Adventures of Myk Rome...

Tuloy ang Laban ng Lahi Platoon Run sa Disyembre 2020

2020-08-28T09:11:00.000+08:00

Walang umatras sa lahat ng mga kalahok sa Laban ng Lahi Platoon run na inilipat ang petsa sa , 2020 sa kabila ng pinakikiramdamang sitwasyon ng pandemya na unang nakatakda sana sa Setyembre 18. 2020

Sa paliwanag ni President and Founder Laban ng Lahi sports events Captain Joenel Pogoy ng Philippine Airforce, lahat ng mga partisipanteng 33 bawat koponan ay handa pa ring sumabak at tumakbo sa Bislig, Surigao nang maging panauhin siya sa TOPS Usapang Sports on Air kahapon. “Na-coordinate na namin na magiging successful ang event bagamat wala pang nakatakdang petsa dahil most likely kung magwo-worsen ang pandemya at wala pang vaccine ay baka i-postpone na namin uli. Pero every year may champion tayo.”

Sa ngayon ay nakahanda sila sa kanilang guidelines at health protocols anuman ang iatas ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), “Waiting kami sa positive development. Hindi pa kami nag-usap ng personal at naghihintay kami sa official declaration ng project, for us to proceed the project. Once na may clearance na we can start, that’s the time we have to submit the formal letter to IATF. We are happy at marami nang sponsor at hindi kami kabahan para ituloy ang lahat. Sa ngayon ay minimum 50 participants sa running competition na hindi sabay-sabay tatakbo, after 10 mins, takbo ang next.”

Nabanggit din niya na wala namang umatras na team dahil sa pandemya. “Excited pa lalo ang mga runner dahil saan pa ba sila, eroplano, hotel at pagkain ay libre na pong lahat. Maliban na lang sa mga late participants na sasali ay magiging sarili na nila ang gastos.”

Tuloy pa rin naman ang paglahok ng mga senior citizen sa Laban ng Lahi dahil una nang nagparehistro ang mga ito at titiyaking isolate sila at magkakasama sa isang eroplano pagpunta sa venue maging sa hotel accommodation at iyan ay ipapa-facilitate sa IATF.

Iniimbitahan din ni Capt. Pogoy na bumuo ng isang team ang malalaking kumpanya upang makalahok lalo na at nanatili ang P3-M na premyo sa magkakampeon na troops. Kasama rito ang pangakong P1-M ni Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Pinangakuan din niya ang ang Blackwater elite ni coach Nash Racela na ipinagpasalamat naman ng huli kung may lalahok na team ang kumpanya ay libre na ang mga ito sa mga akomodasyon maging ang iba pang team ng mga kumpanyang sumusuporta sa sports. “Malaking tulong ito sa corporate company na magparticipate na matulungan ang livelihood project sa lugar. The more project ang darating nationwide. Yan ang dahilan kaya natulungan kami ni Pacquiao.”

Handa rin na magpaliwanag sila sa PSC, GAB at IATF, “Willing kami na makipag-usap, we want to have a maximum participation, this is all about the Filipino not only marathon. Ayaw natin ng patayan, ayaw ng kaguluhan. In this case, sa ganitong competition sa lahat ng province, nagkakaisa ang Pinoy.

Pagdating sa seguridad ng mga kalahok at mga manonood, aniya, “Ang security ay pamamahalaan ng Phil Army, coordinate sa AFP, police visibility, security martials along the road of course with the coordination with the host city.”

Nang tanungin hinggil sa interes ng foreign teams na lumahok, “Interesado pa rin ang mga foreign, free kasi ang eroplano, concern lang nila ay iyong magulo, hindi natuloy ang team ng Netherlands, dahil sa isyu ng Martial Law sa Mindanao, but the rest, next year tuloy may mga lalahok pa,” pagtatapos ni Capt. Pogoy

Christmas Gift Giving: Kiwanis International Way

2018-12-24T18:04:00.001+08:00

The kids from Hospicio De San Jose and some indigent kids from nearby Barangay received gifts from Kiwanis Clubs last December 13, 2018 in Makati. The gift giving was initiated by Robert Laurel Yupangco who celebrated also his 65th birthday during the gift giving with the help of different Kiwanis Clubs in the Philippines such as KC Makati, Manila Bay, Pasay and Malate Central and represented by Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas and Ezelle Theresa Alvarez Gascon.

The mission of the Hospicio De San Jose is committing themselves to the integral development and well-being of the vulnerable and excluded sectors of society, especially the abandoned and neglected children, persons with special needs, older persons, and people in crisis situation, through sustainable programs and services where resource sharing and participative involvement is a way of life.

For December 2018, The Kiwanis Clubs particularity the Clubs from Makati, Manila Bay, Pasay, Malate Central and some KC members from different clubs joined forces to share the blessings and joy to the indigent kids. Here were the activities being held;

December 2 at La Consolacion College-Pasig (100 Kids)
December 9 at The Child Haus, Quezon City (100 Kids)
December 13 5pm Makati (60 kids)
December 15 10am Clark (100 Kids)
December 15 2pm Subic (100 Kids)
December 16 9am Pasig (100 Kids)
December 16 10am Mendez Cavite (100 Kids)
December 16 Tagaytay 2pm (100 Kids)
December 17 Shakeys UN (40 Kids)

These clubs are calling themselves as KKK which stands for Kind Hearted Kiwanians for the Kids.

Kiwanis International was established in 1915 at Detroit, Michigan. Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, we stand with more than 600,000 members from K-Kids to Key Club to Kiwanis and many ages in between in more than 80 countries.

Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance. Kiwanis clubs host nearly 150,000 service projects each year.?

To join the club, call or text 09778978877

Yoshitaka Naito confident in winning against Joshua Pacio: ‘I can do it again!’

2018-08-22T23:05:00.001+08:00

After holding three major live events in the month of July, ONE Championship shifts focus immediately to its next blockbuster cards in Shanghai and Jakarta for September.

Taking place at the Jakarta Convention Center, ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES on 22 September features a highly-anticipated strawweight championship rematch between two-time division kingpin Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito and Joshua “The Passion” Pacio as its headliner.

Both men initially crossed paths in October 2016 when Pacio challenged Naito for the ONE Strawweight World Championship in the main event of ONE: STATE OF WARRIORS.

“He (Pacio) is young, agile and tenacious. I can’t forget every bit of what transpired in that match nearly two years ago. He really wanted to win the world title. It was tough,” Naito recalled.

Naito might have won the battle against Pacio, but he encountered perhaps the most difficult test of his professional career as he had to squeeze himself through the eye of a needle to retain the gold-plated strap.

The Japanese submission specialist had to endure two grueling rounds before he pulled off a come-from-behind victory by submitting Pacio with a rear-naked choke in the third round to keep the ONE Strawweight World Championship belt around his waist.

“I've never had an opponent who's defended well against my tackles, so it was tough. I usually get my foe to the ground easily. His punches and kicks were very heavy. It really hurt when it hit me,” he explained about his cage meeting Pacio.

Pacio appeared to be on his way to becoming the youngest Filipino athlete to capture a world title in mixed martial arts as he had every answer to Naito’s attacks in the first two round.

Naito was finally able to get the fight to where he wanted with a successful single-leg takedown in second frame, but Pacio remained active on the ground by landing elbows and keeping his shoulders off the ground while looking to create space with his legs.

The intricately-crafted hardware was within Pacio’s reach, but it only took one mistake to crush his championship aspirations as Naito fastened a rear-naked choke to force the tap.

Naito admitted that Pacio pushed him to his limit, describing the bout as a life-ending experience.

"Joshua is a tough opponent. I really thought I was going to die. I was very tired," he disclosed.

Naito and Pacio will share the ONE Championship stage once more on 22 September, and the 34-year-old Japanese champion expects another stringent clash with the Filipino dynamo.

“He has grown tremendously. His skill as a fighter was already impressive when we first fought. He has evolved into a dangerous martial artist. For sure, he wants some revenge. I am expecting it,” he stated.

Since his defeat to Naito, Pacio has won four of his last five contests and has finished three top-level adversaries in a row to punch his ticket to a second shot at gold.

Like Pacio, Naito showed how far his skills have improved in his recent ONE Championship outing, where he edged out Brazilian rival Alex “Little Rock” Silva in a rematch via split decision to reclaim the strawweight crown.

Naito seeks to accomplish an encore performance against Pacio, who has been handed a golden opportunity to become a world champion and settle the score with the man who first tainted his then-spotless mixed martial art record.

“I can’t be complacent against him. He is tough as nails. Giving up is not his style. I am determined to keep my belt. I am confident of my skills. My martial arts, my grappling, my conditioning – all of that makes me confident,” he said.

Despite the impression that Naito will still have his hands full in his second date with Pacio, the proud titleholder from Chiba, Japan believes that his cage experience will spell the difference and history will repeat itself in the rematch.

“I will do what I need to do this coming September, which is to win. I have the championship experience. I can do it again. It’s going to be the same story. I will still be the champion,” he confidently declared.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Seda Vertis North a canvass for Philippine design, talent, and hospitality

2017-11-20T12:50:00.001+08:00

With a total of seven properties in its portfolio, Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation’s wholly-owned
hospitality brand Seda has built a Quezon City hotel that affirms its current status as a well- established
homegrown brand in a highly competitive industry long dominated by international chains.

The largest hotel in Quezon City, Seda Vertis North is a departure from the brand’s previous boutique
size and scale. Its 700square meter ballroom has been envisioned as a venue for important conferences as well as weddings and other prominent social gatherings. Moreover, the hotel catering to business and leisure travelers has 438 contemporary guest rooms, almost double the number of rooms in the inventories of Seda’s first generation of hotels.

“Seda is now more at home with its success and this is reflected in our scale,” explains Group General Manager Brett Hickey. Other Seda hotels throughout the country-- including the first property in BGC -- were built to complement a growing business district. Seda Vertis North was designed not just to cater to the emerging Vertis North business district but to also meet the demands of other communities in the largest city of Metro Manila, other northern cities including those in neighboring Bulacan province.

LOBBY
Its lobby hues to the original Seda design vision of being a timeless, contemporary hotel with a distinct Filipino sensibility. But is easily more than double the size of most Seda lobbies “heightening one’s sense of arrival,” according to Edwin Yabut, Ayala Land Assistant Vice-President and head of the Seda Vertis North project design team. The visitor is naturally drawn to one of the lobby seating areas – some highlighted by solid wood communal tables which hold the familiar bank of Mac computers for browsing and which distinguish all Seda lobbies.

Other groupings have engaging triangular sofas complemented by center tables that resemble outsized billiard balls. Still others are focused on iconic pieces by global Pinoy furniture designers Kenneth Cobonpue and Vito Selma and sculptress Ann Pamintuan – natural settings for guests’ Facebook and Instagram posts. “Seda has always been a canvass for Filipino design talent,” according to Yabut. At the Vertis North property, Filipino artistry is also celebrated through art pieces by photographer Jaime Zobel de Ayala and other visual artists and through furniture and furnishings by Philippine manufacturers.

MISTO ALL-DAY DINING
The hospitality brand’s evolution into the premium category is best exemplified nevertheless by Seda
Vertis North’s all-day dining facility, Misto. Designed to seat as many as 250, the restaurant also has a show kitchen with various stations and an extensive buffet including delectable pastries that changes with the seasons and diners’ tastes. Communal wooden tables, like those at the lobby, likewise add warmth and an element of surprise to the smart casual dining outlet. The long tables are not just for groups but also for individuals who may wish to share meals in this age of shared office spaces and ride sharing. “It’s our way of promoting social interaction among individual business travelers who, because they spend a long time alone on the road, may want some company during meals,” according to Hickey. The Seda Vertis North guest may also choose to dine at a soon-to-open top-end Chinese restaurant or to take
a meal of appetizers and other light dishes with drinks at the hip Straight Up Roof deck bar, which offers al
fresco seating and stunning views of the surrounding cityscape.

GUEST ROOMS
But the heart of Seda Vertis North, and every Seda hotel for that matter, is its spacious guest room which is both welcoming as well as multi-functional. The hotel’s 32-sqm. deluxe room as well as its club rooms and suites were conceptualized to “have a residential feel,” explains Yabut, beginning with warm colors to add punch to an otherwise neutral palette. A triangular sofa with a round accent table that can easily hold a meal or a laptop are thoughtful touches. Paired with an ottoman, the movable table easily transforms from dining to meeting to working table – depending on the guests’ need. The room’s versatility and warmth is further complemented by the use of asymmetrical balance.

Unlike the usual hotel room where the two sides of a bed may have identical arrangements consisting
of a night table, desk lamp and art work, this is not the case in Seda Vertis North. The night tables are not the same color. The wall panels behind them likewise differ. “These touches add visual interest to the room without detracting from the space’s functions,” explains Yabut. The 160 sqm. Presidential Suite with its own living and dining spaces reflects the same contemporary look and likewise employs asymmetrical balance to make its spaces lined with deep-pile carpets more engaging. The largest room in the hotel also includes luxuries like an en suite bathroom and dressing room, deluxe drop-in bathtub and round-the-clock butler service.

FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
At the third floor where a pool surrounded by a spacious pool deck and spa are located, Filipino furniture
artistry is highlighted in the outdoor seating areas, sun deck, pool bar and dressing areas. The pieces by Selma, Cobonpue and Pacific Coast, among other suppliers, are all locally sourced, with most of them made in Cebu.

The hotel’s amenities and facilities are further complemented by the entertainment and retail options at the neighboring Ayala Malls Vertis North. Cutting-edge technology intersects with new retail and dining concepts to bring the mall experience to new levels at the malls’ Japan Town, Korean Town and Urban Turf.

The shopping and dining areas that integrate popular themes with holograms and augmented realities will soon make Ayala Malls Vertis North the go-to place for millennials and the young at heart. Ayala Mall Vertis North is also be the home of the Philippines largest movie screen and recliner seat cinemas. But more than the “hardware” available to Seda Vertis North’s guests, the hotel’s “software” or service component is what will drive guests to return, says Hickey. “Since its founding in 2012, Seda has been drawing from innate Filipino hospitality and combining it with high levels of training to meet the needs of global travelers.” He has set for himself the task of sharpening his colleagues’ eye for details so they are fully aware of the expectations of the international guest seeking premier accommodations.

Hickey is pleased that the Vertis North hotel can draw from the growing success of the brand. As Seda further expands to more market segments, he assures clients that the hotel will continue to be benchmarks for Filipino hospitality and service excellence

FIRST SUNSET MARATHON TO HAPPEN ON DECEMBER 9

2017-11-19T21:32:00.000+08:00

RUNRIO, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and the Clark Development Corporation announces the upcoming Clark Sunset Marathon happening on December 9, 2017, at the Parade Grounds of Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga at 4pm. It is the first of its kind ever conceptualized in the Philippines.

Andrew Neri - RUN RIO EVENTS INC. Franco Bambico - RUN RIO EVENTS INC. and NOEMI JULIAN - Clark Tourism Promotions Manager - Clark Development Corporation

The Clark Sunset Marathon is a race conceptualized and organized by RUNRIO, Inc. and was inspired by the fact that in tropical countries like the Philippines, the weather is mostly hot and humid. A night run is the perfect running event for running enthusiasts to have a cooler and more exciting race experience.

Clark Sunset Marathon features running categories in 5KM, 10KM, 21KM and 42KM with the full marathon’s gun start happening at 5pm. The 21KM, 10KM and 5KM follow shortly at 5:15pm, 5:30pm and 5:45pm respectively.

The race event is expected to attract a total of 5,000 running enthusiasts coming from all parts of the country, as well as runners from other parts of the world. “The Clark Sunset Marathon comes at an opportune time when we are being very aggressive in promoting Clark Pampanga as one of the country’s premiere tourist hub.” Said Noemi Julian, manager, Clark Development Corporation, Tourism Promotions.

This landmark running activity is inspired by other world-famous famous running events such as the Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, Singapore Marathon, and the Tokyo Marathon, and is expected to put the country on the global map as a destination for running enthusiasts.

In partnership with Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and Clark Development Corporation the Clark Sunset Marathon aims to establish Clark, Pampanga as a venue of world-class running events in the Philippines. The activity also aims to establish this event as a premiere international marathon foot race in the country by securing route standard accreditation from AIMS/IAAF, the international governing body for distance races in the world.

“The development of Clark International Airport, including the construction of a P12-billion passenger terminal will not only provide running enthusiasts easy access to attend this event, but will also open new opportunities for both tourist and business groups in Clark Pampanga” added Julian.

Running coach Rio dela Cruz of RUNRIO Events, Inc. is proud of this ambitious running event that will not only promote the sport of running, but more importantly, promote the country as well and boost tourism.

“When we started conceptualizing the Clark Sunset Marathon, we wanted to have a first class running experience that targets not only local runners but also foreign running enthusiasts. We thought of a running event that can be compared to world-renowned marathons such as Boston Marathon, Singapore Marathon, New York Marathon among many others. And our goal is not just a one-time event. But to have an annual running event that will make our country one of the top running destinations” said dela Cruz.

For the inaugural year, runners can choose five categories and their cut-off times. 42K-7 hours, 21K - 4 hours, 10K – 2 hours and 5k – 1 hour.

Since Clark has an international airport, Clark Sunset Marathon is also targeting foreign runners to join the race that will culminate with the Clark Sunset Marathon Music Festival, an after party celebration at the finish line. The activity will showcase DJs that will provide the party atmosphere of the running event. “We at RUNRIO want to give a one-of-a-kind experience to all the participants. We staged this running event on a Saturday evening so that the participants will have a relax and “chill-type” of an experience. It will be a night of running and partying with DJ Ashley Rivera and DJ Tom Taus dishing out the coolest music. This will make sure that participants, their families and friends will have a good time,” said Andrew Neri, managing partner, RUNRIO Events, Inc. Clark Sunset Marathon is made possible by Gatorade, the official sports drink, ActiveHealth, the official sports system solution, Garmin, the official timing partner and Solar Sports as the official media partner. The first running event of its kind in Clark, Pampanga is also made possible by Nizoral and Nyxsys.

For more information, visit www.runrio.com or like the official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/runrioeventsinc/.

24th Defense & Sporting Arms Show 2016

2016-07-16T08:51:00.001+08:00

In a society where my safety is unsure, I choose to be able to defend myself.
SELF-DEFENSE. IT'S MY CHOICE. Know your options.

#ChangeIsComing #ILoveMyFamily #KeepMyFamilySafe #PNPChief #BatoDelaRosa

PNP Chief Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa attended the opening ceremony of the 24th Defense and Sporting Arms Show (DSAS) organized by the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines, Inc. (AFAD) as the guest of honor and speaker on July 14 at the Mega Trade Hall, SM Mega Mall in Mandaluyong City.

The five-day event includes free seminars on the License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF), exhibits of new firearms, gun accessories and shooting apparel, and Firearms Caravan.

AFAD also allotted a booth in honor of the policemen who were killed while performing their duty of protecting the public.

The PNP through the Civil Security Group (CSG) and Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) is in partnership with AFAD in promoting responsible gun ownership in the country. (PNP-PIO Photo)

B2BCarshow Off Road Show Philippines: update

2016-07-16T08:20:00.001+08:00

GET READY FOR MORE #OffRoadShow #Philippines

This is your #AdventureLifestyle
1. #CEBU - September 11, - Soft Trail
2. #PAMPANGA - October 22-23 - Pinatubo
3. #MANILA - February, 2017 - Metrowalk
4. #DAVAO - June, 2017 - SM Lanang Premier

United Football League Philippines : Current League Standings

2016-07-16T08:09:00.001+08:00

#UFL2016 Current League Standings

Leaders Global FC and Ceres-La Salle F.C. have a firm hold on first and second place.

United Football League Philippines

2016-07-16T08:03:00.001+08:00

#UFL2016 It's a top of the table clash this Sunday!

7:30 AM: Pasargad FC vs Nomads FC
1:45 PM: Stallion Football Club Philippines vs Green Archers United
4:00 PM: Ceres-La Salle F.C. vs Global FC

United Football League Philippines:

2016-07-16T07:59:00.001+08:00

#UFL2016 It's going to be a big one today at the Rizal Memorial Stadium!

7:30 AM: Forza Futbol Club vs Agila MSA FC
1:45 PM: Laos FC vs JP Voltes Football Club
4:00 PM: Loyola Meralco Sparks FC vs KAYA Futbol Club

Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight and Slam Dunk champ Dee Brown in Gatorade Hoops Center for the NBA FIT 2016 in Manila

2016-07-15T08:46:00.001+08:00

Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight and former NBA player DeCovan “Dee” Brown will tip off NBA FIT Week in the Philippines by training elite Filipino athletes and coaches at this year’s Gatorade NBA Training Center, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Gatorade announced today. The 2016 Gatorade NBA Training Center will be held at the Gatorade Hoops Center at Mandaluyong City on July 19.

Returning for the third consecutive year, the Gatorade NBA Training Center will gather experts in basketball, fitness and conditioning, and nutrition to share best practices and learnings with elite local athletes and coaches. NBA FIT Week, which begins July 19 in the Philippines, will highlight the importance of healthy, active lifestyles through three pillars: be active, eat healthy, and play together. Additional NBA FIT Week activities include an interactive fan event featuring Globe Telecom’s sports ambassadors at the BGC Amphitheater on July 20, a full-day health and wellness event sponsored by the NBA Store, and an NBA Cares clinic for 13-year-old boys and girls from Special Olympics Philippines at TriNoma Activity Center on July 21.

Dee Brown, a 6-1 rookie guard, pulled out all the stops to win the 1991 contest. (John Biever/SI)

“Being a great player is the product of maintaining good workout, eating and sleeping habits,” said Knight. “I’m looking forward to participating in NBA FIT Week and teaching talented young players in the Philippines the importance of fitness and nutrition both on and off the court.”

“I’m excited to visit the Philippines for the first time and experience the passion that Filipino fans have for basketball,” said Brown. “Having had the opportunity to work in the NBA, WNBA, and NBA D-League, I look forward to sharing my coaching knowledge and providing valuable insights on fitness and conditioning to help athletes and coaches elevate their games to the next level.”

The Gatorade NBA Training Center on July 19 will feature both Knight and Brown running a basketball clinic for Filipino college basketball players and Brown sharing his coaching philosophies with professional and collegiate coaches in an exclusive coaches session.

Brandon Knight is in control in Phoenix. (USATSI)

Knight, a 6’3” guard from the University of Kentucky, was selected eighth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2011 NBA Draft. Knight spent 2013-15 with the Milwaukee Bucks before joining the Phoenix Suns midway through the 2015 season and averaged 19.6 points, 5.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Suns last season.

Brown played for the Boston Celtics (1990-98), Toronto Raptors (1998-00) and Orlando Magic (2000-02) during his 12-year NBA career and won the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star 1991. Following his retirement as a player, Brown served as head coach of the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle (2002) and San Antonio Silver Stars (2004) prior to joining the NBA D-League’s Springfield Armor as head coach (2009-11). Brown most recently served as an assistant coach for the Pistons (2011-13) and Sacramento Kings (2013-15).

Global Hoops 2016

2016-07-13T16:31:00.001+08:00

This coming August 20, 2016 – King Bally Events and Promotions is putting together one of the biggest basketball events to hit Metro Manila! Right after the FIBA Qualifiers this July, King Bally gives the Pinoy basketball fan a closer look at the world wide sensation called “Streetball” – popularized by the western culture in the early 2000’s and now has taken over the world by storm! MOA Arena becomes the center stage as Team Philippines will battle it out against Team China (RZP) and Team USA (Court Kingz)! Let’s help our team defend our home front!

Team USA will be headlined by street ball legend Hotsauce (Court Kingz) while, Team China will be led by More Free.

Team Philippines – currently putting together its dream team will be aided by the country’s leading streetball team, players like Lil Flash, Air David, Bally Hustla and the rest of Hype Basketball. Our team will comprise of several high caliber players such as Ren Ren Ritualo, Don Allado, Wesley Gonzales, Willie Miller (2X PBA MVP), JR Aquino, Cholo Villanueva, Carlo Sharma and more!!

This event will also be highlighted by hiphop performances by Abra, Loonie, Ron Henley, Quest, The Philippine All Stars and an icon that will definitely rock the house!

This endeavor by King Bally will support the following beneficiaries – Childrens Hour, Earth Day and Christian Mission Service Philippines (CMSP). This makes this exhibition games more relevant and fruitful for everyone in attendance!

Get your tickets now at SM Tickets www.smtickets.com !! Patron at 1,090 | Lower Box at 790 | Upper Box at 590 | General Admission is at 390 – super affordable ticket prices for our audience!
Tune in to all our social media sites to get more information and visit the official King Bally website www.jblgo.com for more!

This event is presented to you by King Bally, Dada, Court Kingz and BasketballTV – the official TV partner of Global Hoops. Alongside our media partners – Buhay Basket, When In Manila & The HypeShow WAVE 89.1FM

HELICONIA SUPPORTS ONE CHAMPIONSHIP TO GROW SPORTS MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IN ASIA

2016-07-13T15:16:00.001+08:00

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with a consortium-led by Heliconia Capital Management (“Heliconia”) for an investment into the company.

With this new partnership, ONE Championship will continue to expand and break new ground, and increase the number of live Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events across Asia, especially in China.

Chatri Sityodtong, Founder and Chairman of ONE Championship, stated: “In less than five years, ONE Championship has grown into a global brand with a broadcast reach to over 1 billion homes across 118 countries around the world. We have consistently broken attendance records at many of the largest stadiums across Asia. I expect to see an acceleration in business fundamentals across the board for ONE Championship. My team and I are fully committed to building a global business with strong ethics and values such as integrity, respect, humility, courage and inspiration. As Asia’s largest sports media property and the 2nd largest MMA organization in the world, ONE Championship will benefit significantly from Heliconia’s ecosystem, network, and resources.”

MMA is currently the fastest growing sport, accelerating exponentially by over 30 times in the past 10 years. In the past five years, ONE Championship has accelerated the growth of MMA in Asia as the market leader, organising live events across the region and broadcasting around the world.

Derek Lau, CEO of Heliconia stated: “We believe ONE Championship can potentially be the next big thing for consumers in Asia. They have the right product for Asia, they understand Asia and know how to monetise the value proposition in various ways in the New Economy. We are really excited to see ONE Championship taking the lead in the coming years to grow the sports media and entertainment industry in Asia.”

Lee Ark Boon, CEO of IE Singapore, said: “Traditional media and entertainment companies in Asia are facing strong headwinds with declining content sales and advertising revenues. ONE Championship’s foresight to identify and create unique content with global appeal illustrates the need for our companies to embrace new business models and transform themselves into globally competitive companies.”

Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Championship, stated: “I believe this partnership marks the beginning of a long and fruitful journey to bring ONE Championship to the rest of the world. Heliconia is a well-respected investment firm with the expertise, resources and contacts across Asia. For us, this investment by Heliconia represents a strong vote of confidence and a belief in the value that ONE Championship can bring. This partnership will unlock additional markets and opportunities for ONE Championship.” ONE Championship has consistently partnered with the best blue chip global brands around the world such as Disney, Facebook, Marvel, Under Armour, Sony, Universal Music Group, L'Oreal, and others. It currently has a roster of the best local and international athletes and champions in Asia. ONE Championship is dedicated to developing these athletes into true Asian heroes to inspire fans across Asia.

For more updates on ONE Championship™, please visit www.onefc.com and follow Twitter and Instagram @ONEFCMMA and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ONEFCMMA.

B2BCarshow ROAD TOUR 2016 Vis-Min Leg: Save the Dates!

2016-07-12T13:39:00.001+08:00

Hot and Hearty B2B Davao IV: August 20-21, 2016 SM Lanang Premier

Light and Easy B2B Gen San: August 27-28, 2016 SM City Gen San

Wild and Wicked B2B Cebu V: September 09-19, 2016 SM City Cebu

Smooth and Laid Back B2B Iloilo V: September 23-24 SM City Iloilo

It's going to be an explosive #UFL2016 Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium!

2016-07-09T21:48:00.001+08:00

Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and JP Voltes Football Club tangle at 1:45 PM.
Ceres-La Salle F.C. and KAYA Futbol Club square off at 4:00 PM.

Zoomanity Group at Travel Madness Expo at SMX MOA Ground from July 8-10, 2016

2016-07-09T21:24:00.001+08:00

On July 8, 2016 to July 10, 2016 at SMX Convention Center at SM Mall Of Asia, Passy City, the biggest operators of theme park, Zoomanity Group will have a booth to share their products and services to thousands of travelers.

The yearly Travel Madness Expo from 9AM to 7PM is here again. Grab amazing travel deals with over 100 participating airlines, hotels, resorts, cruises, theme parks, and travel agencies plus great discounts on travel essentials. Check the following participating companies; Participating Airlines and Cruises: Air China Air Mauritius All Nippon Airways Asiana Airlines Cebu Pacific Air China Airlines China Eastern Airlines Delta Airlines Eva Air Gulf Air Japan Airlines Jeju Air Jetstar Airways Korean Air Philippines Airasia Philippine Airlines Qatar Airways Royal Brunei Airlines Saudi Arabian Airlines Singapore Airlines Skyjet Airlines Turkish Airlines United Airlines 2GO Group Paradise Cruises & Hotels Princess Cruises & Cunard Royal Caribbean International Star Cruises Sun Cruises Participating Hotels & Resorts: Hotels & Resorts Azalea Hotels Bayview Park Hotel Manila Be Resorts Bellevue Hotels & Resorts Boracay Summer Palace Boracay Tropics Crimson Hotel and Resorts Diamond Hotel Philippines El Nido Resorts F1 Hotel Fairways & Bluewater Fersal Hotel Group Fuego Hotels & Properties Henan Bohol Resort Henan Boracay Regency Hotel Centro Island Cove Hotel Le Soleil de Boracay Lee Boutique Hotel/Leez Inn Makati Diamond Residences Patio Pacific Boracay Plaza del Norte Princesa Suites Quest Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Sophia's Garden Resort The Manila Hotel The Tides Hotel Boracay Thunderbird Resorts General Admission: P50 Senior Citizen & PWD: P40.00 Zoomanity Group is composed of Zoobic Safari in Subic, Zambales, Zoocobia Fun Zoo in Clark, Pampanga, Residence Inn in Tagaytay City, Cavite, Paradizoo in Mendez, Cavite, Zoocolate Thrills in Loboc, Bohol, Nanten Japanese Restaurant inside Manila Polo Club, Makati, Misono Japanese Restaurant in Bel Air, Makati and more. TAG Media and Public Relations is the marketing arm of Zoomanity Group. For details, contact grace@tagmedia.asia

#TAGmedia #ZoomanityGroup

The Return of the Comeback

2016-06-27T10:35:00.001+08:00

Jason Statham : The Right Face For The Job

2015-03-02T16:07:00.001+08:00

Discovered by film director Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham, 47, has made a name of himself in action films. His latest film is “Wild Card” by Simon West who directed The Expendables 2.

From cockney actor to star of action films such as Wild Card, has your career gone the way you wanted?

The change came with the first Transporter by Luc Besson. I’ve always been quite sporty and kept in shape through competitive diving and martial arts. I was delighted when I was asked to do my first action scenes-all those years of training finally paid off! I really enjoyed it and the films went down well, so I thought it was worthwhile nurturing this talent. In England there aren’t that many ‘physical’ actors.

It’s true that your films are far cry from James Ivory’s productions…

(Laughs) Yes. Not many wigs or cups of tea.

Who were your favourite figures in cinema as a teenager?

Sylvester Stallone, with whom I’ve had the great honour of acting. And Michael Caine and Bob Hoskins in England. Have you seen Get Carter and The Long Good Friday? They’re real men’s films; today it’s difficult to find scripts of this quality. I don’t always appear in great films, but you’ve got to eat. It wasn’t really my idea to do action films; it was a lucky break and it doesn’t stop me acting in more scripted films like Snatch and The Bank Job.

At 47, are you now looking for roles in drama films?

In 2013 I played a complex character who emerged from the pits of London in Crazy Joe [Hummingbird aka Redemption] and I prepared the role by having contact with homeless guys and veterans from the Iraqi war. I wanted to have more heavyweight projects, but the phone went one morning and my agent said “I have a role for you in a Hollywood action movie” and I naturally replied “Fine!”

During the making of Expendables 3 you had a near-fatal accident. Are you now much more careful?

It was stupid. Basically I was driving a lorry and swerved to avoid another vehicle and the lorry fell into the sea. I couldn’t get out of the cockpit and up to the surface because I had so much heavy gear on – guns, jacket and boots. I nearly drowned! But these are the hazards of the business; there are always times when things can go wrong. Acting is a combat sport!

“WILDCARD” is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA.

Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei get romantic and comic in The Rewrite.

2015-03-02T15:54:00.001+08:00

Once upon a time, screenwriter Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant) was on top of the world – a Golden Globe Award and a hit movie to his name, a beautiful wife and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of wit and charm. But that was fifteen years ago: now, he’s divorced, broke, approaching fifty and hasn’t written a hit film in years.

Luckily, his agent has a job for him – a university in the quiet town of Binghamton is looking for someone to teach a course in screenwriting, and with an empty wallet as his motivation, Keith can’t say no. Hoping to give minimal attention to his duties and focus on writing a new script, his attitude slowly begins to turn when he meets Holly (Marisa Tomei). A single mum working two jobs to earn her degree, the pair find themselves connected by their mutual need for a second chance.

Directed by Marc Lawrence and also starring Allison Janney, J. K. Simmons, Bella Heathcote, and Annie Q.

“THE REWRITE” is released and distributed CAPTIVE CINEMA

Rom-Com King Hugh Grant returns to the screen in ‘The Rewrite’

2015-03-01T18:21:00.001+08:00

Do you remember that scene in Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant’s character goes to see Julia Roberts at her swanky London hotel, not realising she’s in the middle of doing interviews promoting her new film? Embarrassed, he poses as a journalist for Horse And Hound magazine and a series of torturously awkward questions ensue.

In The Rewrite, Grant plays Keith Michaels, a once successful Hollywood scriptwriter forced to take a job lecturing at a university to make ends meet.

“He loves screenwriting, he loves films, he’s desperate to get back into the business,” explains the London-born actor, who has a house in Stinchcombe and famously dated Cotswolds model Liz Hurley before that very public indiscretion with prostitute Divine Brown.

“But he’s just so out of fashion. He’s so ‘cold’ in Hollywood terms, he just can’t get a job. So he has to take this undignified position of teaching screenwriting to a lot of second-rate students in a third-rate university.”

Grant, of course, had his big break in Four Weddings And A Funeral 20 years ago, and has gone on to star in numerous romantic comedies. But he hasn’t become jaded by Hollywood – he claims he always was.

“I’ve always played that... affected that pose anyway. Maybe it’s not a pose,” he says. “There are people who really love showbiz. They get up every morning and they just want to make a film, read a script. I’ve never been that person, I confess.”

So, disillusioned Keith picks all the prettiest young girls to be in his class, indulges in some extra-curricular fun and aims to get away with doing as little work as possible. But in true romcom style, that all changes when single mum Holly, played by Marisa Tomei, signs up as a mature student. She’s determined to have a second chance at life, and convince Keith he can have one too.

“She’s very positive, and my character is very cynical about that,” says Grant. “It’s great that someone like that goes back to university, but can anyone learn to do something that requires talent? No, probably not.

“I do think if you’ve got a little bit of talent, you can learn to make it much better,” he adds.

Following the success of Four Weddings..., Grant went on to play the earnest, bumbling hero several times over, including in the even more successful Notting Hill.

He was a box office hit, the ‘romcom king’, and studios were throwing money at him to do it all over again.

Then in 2002, he played the lead in About A Boy, chopping off his floppy hair to expose a roguish twinkle in his blue eyes. Since then, he’s been the go-to guy for romcoms about a charming but cold-hearted cad.

The Rewrite is his fourth collaboration with writer and director Marc Lawrence, following Two Weeks Notice, Music And Lyrics and Did You Hear About The Morgans?

He insists he’s too old for romantic comedy, but enjoys his collaborations with Lawrence because they don’t require much effort.

“He really is very clever at writing dialogue that’s good for me. The part was written for me, so it wasn’t much of a stretch,” he concedes wryly.

The Rewrite is a reflective film, with Keith looking back to the peak of his success. In one scene, he watches an old video clip of himself making an acceptance speech at an awards ceremony. The footage is doctored from a real speech given by a fresh-faced Grant at the Golden Globes at the beginning of his career. But watching it didn’t stir any sense of nostalgia in the self-confessed “ultra cynic”. “That scene was slightly annoying; they always wanted to use that old footage of me and I didn’t want to do that. For a start, I convinced myself that I was playing a part in this film, and therefore if you see ME with a completely different voice, 20 years ago, it would bring you out of the film,” Grant reveals.

So what has he got out of his 20 year career as a romantic hero?

“I don’t think I’ve learned any particular lesson,” he says, shrugging.

“Except...”, and finally he appears frank, “it certainly always helps if you don’t just go for the money. Especially certain parts in Hollywood, they’re always trying to draw you in just for the money.

“And the other thing is, the more you work at something - even if it’s quite good material already – keep working at it. It can always be better.” Grant’s mistrust of the media is not without reason.

In 1995, he was caught in flagrante with Brown in downtown Hollywood, and the story was splashed all over the tabloids. Broken-hearted Liz Hurley retreated to Sudeley Castle to get over it, but the couple split soon afterwards. His colourful love life – he has reportedly fathered three love children – has since been under constant scrutiny. If Grant was reluctant to become an actor, he was even more reluctant to become a celebrity. Over his two decades in the spotlight, the gossip and intrigue surrounding stars’ lives has intensified. In The Rewrite, one of Keith’s students declares celebrities “the Gods of our time”.

“She might be right that some people think that,” observes Grant, shuddering.

“I don’t share that. I’m a little disturbed by celebrity obsession.”

And how does he feel, thinking some people might worship him as a God?

“They would have to be psychotic.”

‘’THE REWRITE’’ is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA.

MICHELIN takes the challenge for energy efficiency, safety and innovation in Shell Eco-Marathon Asia 2015

2015-03-01T08:27:00.001+08:00

MANILA, Philippines—Michelin, in global partnership with Shell, welcomes back the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia (SEMA) for its second year in the Philippines at Luneta Park, Manila on February 26 to March 1, 2015.

Communication & Brands Director for MICHELIN East Asia and Australia Ruedee Euachongprasit discusses the importance of using the right tires for road safety and fuel efficiency during the MICHELIN Press Conference on Energy Efficiency, Safety and Innovation at the Shell Eco-Marathon.

The Shell Eco-Marathon is an international competition wherein student teams must create a safe and energy-efficient vehicle that promotes sustainable solutions for mobility. MICHELIN continues as the Official Global Partner and Tire Supplier of the event in 2015.

Special types of tires from MICHELIN are the most commonly used for the urban concept cars and prototype vehicles for the participating student teams of Shell Eco-Marathon Asia.

An increased number of student teams will participate in SEMA 2015, with 127 teams from 17 countries from the Asia-Pacific and delegates from Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and South Africa. From the Philippines alone, 25 universities from all over the country with as much as 34 participating prototype vehicles are joining this year. The SEMA 2014 had 109 teams from 15 countries, and 15 teams from the Philippines among them.

Communication & Brands Director for MICHELIN East Asia & Australia Ruedee Euachongprasit, Customer Engineering Support Manager for MICHELIN Philippines Jaybee Atanacio and Chief Representative of MICHELIN Philippines Michael Nunag discuss MICHELIN's aim for innovation in better, safer and energy-efficient solutions in road safety and mobility.

“The Michelin and Shell partnership are aligned with valuing innovation for better mobility, that also pursues energy-efficient and safe solutions for mobility.” said Michael Nunag, Chief Representative of MICHELIN Philippines.

The MICHELIN tires for Shell Eco-Marathon are well-designed tires that are lightweight and provide low rolling resistance, providing optimal traction and longer travel time for the prototype vehicles.

Marketing Communications Manager for MICHELIN Philippines Caroline Del Rosario, Communication & Brands Director for MICHELIN East Asia and Australia Ruedee Euachongprasit, Customer Engineering Support Manager for MICHELIN Philippines Jaybee Atanacio and Chief Representative of MICHELIN Philippines Michael Nunag during the MICHELIN Press Conference on Energy Efficiency, Safety and Innovation at the Shell Eco-Marathon.

These tires are approximately 6 times more efficient than one of the best energy efficient tires on the market (MICHELIN Energy EV). MICHELIN will also be providing technical assistance and support to all the participant teams throughout the competition, by supporting them with safety advice and how to best utilize the tires for their vehicles to get the best performance.

MICHELIN provides assistance and advice to student teams regarding proper tire inflation and tire tread depth for traction at the MICHELIN Technical Booth at the Shell Eco-Marathon at Luneta Park.

Apart from the sponsor exhibition where the public will have a chance to see the product and performances of Michelin Tires, Michelin will host the MICHELIN Road Safety City 2015 at the Fanzone area at the SEMA 2015. A first for SEMA in Manila, the concept behind MICHELIN Road Safety City is to get everyone, especially the kids, in on the importance of road safety.

Kids and visitors to the Shell Eco-Marathon can learn more about basic road safety rules through fun games and activities at the MICHELIN booth at the Fanzone area.

“Road Safety is everyone’s responsibility. With Michelin Road Safety City 2015, what we want to bring to all the participants is the basic but important knowledge that will keep them safe on the road. This includes respecting traffic rules, the meaning of road signs, and how to avoid danger on the road. All the activities are designed to demonstrate the importance of road safety, with the hope that this will help to reduce road accidents,” said Ruedee Euachongprasit, Director of Communication and Brands, Michelin East Asia and Australia.

Viber Welcomes The Year of the Goat with a New Sticker Pack

2015-02-19T19:43:00.001+08:00

Users Can Now Share Fun Chinese New Year Stickers with Family and Friends to Celebrate the Spring Festival

Viber, the leading OTT communications app offering free messaging and HD-quality calls, is joining in the festivities of the Lunar New Year. A specially designed sticker pack is now available to download, featuring a brand new sticker character as we enter the Year of the Goat. Considered the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar because of its rich cultural heritage and history, the Lunar New Year is centuries old and celebrated by over a billion of people worldwide.

The ‘Happy 羊 Year’ pack - Happy Goat Year - features 16 vibrant stickers which celebrate everything about Chinese New Year and the festive season. Each sticker reflects key celebrations and traditions observed by Chinese communities during the Spring Festival. This pack is for Chinese communities around the world as well as anyone (or Nationality - eg Thais - to be inserted per market) who wants to wish their (Chinese - to be inserted per market) friends a marvelous new year. From special greetings and hong bao giving (and receiving!) to sharing messages of prosperity, there is something for everyone – the perfect way to spread the Lunar New Year vibes.

Viber provides a new way to enjoy the celebrations with loved ones far and near. The Chinese New Year pack offers greetings in multiple languages including Mandarin, Cantonese and English. The red and gold pack has plenty of stickers embodying some of the key customs. Send greetings with red lanterns, fireworks and dragon dances to ward off evil at the start of the Lunar New Year. Wish prosperity and abundance by sharing gold, red envelopes and money trees with your loved ones. Finally, as the family gathers for New Year’s Eve dinner, why not send stickers to tell absent friends that you miss them – choose from the famous new year cake, oranges for prosperity, or dumplings representing the full moon and symbolizing the family unit and perfection.

The Chinese New Year sticker pack is now available to download from the Viber sticker market for free.

For more updates on Viber, visit www.facebook.com/viberph, www.twitter.com/viberph, and www.instagram.com/viberph.

Let's all join Engr. Grace Nicolas and Marketing Director of Victoria Court, Ms. Tanya Llana this Saturday, February 7, 2015, 4PM to 5PM for DZME 1530 'Let's Talk About Career' segment as they talk about the booming hotel industry.

2015-02-06T17:13:00.001+08:00

Tim Burton discusses a larger than life film ‘Big Eyes’

2015-02-06T16:54:00.001+08:00

Tim Burton is a bit like the character he creates in his movies—whimsical, highly animated, and quite appealing in a quirky kind of way and larger- than- life.

His latest movie ‘Big Eyes’, opens on February 25, across the Philippines!

In Manhattan, Burton’s hair and beard were a bit scraggly, and he spoke with his hands waving in the air. It is clear: he is passionate about three aspects of his life: his films, his art and his family.

Among his unique movies, most with a strong cult following, are, Batman, Batman Returns, Mars Attacks, Sleepy Hollow, Ed Wood, Big Fish and Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Burton has creatively directed from his vivid imagination numerous darkly-themed children’s movies, including: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Frankenweenie, and Alice in Wonderland.

Big Eyes, from The Weinstein Company, is the biographical drama film directed by Tim Burton.

The film focuses on Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz), an artist known in the 1950s and 60s for his kitsch paintings of large-eyed waifs and his then-wife Margaret Keane, (Amy Adams).

The film tells the outrageous true story of their heated divorce battle wherein Margaret accused her husband, Walter, of stealing her paintings. The bazaar and shocking truth would later be discovered: Walter did not create any of the art work, but instead his wife did, and the Keane’s had been living a colossal lie that had fooled the entire world.

The movie is too incredible to be fiction, and focuses on Margaret’s awakening as an artist, the success of her paintings and her tumultuous relationship with her husband , who was catapulted to international fame while taking credit for her work.

The script was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, the screenwriters behind Ed Wood, and is based in Los Angeles. In 2003, they began researching the story that would take 10 years to become a film.

“There were a lot of reasons why we wanted to make this movie,” Karaszewski explained. “We thought that Margaret was a great female character that embodied the beginning of the Women’s Movement. It stars with her as a 1950s housewife, who does everything for her husband. Through the course of the story, she learns to stand up for herself.”

Burton has long been involved with Helena Bonham Carter, and they have two children: a son Billy Raymond, 11, and a daughter, Nell,7.

Please talk about approaching this story of Big Eyes as a parent?

I don’t know if that has everything to do with it for me. I mean, I came at strangely, from growing up in that era. Because growing up in that era and understanding the cultures that I grew up in, it was sort of the end of the American Dream. And that kind of idea.

How so?

The sort of the idea of this dysfunctional couple coming together. And ..creating these mutant children! It just felt like my family! You know, it just felt like of like this sort of…So it had this strange, so I sort of came at it in this strange way. But you know..I’ll never show this film to my children! I’ll show ém Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd. But not this one!

What grabbed your attention about these actors [Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz] you chose for your new Tim Burton universe, Big Eyes?

It was just fresh energy for me to work with these new people. And uh, because you know

everybody’s been getting sick of the people I was working with! And, I know. It’s sad, isn’t! And I showed up occasionally, yes!

I am sure you were there more than that. Please talk about your attention to those Keane paintings?

I found them fascinating, but quite disturbing, actually! Like Big Brother watching you –those big eyes. And the sort of polarized responses to it. Some people love it, obviously. And some people just wanted to…rip it off the walls! So that kind of response is what I found quite fascinating.

How did this project come about, between you and the writers –Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski?

We were actually working in parallel! universes! Because I didn’t know that the screenwriters were writing a script! And I knew Keane’s work, because I grew up with it. But I didn’t know the real story. And a friend of mine told me the story. And went to San Francisco and met Margaret Keane. And I commissioned a painting from her. Then I don’t know how long after that, but we had done Ed Wood together. And they approached me about doing this movie.

Were you drawn at all to Margaret Keane because of your own personal experiences, in a Hollywood movie industry dominated by business interest over art?

Well, yes. I mean; that’s why I enjoyed Ed Wood, because to me, there’s a fine line. Or it’s perceived as good and bad. And you know; I’ve been through that myself. You know, when they had that MOMA [The Museum of Metropolitan Art in New York] show her, the critics… It was

about 100 times worse than Keane! You know what I mean?

Then what happened?

It got so lambasted. And at the same time …it had a high attendance rate! So I’ve experienced that kind of thing, of like good and bad. Because when you do something, you’re very passionate about it. Whether it’s Ed Wood or the Keane’s , you know, there’s just such enthusiasm. And they thought they were making probably like..Michelangelo! As Ed Wood thought he was making Star Wars. You know, when he was making Plan 9 From Outer Space! So you understand that kind of misguided enthusiasm. And then you sort of understanding the polarization of people’s response to things.

Why do you think the Keane art was not embraced by the psychedelic world by then?

But it was very druggie! You know, big eyes, large pupils. I mean, It’s somehow weirdly fit into that scene! And I always admired Margaret’s high-waisted look!

Why do you think that this film isn’t as dark as your other movie?

For me. you have the time, the era, and you have the paintings. Which suggest something, strange color schemes that are those paintings; part of the vibe of it. And then, just the story. I mean, the relationship between Margaret and Walter and the other characters, in my own mind, it started to feel like a weird sixties, kind of slightly Hitchcock.

Please elaborate—what do you mean by this?

Well, I found myself strangely drawn. I mean; the color scheme just fit the era and the paintings, and the kind of psychological relationship, and feel of the movie. So you know whether it’s black or white or color, you try to support that. And make it a character, in a way.

So just all of those elements made it…what it turned out to be!

The movie is in large part struggle between abstract and popular art, Where do you stand in that struggle personally?

Again, it’s a fascinating thing about people’s perception of art. And you see it today. Either it speaks to you, or it doesn’t. And I think the reason the story really sort of flew under the radar, is that most critics, most people, didn’t really consider it art. So it didn’t hit the major headlines.

Please, tell me more?

You know; it was sort of on the back pages. Whatever. But like I said. I myself have experienced from the very beginning of my career, people loving and hating me. And also, people would say about my movies, ‘Oh it’s so much lighter.’ And at the same time, it’s so much darker. So I found that a sort of juxtaposition. How could something be light, and then other people see it as completely dark. So people’s perceptions of things fascinate me, you know?

Is that how you see the film Big Eyes?

Yes, in that way I think this is perfect story , and an example of that sort of question. And it’s kind of an unanswerable question! It’s just sort of a presentation of that dynamic. But I loved it, because I also hated it! You know what I mean ? There’s something about it like, why would grown people have…images of children hanging in their living room!

It seems like people do that.

I do too!

If you put yourself in Walter Keane’s shoes for minute, what do you think was going on inside his crazy head?

In his version, he was Henry Higgins! She was ElizaDoolittle, and, it was a failed experiment!

“BIG EYES” is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA!

‘Paddington’ Takes Off Casting iconic characters

2015-02-06T16:33:00.001+08:00

The cast of PADDINGTON reads as a roll-call of the finest in acting talent, spanning film, television and theatre. Each of the principal cast are recognizable as many an iconic character, to generations both young and old.

Hugh Bonneville (Mr. Brown) is perhaps best known as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, in the multi-award winning TV drama, “Downton Abbey”. Taking on the role of a father once again in PADDINGTON appealed to Bonneville on several levels. “I remember having the books read to me and then reading them myself and falling in love with them. Paddington is a part of British culture, part of our DNA really. I read the script and saw how much of that DNA is preserved, even though it’s set in a contemporary world”. He continues, “It still has the flavor of the original books, which is so beautifully captured in Paul’s script. There’s also a great deal of humor running though the story – innocent, uproarious slapstick as well as clever wit – which will resonate with everyone, whether you are coming to the story with fresh eyes or as an unashamedly nostalgic parent, like myself.”

As one of the first actors to come on board the project and highly aware of the public's love of the source material, Hugh felt very strongly the need to do justice to Bond's stories - but any initial concerns were very quickly forgotten: “Within about five seconds of meeting Paul and David about PADDINGTON, I was on board. I was struck by how much Paul understood Paddington - he IS Paddington! He is as innocent, wide-eyed and as delightful as our furry friend!”

As Mrs. Brown, the wonderful Sally Hawkins, who was recently nominated for an Academy Award® for her role in Woody Allen’s BLUE JASMINE, effortlessly captures her character’s good nature and inability to resist a cry for help. Being the first to engage with the little bear all alone on the platform of Paddington Station, Mrs. Brown’s family is swept along by her well-meaning actions, regardless of the consequences. Says Rosie Alison of the casting of Sally, “What we love about Sally is that she gives this very grounded performance. She talks to the bear just beautifully, as if he is a living, breathing creature. One believes in her and in turn, in Paddington.”

Says Paul, “Hugh and Sally were a joy to work with. They are both tremendously accomplished writers as well as performers. For someone like me with a background in improvised comedy, it was hugely reassuring to know they wouldn’t feel straight-jacketed by the dialogue, and that together we could breathe life into the characters.” He continues, “Their performances are the bedrock of the film: comic but touching, real yet existing in a world where a talking animal can be accepted. It’s a delicate balance, and they hold it beautifully.”

It’s perhaps every child’s dream to appear in a movie and newcomers Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin, cast as sparring siblings Judy and Jonathan Brown, took the experience in their stride. Through a long winter shoot in and around London, often on location and frequently filming through the night, Maddie and Sam more than matched the stamina of their seasoned co-stars. The strong connection that developed quickly between the fictional family members is evident on screen, as is the fun they clearly had working together.

Bonneville is quick to praise his young co-stars “Maddie and Sam have got fantastic energy and real focus - they’re really on the button.” And he continues, “There is that famous phrase, ‘Never work with children or animals’. Well, I can make an exception in this case.”

With regards to portraying one of the most famous families in British literary history, Bonneville adds, “We had the luxury of three weeks of rehearsal in which Paul was determined that we should not only finesse the script but work on the characters and explore the relationships of the Brown family - which was invaluable. You rarely get to have that. So we had a lot of fun, playing around with the scenes, building up a strong family dynamic, which I hope comes across. The little ebbs and flows of family life are all there.”

Rounding out the Brown household is the eccentric Mrs. Bird, played by Julie Walters. A distant relative who lives with the Browns and runs the household as a very tight ship, Mrs. Bird is strict, but also compassionate - when she needs to be! Worldly-wise, she thinks nothing of a walking, talking bear crossing the threshold of 32 Windsor Garden and turning all of their lives upside down.

Julie confesses to loving the prospect of working on another film which appeals whole-heartedly to the young - and to the young at heart. Certainly, knowing that David Heyman would once again be behind this adaptation must have been reassuring for Julie? “It was lovely to be asked back by David Heyman, because I had such a wonderful time on HARRY POTTER, you know, so it’s a real thrill to work with him again - and he’s a really nice bloke, apart from anything else!”

Along with Mr. Gruber, played by the prolific British actor Jim Broadbent (another HARRY POTTER alumnus) and nosey next door neighbor, Mr. Curry (Peter Capaldi), the Browns are characters as familiar as Paddington himself to the generations of children that have grown up with these stories. However, a 21st century PADDINGTON required a villain that could challenge the most savvy of young audiences. Enter stage left Millicent, the evil taxidermist.

Explains King, "Where Oliver Twist has to survive Fagin and Bill Sykes before he can find peace with Mr. Brownlow, so I wanted an opposition for Paddington, someone who didn’t respond to ‘Please Look After This Bear.’ It struck me that for a young bear, the greatest opposition wasn’t someone who didn’t want him in the house, or even the street, but who felt that a bear only belonged in one place in London – the Natural History Museum!”

From the outset, the desire of all involved was to deliver a PADDINGTON to the big screen for a whole new generation of fans, whilst remaining loyal to Bond's wonderful world.

“PADDINGTON” is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA SHOWING ON FEBRUARY 11. NATIONWIDE!!!!