BTS, YouTube launch dance challenge
Pop icons BTS and YouTube have officially announced the “Permission to Dance Challenge” starting today through Aug. 14, exclusively on YouTube Shorts. This is the first-ever worldwide dance challenge on YouTube Shorts, following its global expansion. Anyone from across the globe can create a 15-second YouTube Short right from the YouTube mobile app, replicating the core dance moves from the music video of BTS’ new track, “Permission to Dance.” As part of the challenge, BTS will be spotlighting some of their favorite Shorts in a compilation video, so participants should use the hashtags #PermissiontoDance and #Shorts for their creations to be considered.
Docu looks at child labor during the pandemic
On July 25, Atom Araullo gets to know the working children of the pandemic on The Atom Araullo Specials: Munting Bisig. He tries out compressor diving in Paracale, Camarines Norte with 15-year-old “Pancho”, the youngest compressor diver in their barangay. As the pandemic spread throughout the country, many children just like “Pancho” opted to use their time to find work and earn a few pesos to help their family survive. In Cordillera, Araullo discovers why the province has the lowest cases of child labor in the country. In Pasay City, Araullo meets Joshua, a bread winner of his family at the age of 12. Joshua is part of the “lockdown generation” as he finds himself “stranded” in Metro Manila while his ailing father is left behind in Cavite. Joshua sells snacks to his neighbors so that he can bring home earnings to his family. In June 2021, the International Labour Organization released new findings that after a two-decade decline, child labor cases have once again risen all over the world. Atom tries to find out if this is true here in the Philippines. Watch The Atom Araullo Specials: Munting Bisig on July 25, 2 p.m., on GMA Network. Viewers abroad can catch it via GMA Pinoy TV.
SB19 releases EP, Pagsibol
Filipino boy band SB19 has released its six-track EP Pagsibol (germination), a metaphorical reference to the band’s journey in the music industry. “In that context, we want our EP to symbolize our beginnings, origins, or simply our roots,” SB19 said in a statement. The EP contains the empowering song “What?,” an inspiration ballad “MAPA,” a new version of its early ballad “Ikako,” electro-pop and R&B track “Mana,” reggaeton and hip-hop song “Bazinga,” and pop track “SLMT.” Pagsibol is out now on Spotify via Sony Music. The boyband will be performing the songs off the EP for the first time live in an online concert, Back In The Zone, on Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at https://www.ktx.ph/events/31606/sb19-back-in-the-zone.
Legal Wives on GMA
GMA Network’s new romance drama Legal Wives premieres on July 26. Directed by Zig Dulay, the show follows a member of Maranao Muslim royalty Ismael Makadatu (played by Dennis Trillo) and his relationship with his three wives (played by Alice Dixson, Bianca Umali, and Andrea Torres).
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha on Netflix
The new romance series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha depicts the lives and romantic stories of two residents in a seaside village: Yoon Hye-jin who opens up a dental clinic, and Hong Du-sik who is technically unemployed but takes on odd jobs and helps everyone in the village. Directed by Yu Je-won and written by Shin Ha-eun, the show stars Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha premieres worldwide on Aug. 28 on Netflix.