iHeartRadio Music Festival 2021 live for free
THIS September, mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is bringing the annual music event iHeartRadio Music Festival 2021, hosted by the American broadcast, podcast, and streaming radio platform iHeartRadio, for free through the new GigaPlay App. The two-day music festival will be held in two venues — at the T-Mobile Arena and AREA15 in Las Vegas — and will feature the performances of Billie Eilish, Cheap Trick, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Florida Georgia Line, J Cole, Journey, Khalid, Lil Baby, Maroon 5, Nelly, Sam Hunt, Weezer, and more. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the iHeartRadio Music Festival will also feature one-of-a-kind collaborations plus other surprise performances. The exclusive live stream via Smart GigaPlay will be on Sept. 18 and 19, from 10:30 a.m. onwards on both days. Launched recently, GigaPlay is the newest video platform that gives Smart subscribers simple and easy access to exclusive video content and live entertainment. Get the new Smart GigaPlay App from Google Play and App Store here: http://smrt.ph/gigaplay. Data charges apply.
Limitless, A Musical Trilogy kicks off today
THE FIRST leg of the online concert series, Limitless, A Musical Trilogy, headlined by Julie Anne San Jose, kicks off today, Sept. 17. Concert-goers can buy their tickets via www.GMANetwork.com/synergy. Dubbed “Breathe,” the first of the three-part online musical series sees the singer exploring the hidden gems of Mindanao. She will meet with the locals of various locations in Mindanao, learning more about their culture and values. She also collaborates with GMA homegrown talents and local artists for Limitless. For the September 17 leg, Ms. San Jose is joined by balladeer Christian Bautista and The Clash alumnus Jong Madaliday. Ticket buyers have options to purchase tickets for each leg or avail of the ticket bundle for all three legs. Tickets are priced at P599 (General Admission); P1,499 (Synergy Pass GA); P1,199 (VIP); and P3,299 (Synergy Pass VIP). Special merchandise awaits ticket buyers who purchase the VIP and Synergy Pass VIP.
In The Heights to premiere on HBO GO
THE MOVIE version of Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical In the Heights made its debut on HBO GO on Sept. 16. Set in the New York neighborhood of Washington Heights, In the Heights fuses Miranda’s kinetic music and lyrics with director Jon M. Chu’s lively and authentic eye for storytelling in this musical portrait of a community full of lively numbers as diverse as its cast. The story weaves together an ensemble of characters during a summer of seismic change in their lives, with much of the action taking place at one intersection central to the neighborhood. Stream or download In the Heights on HBO GO. Download the app at the App Store or Play Store, or access HBO GO via Cignal or at https://www.hbogoasia.ph/. HBO GO can be accessed via Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV — and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
Yumi’s Cells on iQiyi
IQIYI Korean series Yumi’s Cells — adapted from a popular webtoon which garnered over 3.2 billion views — premieres on Sept. 17, 10:50 p.m. Directed by Lee Sang-yeob, it stars Kim Go-eun and Ahn Bo-hyun. The ordinary office worker Yumi (played by Kim Go-eun) is too shy to express herself, until she tries to learn more about herself, and eventually finds the love of her life, the game developer Woong (Ahn Bo-hyun). New episodes of Yumi’s Cells will be released every Friday and Saturday on the iQiyi International app or iQ.com. Download the iQiyi app or log in to www.iQ.com for more Asian shows.
Rico Blanco releases cover of PBB theme song
SINGER-songwriter Rico Blanco has come up with a Filipino folk music spin on the Pinoy Big Brother theme song which has been renamed “Pinoy Tayo.” Blanco’s special anniversary version of the Orange and Lemons original “Pinoy Ako” will serve as the official theme song of the upcoming Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Kumunity Season 10. “It’s such an honor to do the song. Just what it stands for. The original version is so well loved,” Mr. Blanco said in a statement. “This is a chance to rediscover it.” “Pinoy Tayo” is a composition of ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo, Clem Castro, and Mr. Blanco, who also produced the remake. Aside from being this year’s PBB theme song, “Pinoy Tayo” will also serve as the lead single in a 25-track album that will celebrate Mr. Manalo’s music over the last 20 years. Meanwhile, Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10 has opened auditions for aspiring adult housemates aged 20 to 40 years old until Sept. 30. To audition, download the Kumu app and create an account. Upload a one-minute Kumu clip, introducing yourself, and explain why you deserve to become a housemate. Use the hashtag #PBBKUMUADULTS.
Sofia Pablo plays mermaid in Raya Sirena
GMA Network and Regal Entertainment launch the telemovie Regal Studio Presents: Raya Sirena on Sept. 18. It follows Raya (played by Sofia Pablo), who dismisses mermaids as fictional characters until she goes to her family’s private beach resort and learns the truth about these mythical beings. It also stars Bruce Roeland and Allen Ansay. Regal Studio Presents: Raya Sirena is directed by Easy Ferrer. It premieres at 8:30 p.m. on GMA 7.
Ylona Garcia releases new single
NINETEEN-year-old Sydney-based singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Ylona Garcia has released a power pop breakup ballad titled “Don’t Go Changing.” Produced by industry veterans Jonas Jeberg (Panic! At The Disco, Demi Lovato, The Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez) and Marcus Lomax (Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Miley Cyrus), the Filipino-Australian 88rising newcomer uses emotionally telling vocals to grieve through different stages of letting go. Following the hit single “California (feat. Warren Hue),” “Don’t Go Changing” is the latest single off the upcoming album Head in The Clouds 3, 88rising’s third installment of international rising artists which is due out in early 2022. “Don’t Go Changing” is also the first of three music videos from Head in The Clouds 3, which will be released in tandem with the record. The song is available to stream on Spotify.