Please watch the film, Manila, by Directors Raya Martin and Adolfo Alix, Jr. The Film is part of the Official Selection, Festival de Cannes 2009; Official Selection, Moscow International Film Festival 2009; and the Opening Film in the Cinemalaya V.

It opens on July 22 in selected theaters — SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Manila, SM Fairview, Robinsons Ermita, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway, Trinoma, Glorietta 4, Sta. Lucia, SM Davao, SM Cebu, SM Pampanga, SM Taytay.

Released by Star Cinema, it stars no less than Piolo Pascual, Rosanna Roces, Jay Manalo, Baron Geisler, Alessandra de Rossi, Iza Calzado, Angelica Panganiban, Jiro Manio, William Martinez, Anita Linda, Marissa Delgado, Menggie Cobarrubias, John Lapus, Katherine Luna, Aleck Bovick, and Jon Avila.

A MJM Production and Bicycle Pictures production
Written by Ramon Sarmiento and Adolfo Alix, Jr.
Executive Producers: Piolo Jose Pascual and Edgar Mangahas
Producer: Arleen Cuevas
Associate Line Producer: Maxie Evangelista III
Director of Photography: Albert Banzon
Production Designer: Digo Ricio
Editors: Jay Halili and Aleks Castaneda
Music: Radioactive Sago Project
Sound Design: Ditoy Aguila

video credit: bicyclepix of youtube.

He departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.”

So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.

He was amazed at their lack of faith. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.

credit: dailygospel.org

… and official hot, if I may say. This is after she got named as the sexiest woman for the year for the Philippines’ top men’s magazine.

I think this has to do with having the highest number of votes from guys (and maybe girls too!) all over the country. Incidentally, Cristine is also hot — controversy wise — for she’s involved in one that could break a glass tile. It’s got something to do with a text exchange with fellow artist RR Herrera… and Valerie Concepcion and Angelica Panganiban, and Pokwang. Basically, it’s a girl fight.. It’s all over at PEP, and a lot of readers there are on Cristine’s side. Well, a lot are praying that they’d be friends again, after all, they belong to just one family — showbiz, that is.

… hot as eva fonda. hehehe.

Thank you for the wonderful music, Mr. Jackson..

video credit: byron garcia of youtube

When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.”

He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.

She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”

Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”

But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

And he looked around to see who had done it.

The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”

Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”

And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

credit: dailygospel.org

So this is gonna be a marriage between a kapuso and a kapamilya artist. wootwoot!

Speaking of Marian, she’s being compared with Carla Abellana, a new kapuso artist who’s gonna be playing Rosalinda. They kinda look alike, eyes and smile-wise. Who knows — Rosalinda might be just as lucky (or even more) than Marimar!

Model/actress Maricar Reyes will be featured in May Bukas Pa soon, where she will portray a taong grasa (who will turn out to be nice and smart, and all that). I believe her episode would make people learn not to judge hastily — and that there’s more to a person that what meets the eye.

Anyway, I think this is Maricar’s second primetime show in abs-cbn, the first being John lloyd’s (or Armando Solis’) ex-girlfriend Candy in I Love Betty La Fea (she was good there). Maricar is part of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, and was “introduced” to the public in last Sunday’s ASAP, for Star Magic’s 17th Anniversary presentation.

On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”

Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him.

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

credit: dailygospel.org

Fafa John Lloyd Cruz finally confirms the “break-up” rumors with stylist Liz Uy. He also says he has “the highest respect” for Annabelle Rama, with whom he had a drift (well, sort of) after intrigues came about that he has a relationship with beauty queen Ruffa Gutierrez.

Anyway, to his fans all over, catch more of him at the “Star Magic: The World Concert Tour”… and also, wait for his movie opposite Luis Manzano (hehehe) and Governor Vilma Santos.

Atleast this is what Pia Guanio confirms — the she and her boyfriend Bossing Vic Sotto are still together. Yes, they have some bad moments (as all couples do), but that these are what make their relationship more strong. Pia also says she has no idea where the rumor started.

Love is still in the air. Yay!