Among the Valentine’s Day rom-com favorites on Viu are: Tale of the Nine-Tailed with Lee Dong Wook and Jo Bo Ah, a mix of fantasy, action, thriller, and romance; Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo with Lee Joon Gi and IU in a love story that goes back in time; What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? with Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young about an love affair between a businessman and his secretary; and True Beauty with Moon Ga Young and Cha Eun Woo about an ugly duckling and her prince. The promo runs until March 31. Visit www.samsung.com/ph for more details.
Whedon drama The Nevers debuts on HBO
Created and executive produced by Joss Whedon (Buffy), HBO’s new drama series The Nevers will debut in April with six-episodes on HBO GO and HBO. Set in the last years of Victoria’s reign, the series sees London beset by the “Touched”: people — mostly women — who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities — some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of… well, pretty much all the forces — to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place. The ensemble cast also includes Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh, Elizabeth Berrington, Kiran Sawar, Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn, Ella Smith, Nick Frost, and Ben Chaplin.
Battle against evil in upcoming Netflix series, Vincenzo
PREMIERING on Feb. 20 on Netflix is Vincenzo, a Korean drama which tells the tale of Vincenzo Cassano (Song Joong-ki) who works as a lawyer to an Italian mafia. He ends up going to Korea and utilizes villainous tactics to take down villains. An anti-hero, his motto is “Only evil can punish evil.” The series also stars Yoo Jae-myung and Jeon Yeo-been. Vincenzo premieres on Feb. 20 at 10 p.m. with new episodes every Saturday and Sunday, on Netflix.
Rom-com series Owe My Love premieres Feb. 15
THEY say money can’t buy love but could romance possibly grow from a business deal? A sizable debt, a no-nonsense contract and a seemingly harmless white lie — these are the seeds of an unusual love story of two strangers from divergent worlds in the latest romantic-comedy series from GMA Public Affairs. Headlined by Lovi Poe and Benjamin Alves, Owe My Love follows the story of Pacencia (Poe) and Dr. Miguel (Alves) whose lives intertwine in a world of debt, near-death, and dogged dedication to family. Owe My Love is directed by Rember Gelera and Ray Gibraltar, and penned by head writer Volta Delos Santos, based on the original concept from Joseph Conrad Rubio. Owe My Love will air weeknights at 9:35 p.m., beginning Feb. 15 on GMA Telebabad.
Jollibee releases new Kwentong Jollibee series
FOR its fifth year, Jollibee’s short film anthology is all about finding strength in love in the three videos inspired by love stories in the time of the pandemic. The first video, LDR, directed by Antoinette Jadaone, premiered on Feb. 4. It follows the story of a couple separated by the lockdown who tries to make their relationship work despite the distance. The second video, First Date, directed by Pepe Diokno, premiered on Feb. 8. It tells the story of a woman forced to live on her own during lockdown and spends the time focusing on herself and finding love in the process. The third video, Hero, is directed by Ianco dela Cruz (who previously directed the Kwentong Jollibee Vow and Choice videos). It is about how one’s love can help a person get through difficult moments, and even make them stronger than they thought they could be. Hero premieres on Feb. 12. The three videos can be viewed on the Jollibee Studios YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Hello Stranger: The Movie goes on international
ABS-CBN’s Filipino Boys Love TV series Hello Stranger, featuring Tony Labrusca and JC Alcantara, is now a movie which will be seen worldwide via iWantTFC, TFC IPTV Pay-Per-View, and KTX.ph starting Feb. 12. Just in time for the love month, Hello Stranger: The Movie, which is the first boys love movie Valentine offering of ABS-CBN Films and Black Sheep, celebrates the love for family, friends, a stranger, and individuality. In the film, two young men join a writing camp, where they get to know each other more. But with their friends and other people around them twist and turn them in different directions, will they be strangers no more or strangers again? A few days before the movie’s launch, the characters and actors will be introduced in the upcoming Hello Stranger, Hello World: The Hello Stranger Movie Global Mediacon on Feb. 9, 11 a.m. (Manila time). Joining the discussion are actors JC Alcantara, Tony Labrusca, Vivoree, Jae Miranda, and Gillian Vicencio, the film’s director Dwein Baltazar, and the writers Patrick Valencia and Daniel Saniana. This will be live streamed via the Facebook pages of TFC The Filipino Channel, TFC US, TFC Asia, TFC Australia New Zealand and the Pacific, TFC Middle East, TFC Europe, iWantTFC, Black Sheep, MYX Global, ABS-CBN Network, Cinema One, Cinema One Originals, and Rise Artist Studio. Hello Stranger: The Movie is produced by ABS-CBN Films’ Black Sheep and distributed by Cinexpress. It will be shown worldwide via iWantTFC, TFC IPTV Pay-Per-View, and KTX.ph starting Feb. 12 for $3.99. There is an Early Bird promo until Feb. 11 (Manila time) where the ticket costs $2.99. For more details about the film, visit iwantfc.com, ktx.ph, mytfc.com, or TFC’s official Facebook pages.
Elha Nympha releases single, ‘Do It’
Elha Nympha is all grown up on “Do It,” her comeback single under MCA Music Inc. Now exploring a more sophisticated take on R&B, pop, and neo-soul, the former champion of The Voice Kids Season 2 reasserts confidence and sass in delivering a romantic confession that appeals beyond her particular demographic. “Do It” has earned comparisons with the likes of SZA, Jhené Aiko, and H.E.R., embracing the fundamental agency of womanhood and young love in all its messiness and glory. Elha Nympha’s “Do It” is now out on all digital platforms worldwide via MCA Music Inc.
Web drama promotes UNESCO World Heritage site
A WEB drama titled 300-Year-Old Class of 2020, which the Korean heritage agency has produced to promote Seowon, the Neo-Confucian academies in Korea, a UNESCO World Heritage property, was released on CHA’s YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/chluvu, the drama’s website http://koreaseowon.com, Naver TV and Kakao TV last December. The series, consisting of six episodes of 10 minutes each, is a fantasy comic web drama that tells the story of three students who were studying in Seowon during the Joseon period and who accidently time travel and arrive at Seowon in 2020. It was filmed and set in nine of the Seowon of the UNESCO World Heritage property (Sosu-seowon, Namgye-seowon, Oksan-seowon, Dosan-seowon, Piram-seowon, Dodong-seowon, Byeongsan-seowon, Museong-seowon and Donam-seowon. It has English, Chinese and other foreign language subtitles.