Press Bits

In an industry as competitive, challenging and risky as the pharmaceutical business, Ferring Pharmaceuticals distinguishes itself from the rest by putting people ahead of profit.

Established against the backdrop of the Second World War, Dr Frederik Paulsen, fled from Germany as a student, eventually arriving in Sweden where he established Nordiska Hormon Laboratoriet in 1950. The company would later be known as Ferring with Dr Paulsen and wife Eva becoming the first scientists to synthesize peptides by producing adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH), or stress hormone.

This discovery made the company a pioneer in developing and selling pharmaceutical products based upon natural, pituitary-produced peptide hormones.Choosing to remain under the radar of “big pharma” (referring to companies with revenue in excess of $3 billion, and/or research and development expenditure in excess of $500 million),

it was only in 1988, when Dr. Paulsen’s youngest son Frederik Paulsen, assumed the position as chief executive and led the company’s worldwide expansion.

Ferring first established a research group in San Diego in 1996, recognizing the vibrant opportunities in the region. Since establishing a presence in San Diego, Ferring has been able to assemble a world-class peptide research organization and establish collaborations with leading academic scientists.

The Ferring Research Institute moved to its new home in San Diego in February 2009 with the opening of a 38,000-square-foot facility in Sorrento Valley. The new state-of-the art facility research houses expanded research laboratories for peptide medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, bioanalytical, and pharmacology.

In recent years, Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base: with over 4,500 employees worldwide, it operates subsidiaries in 55 countries and makes its products available in more than 100 countries.

Now based from a global hub in Switzerland Ferring develops innovative products in the four therapy areas of reproductive health, urology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and orthopaedics. As a private, research-driven specialty biopharmaceutical company Ferring is committed to building a portfolio of novel, innovative peptide therapeutics to address areas of high unmet medical need..

Ferring's expertise

The World Health Organization estimates that there are about 60 to 80 million cases of infertility around the world.

As opportunities arise in their careers, more women are waiting longer to have children. Due to this trend in the delay of pregnancy until an older age, up to a quarter of all couples may experience problems in conceiving a child.

Treatment of infertility is one of Ferring's key areas of expertise and it is committed to progress in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

Ferring's female healthcare portfolio consists of traditional highly purified and standardized human-derived products at every stage of the reproductive cycle to ensure better maternal health and safe child birth. Clinical studies and years of use have shown that Ferring's hormonal therapies are effective and offer a good safety profile. Ferring looks to become the market leader in reproductive health care through its products for infertility and obstetrics. Ferring in the PH Now, Filipino couples who are having problems conceiving children need not go abroad, or

spend more on acquiring Ferring’s products as the Company opened its Philippine offices at the Ecotower building, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The formal inauguration was graced by Michel Pettigrew, President and Chief Executive Officer who flew all the way from Switzerland together with other esteemed Ferring executives Ralph Diehl, trusted Consultant, Alex Chang, Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific, BingMei Hao, Regional Finance Controller, Jareen Yao, Associate Director of Business Excellence, and Ming Yip, Regional Senior Director for South East Asia.

They were formally welcomed by Ferring Philippines General Manager, Ms. Jane Villablanca together with industry partners and key opinion leaders from the various specialty medical societies.


The company’s philosophy is ‘People come first at Ferring’. “We live it every day of the week,” said Pettigrew. “We have a respect for all stakeholders – whether the patients, to ensure they get the care they deserve; the medical community or our employees. We expect our employees to take on a lot of responsibility – it’s a great place to work.”



It has been more than six decades, yet that same passion of Dr. Paulsen continues, as Ferring Pharmaceuticals proudly carries on a culture of enterprise driven by science, not profit..“We’re privately owned by one man who has a strong belief that science must advance, shared Pettigrew, his father’s vision still guides the company’s business today, and science remains at the heart of what it accomplishes.

For more information about Ferring, visit www.ferring.com

KakaoTalk, one of the leading mobile messengers in the world, has announced exciting product updates for its subscribers across the globe!  KakaoTalk is now available for Mac users worldwide and is now offering “Search Chat” – a brand new feature that will be available on the desktop client, KakaoTalk Windows.

Award-winning director Paul Haggis’ latest romantic thriller “Third Person” follows the journeys of three sets of couple at three different stages of a relationship set at the backdrop of Paris, Rome and New York.  The movie’s main character Michael, played by Liam Neeson, a novelist who’d been famous for his previous work has holed himself up in a hotel suite in Paris finishing his latest book.  Within the hotel works a maid named Julia, Mila Kunis’ character – an ex-soap opera actress who was once a frequent guest at the hotel.

             
Julia is caught in a custody battle for her 6-year old son with her ex-husband Rick played by James Franco, who is a famous New York artist.   With her support cut off and her legal costs ruinous, Julia’s lawyer Theresa (Maria Bello) has secured Julia one final chance to change the court’s mind and be reunited with the child she loves.     Julia’s sole motivation in life is to gain joint custody of her son but her fragile psychological state and the circumstances of her marriage break-up make that a big challenge.

A fan of the director’s works, Kunis had no qualms joining the cast, “I’ve been a fan of Paul’s work and he has a very specific way of writing so I didn’t necessarily know what to expect but I knew it was going to be intertwining storylines. I can honestly say that there are those movies that come along that they make you realize why you love doing what you do and working with Paul Haggis made me fall in love with my job again. I love it, I love every aspect of how he works, how he interacts, how, confident he is and how confident he makes you feel.   I think we just kind of get each other’s work ethic and work rhythm.   He trusts me and I trust him that’s just so incredibly important”.

“Given the complexity of the film, Julia is a hard character to explain,” says Kunis of her character.  “She’s slightly misunderstood but she means well.   Technically speaking, she’s in a custody battle with her ex-husband Rick for their child Jesse.  At heart, Julia’s a sweet person but she’s always late and if a person has to make a right or a left turn, she always makes the wrong choice, but it’s not on  purpose so you can’t blame her for it.  Maybe she just has the world’s worst luck, or maybe not.    She seems to be constantly put in situations where she’s just being attacked or accused of not being good enough.”

Kunis’ onscreen ex-hubby in the film, James Franco, Rick, pulls their son away from her mother.  “Rick is one of a number of characters who come in and out of the film and he’s an artist, a painter in New York and has a child with Mila Kunis’ character Julia. He and Julia have had a very rocky past and she seems to be emotionally unstable and irresponsible and maybe even dangerous towards Jesse, our child. So, I gain custody of Jesse and I prevent her from seeing him because I think she might hurt him. Paul writes very intricate characters.  I remember years ago he once told me that he likes to make himself the villain.  He likes to put himself into his characters,” Franco enthuses.

“Mila Kunis and I have done something like seven projects together, after working together so many times, there’s certainly a shorthand with Mila Kunis and I.    We just get along very well.      We’ve kind of done everything together - fantasy, comedy, drama, a weird vampire thing, an experimental movie, so I guess the only thing we haven’t done is maybe action, so we’re looking for a, an action script next!” concludes Franco.

“Third Person” opens June 18 in theatres nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.

Adrien Brody who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of real-life Holocaust survivor Wladislaw Szpilman in Roman Polanski's “The Pianist” and he is, to date the youngest person to have received the Oscar in that category stars in the latest romantic thriller “Third Person” opposite an impressive cast that includes Liam Neeson, Kim Basinger, Moran Atias, James Franco, Mila Kunis and Olivia Wilde.
             
  “Third Person” spans three stories of love clothed in mystery where Brody plays Scott, a shady American businessman and reluctant globe- trotter, who is in Italy to steal designs from fashion houses.  At the end of his trip and looking for something American to eat, he goes in search of a decent hamburger and a Budweiser, and finds Bar Americano, where, to his consternation, he finds nothing he is seeking. He is about to leave when in walks Monika (Moran Atias), a breathtakingly beautiful gypsy.  Unable to stop from flirting, Scott discovers that Monika is about to be reunited with her young daughter. When the money she claims to have saved to  pay  her  daughter’s  smuggler  is  stolen,  Scott  feels  responsible  and  is compelled to  help.  Though she  is  skeptical  of  his  intentions, she  reluctantly agrees and quite literally takes him on a ride. While they explore the more dangerous corners of southern Italy, Scott starts to suspect that this girl they have set out to rescue may not even exist. Nothing about their encounter is quite what it seems.
“My character Scott Wallace is a man who’s made some errors in life and some mistakes are permanent and too difficult to overcome. I think he’s grappling with a lot as a result of that and he’s unable to forgive himself.  He encounters a very interesting, alluring young woman in Rome while on a business trip and he somehow needs that excitement she embodies but that too is a tumultuous chapter of his life.    At the same time, it pulls him away from the weight he’s been experiencing and is kind of unable to escape on his own”. .   It’s way more interesting to observe imperfections and people’s ability to get past those imperfections. That’s more inspirational than overly heroic characters,” explains Brody.


               
Further, Brody shares that “I strive to find material that is unusual and speaks to me and that’s either something with incredible social relevance or something that is a learning process for me as a human being, not just as an actor and that I can share. There’s a degree of that in this piece – the processing of emotions and the need to overcome certain things that prevent us from moving forward and being present.   Tragedy befalls many people’s lives and you have to surmount that, or it destroys any possibility of the future.    I also think that there are many flaws in all the characters in this film, they’re all really flawed human beings and I think film should celebrate flaws rather than create perfect people, because people are imperfect.”              
Atias, who plays the gypsy Monika, is an immigrant from Albania trying to scrape together a living on the fringes of a world where people like her are considered to be less than dirt – all con artists and criminals.  “Her character’s strongest motivation is simple – survival.  .  It’s not a question whether or not she wants to do certain things; she sees no other choice.  Hers is just a very basic need.   One key characteristic about her is that she doesn’t trust anybody and she has a really good reason not to trust anybody, especially men,” says Moran.
               
A model and an ambassador in worldwide disaster relief operations, Atias shares that “I’ve done a lot of research to play Monika, even on things that I knew were not going to ever be in the script, but I just wanted to explore the life of the gypsy in Italy..   I became so respectful of their courage and dignity and that force of life to continue.”
             
  “Third Person” opens June 18 in theaters nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.

TRUST. Five letters that spell the difference between succeeding and building the legacy of a company. Much like any kind of relationship, trust is something that is not so easily achieved, yet has become invaluable in today's rapidly changing landscape.

From DreamWorks Animation, “How To Train Your Dragon 2” is even more exciting than the first Oscar-nominated film. The 3D adventure is stunning, with beautiful animation, great characters and a powerful storyline about a boy named Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his dragon, Toothless.
Gerard Butler returns as Hiccup’s dad, Stoick The Vast, mighty Chieftain of the Island of Berk.     Hiccup, now a young man, is contentedly flying with Toothless and exploring the frontiers of the Viking world, much to the annoyance of his father.  Stoick feels it’s high time his son stepped up to his leadership responsibilities and his heritage.   As the plot unfolds, Hiccup has to defend the villagers from the power-crazed Drago (Djimon Hounsou) and his army of dragon trappers.   And in a dramatic twist to this exhilarating coming of agestory, there is an emotional family reunion with Valka, Hiccup’s courageous mother (Cate Blanchett),an inspiring dragon protector.



                “At first I thought it would be impossible to surpass the first one, which was so magical, but they have surpassed it. There are some fantastic surprises in this film and we get to see the other sides of Stoick. I love the relationship between Stoick and Toothless, it’s hilarious, it’s touching, it’s  heartbreaking and really inspiring.  I think audiences will relate to that relationship because we’ve all been there. We have all had issues with our parents who have affected us in powerful ways and many people have kids, so they’ll relate in that way too,” Butler muses.

                Into the character the second time, Butler says that “Stoick the Vast is still a big, hairy mountain of a man. He’s burly and brawny and he’s loud and obnoxious, but he’s also a great leader and protector. He cares more about his people than he does about himself. He has learned that his way is not necessarily the way it should have been. His rules are, well number one: you live for the people. You’re a warrior. You have to be ready to lay down your life for those greater principles. It’s all about defending custom and principles and tradition. Stoick is bound by those principles in a way that’s stupidly stubborn, but he believes it’s the only way this place [Berk] is going to survive—if everybody toes the line.  He tries to pass that on to his son.” 

                Hailing from Scotland, Butler’s Stoick has special meaning for the actor.  “Vikings are in our blood in Scotland. Everything that I’ve been given as an actor comes from my culture, my nation and through my blood. So the role was fantastic for me. There is a warrior mentality in Scotland. Even as I was doing [the 2007 film]300, I would think of the hills in Scotland, I would think of my ancestors and what they’d been through. I used my passion for my country to play Leonidas in 300. I would almost hear his voice echoing through the ages. And it was the same with Stoick.  My favorite three places on the planet are Scotland, India and Iceland.  Whenever I think of those countries, my stomach starts churning in the best kind of way, just bristling with excitement. Scotland means the most to me, though, because it’s my life. I grew up in that country, wanting to make it as an actor and wanting to go to Hollywood. But it was always through the prism of me as a Scottish kid – a Scottish kid doing well,” enthuses Butler.

                It’s not just the superb animation that the actor is excited about, but also the lessons everyone can learn from the movie.  “Yes, there’s the theme of tolerance here and is something that I have a very strong opinion about and it is an interesting question.  Both movies are about tolerance and the courage that comes with tolerance.  The Vikings are learning to trust and they actually realize that dragons are beautiful. That is great because it’s often natural for Mankind to fight instead of trusting.   But we can be brave and rise above that. One little kid  [Hiccup] comes along and says, ‘Why don’t we just listen and pay attention and really see each other?’ You realize that these dragons have their own integrity and they’re as scared as we are. This new film shows how we can face people who are way less tolerant than us and come from a dark place.  I think that is a great lesson for the world we live in right now. If everyone would just pay a little more attention and be a little more tolerant, we would live in a far better place.”

                A DreamWorks Animation film, “How To Train Your Dragon 2” opens June 11 in theaters nationwide from 20tn Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

One of this generation’s most remarkable heartthrob, multi-talented young actor Ansel Elgort takes his most challenging role yet in the most-awaited love story of the year in “The Fault In Our Stars.”


                 “The Fault In Our Stars” celebrates the power of young love in all its magic, power and complexity where Elgort takes on the role of Augustus ‘Gus’ Waters, a teenager who is in remission from his osteosarcoma who met Hazel (Shailene Woodley) at a cancer support group in their community.  Based on the bestselling novel by John Green, the movie is the story of two remarkable teenagers who fall in love and embrace life despite the strong odds against them. Both are smart, funny and sarcastic. When they meet at a support group, Hazel Grace Lancaster is instantly smitten with Augustus Waters. The feeling is mutual. Despite dealing with serious health concerns on a daily basis, health doesn’t dominate life for Augustus and Hazel. Far from it. They are normal teenagers, excited about first love and getting to know each other. It’s clear from the start that there is strong chemistry between this attractive pair. They don’t see eye to eye on everything, but their connection is powerful and they both have a great sense of humor about their circumstances.  
             
                Gus, played by Elgort, is someone who believes in big, heroic gestures.  He’s brash and tough, but also possesses an appealing intelligence.   According to John Green, Hazel and Gus’ attraction to one another stems from the fact they possess a similar wit and intelligence. “There’s a line in the Philip Roth novel The Human Stain, where a character says, ‘The pleasure isn’t  in owning the person. The pleasure is this.  Having another contender in the room with you.’  I think Hazel is someone who doesn’t have a lot of contenders in the room with her, and when she meets Gus she realizes, ‘Oh, this guy can hang with me.’  For Gus it’s the same thing.  He’s used to being able to attract women, but he’s never encountered someone like Hazel before.”

                Gus is a complicated figure: he’s a former high school basketball star, and his favorite book – until meeting Hazel – is based on a videogame.  At the same time, he’s an intellectual who enjoys giving long, thoughtful monologues.



Ansel Elgort already had a connection with Woodley, with whom he stars – as her brother – in Divergent.  Woodley notes that this previous onscreen pairing was “a blessing for our work together in “The Fault In Our Stars” because we already knew each other and had this on-screen chemistry, so it was easy to connect as Hazel and Gus. Ansel’s like my brother; he’s so curious about the world and everything excites him.”

“With love stories it’s all about chemistry,” adds producer Wyck Godfrey.  “Shailene dominated many of the actors we had tested with her, because she has that kind of intimidating strength of character.  But then Ansel came in and he had this charisma, exuberance and energy that put Shailene back on her feet a little bit, which is exactly what you want her to feel.”

For Elgort, Gus was exactly the part he was looking for.  Like so many others, he was a fan of the novel.  “Above all, the book is full of beautiful ideas that make you think about life and love,” he notes.

“The Fault In Our Stars” opens June 5 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Mornings define how the rest of our day will go. This is why it’s important to get it right the moment we get out of bed. We’ve all heard about the health benefits of drinking water first thing in the morning, but if you truly want to jumpstart your energy instantly, it is best to take coconut water on an empty stomach.



Coconut water, which is filled with boosting vitamins and nutrients, contains organic compounds with beneficial growth properties that can dramatically improve your health. Toted as nature’s natural sport drink, coconut water can provide 15 times the electrolytes than most drinks. Therefore, promoting natural hydration that boosts energy early in the morning.[1] Taking coconut water first thing in the morning allows your body to absorb it quicker, boosting your energy immediately.

Being hydrated not only keeps your entire body working at top speed, but also aides your concentration, providing you with nutrients that you need to be focused on your tasks the whole day. Other benefits of coconut water include: revving up metabolism, balancing the body’s PH, detoxifying and fighting viruses, stopping fatigue, and helping prevent hypertension.[2]

No matter how busy your mornings are, make sure your body is well taken care of with the help of coconut water.  Tropicana Coco Quench is conveniently-packed coconut water available in 330ml and 1 Liter Tetra Pak packages so it’s easy to take anywhere at anytime.

Boost your mornings and make it better than ever, only with Tropicana Coco Quench!

As the first ever South East Asian figure skater to enter the 2013 World Junior Championship and giving an impressive performance at the recently held Soichi Winter Olympics, there’s no stopping Michael Christian Martinez in reaping honors for the Philippines as he recently bagged the much coveted gold medal from the Triglav Trophy International Figure Skating Competition in Jesenice, Slovenia.



Inspired by skaters spinning and jumping at the SM Skating Rink in SM Southmall, Martinez took up figure skating when he was eight and began training in 2010 in the United States.  Since then, he has been transformed into a world-class athlete and has garnered over 190 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions.
Martinez’s success is not an overnight thing but the simple decision of his mother and himself to get into the sports changed his life.  His achievement is indeed phenomenal but the good news is if you’re open-minded and committed to learn the skill, you too can be like him!  


SM Skating Rink operated by SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. makes this possible as it provides the facilities and programs for the young people who want to develop and hone their skating talents, and who aspire to be the next Philippine Olympian like Michael Christian Martinez.  SM Skating Rink offers various skating lessons in its premier branches in SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall and SM Megamall.

For only P 300 on weekdays and P 390 during weekends and holidays, you can learn different skating moves by availing open or unlimited skating service offered in both SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall.  You can learn and have fun in the SM Skating Rink with your friends by enrolling to one of the Freestyle skating courses available in the three SM branches that come in both four and six sessions
You can also skate your way to being a professional skater by enrolling to Speed Skating, the newest course offering in SM Mall of Asia. Top local coaches who were also trained by international skating coaches like Kelvin Nicolle, an international referee from New Zealand who teaches short track speed skating in Singapore, will provide the lesson and training to the enrolees.


SM Skating Rink which once served as a training ground for Michael Christian Martinez still provides a house for discovering new young talents. Be part of this and fulfil your dreams in the country’s world-class and only skating rink. For more information, visit www.smiceskating.com or call 556-0471.

Quench your undying thirst brought about by summer in Drink Up Philippines, the country’s first alcohol festival focusing on local craft and international beer, handcrafted cocktails and quality wines, this coming May 24 at the Forum, BGC.

Games People Play, a Palanca-winning play by Glenn Sevilla Mas features theater actors Abner Delina, Thea Yrastorza and Kalil Almonte. Ed Lacson Jr., who also does the production design, directs it while Teresa Barrozo does the sound and music design.



Games People Play is about three characters who try to understand why they are the way they are by revisiting their childhood, specifically the games that they played with each other. Each game is a rite of passage and it represents a significant moment in their coming of age. The writing of the play was inspired by this quote from child psychologist and writer Bruno Bettelheim: “The monster a child knows best and is most concerned with [is] the monster he feels or fears himself to be.”



The production will run from April 22 to 26, 2014, 7:30 PM with a 2:30 PM show on April 26, at the Fine Arts Blackbox Theater, Fine Arts Annex, Ateneo de Manila University.

For ticket inquiries, contact John Yap at 0917-722-5399 or visit www.facebook.com/gppgamespeopleplay for more information.

The Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company in partnership with the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe and PETA Theater Center proudly presents “ Magkabilaan ” --- the 20th anniversary concert to pay homage to the late Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, Founder & Artistic Director of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT).



“ Magkabilaan ” shall celebrate Lahing Kayumanggi’s  and Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe’s long standing partnership and exchange programme spanning two decades.

“ MAGKABILAAN ” will be held on April 25 and 26 (Friday & Saturday) --- 7:30PM at the PETA Theater located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

     
Special guests include the alumni of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe, longest folk dance company since 1946; Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir and talented singer / fashion designer Leo Almodal.



Starting as a small informal group of people in London who were nostalgic about Philippine music and dance, Lahing Kayumanggi has become a professional dance company with five professional dancers and musicians leading 35 enthusiastic members from the Filipino community. Their increasing reputation for quality, authenticity and innovation has led them to receive wide acclaim for their performances all over the UK in venues including the Philippine Embassy, World Travel Markets, Filipino Barrio Fiestas and community events, the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, as well as some countries in the continent. For four years running, Lahing Kayumanggi was a regular and popular feature on BBC TV’s Generation Game.

In December 2006, Lahing Kayumanggi received the Presidential Banaag Award ‘in recognition of its unwavering dedication to artistic excellence, raising the cultural awareness and ethnic pride of the Filipino community in the United Kingdom, and supporting cultural and humanitarian activities in the Philippines’. In 2012, the Lahing Kayummanggi Dance Company won the ABS-CBN Gawad Geny Lopez Jr.  - Bayaning Pilipino Awards (Europe).

 For the past 65 years, the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT) continues to play an important role in folk dance education among the Filipino youth here and abroad  towards the appreciation, preservation and promotion of their Philippine cultural heritage. By traveling to the different stages of the world across Asia, Europe and North America, the PBFDT has showcased the diverse multi-cultural Philippine life through a panorama of songs, dances and music with its customs, traditions, and various religions in their authentic form. Through the pioneering leadership of the founding Artistic Director Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, awardee of the ‘Gawad CCP Para sa Sining at Sayaw’ (1990), Philippine Centennial Awards (1999) and the ‘Gintong BAI Awards’ (2005), the PBFDT continues to be one of the leading dance companies in the Philippines.

A recipient of the Philippine Presidential Medal of Merit Award ‘Patnubay ng Kalinangan sa Sayaw’ (1971), the PBFDT aims to further research and study unrecorded Filipino folk dance and music as well as, developing and sharing the ever evolving story of the Philippines on world stages, carrying on the spirit of cooperation, friendly association and harmonious living—which the word ‘Baranggay’ has become synonymous with throughout the Philippines and the world.

Considered as one of the country’s top children’s choir, the Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir (HMtQCC) has been active in both local and international chorale scenes, traveling extensively for performances and competitions. They won as the World Choir Olympic Champion in the Music of the Religions Category in Bremen, Germany (2004); the First Asian Choir Games in Jakarta, Indonesia where they garnered Gold medal in the Gospel and Spiritual category and Silver medals in Musica Sacra and Musica Contemporanea categories 2007. In the local chorale arena, HMtQCC was given the Gold Award in the Children’s Choir Category in the First National Choral Competition organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in August 2009.

In recognition of their multi-awards, they received the Ani ng Dangal from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in 2009. In 2010, HMtQCC was the Grand Prize winner in the ABS-CBN Star Records’ Sa Yo Lamang Chorale Fest. Recently, together with Jamie Rivera, they won the Best Inspirational/Religious category in the 24th Awit Awards given by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc (PARI).

Leo Almodal who is a fashion designer by profession has dressed up the country’s top beauty queen titlists Venus Raj, Shamsey Supsup and other celebrities.

“ Magkabilaann” is directed by Ronnie Del Barrio; Artistic Director - Lamberto Cruz and Lighting Director - Katsch Catoy.

Costumes were designed by Barge Ramos, Edgar Madamba, Lito Perez, Herbert Custodio, Pipoy Bernardo and Edna  Encarnacîon.

Tickets are at Php 400.00 / Senior citizen: Php 320.00
 Call  +63 915 524 0799 for ticket reservations.
 Or email:  tickets@lkdance.org.uk

From John Carney, director of the critically-acclaimed movie ONCE comes another tale of music and love..



BEGIN AGAIN is a a soul-stirring comedy about what happens when lost souls meet and make beautiful music together it stars Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Hailee Steinfeld, and CeeLo Green.

Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own.

Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent. From this chance encounter emerges an enchanting portrait of a mutually transformative collaboration, set to the soundtrack of a summer in New York City.

BEGIN AGAIN opens in cinemas nationwide in August 2014 and is distributed by Solar Entertainment Company.

This vacay, go cray-cray as Cartoon Network, the number one kids’ channel in the Philippines, ushers in the summer fun with TOONFEST! It’s the biggest summer toon festival to ever hit Manila, a FREE-admission event open to kids of all ages happening at Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater, Bonifacio Global City on Saturday, May 3. Gates open at 4 PM.



 
Expect an outdoor festival of fun at Toonfest where kids can shake it up with their favorite Cartoon Network stars from Adventure Time, Regular Show, Amazing World of Gumball, Ben 10: Omniverse, Steven Universe and many more.
 
Packed with CN-goodness, sing-along to live musical acts performing your favorite CN theme songs. Experience a different kind of buzz with some exciting games and fun activity booths. Plus, Toonfesters will also get a chance to take home some totally awesome prizes.
 
But the ultimate-treat: an exclusive outdoor screening of CN’s newest show, Uncle Grandpa, which debuts on the channel on May 5, 6PM during Funday Mondays.
   
Don’t miss out on the FUN! For more details on Cartoon Network Toonfest 2014, exclusive downloadables, online games and other news, visit www.cartoonnetworkasia.com and like Cartoon Network Asia’s Facebook page on Facebook.com/asia.cartoonnetwork.

After numerous number one singles and a debut album that headed straight for the top, selling millions worldwide, show-stopping performances in front of a global audience of billions at the Olympics and extraordinary acts for charity that hit the headlines, London-born songstress Jessie J shakes up Manila in “Jessie J Live in Manila on July 14, 2014 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum presented by Midas Promotions in cooperation with Futuretainment, Inc.The 26-year-old pop star burst onto the scene in 2011 with the explosive single, “Do It Like A Dude” in a feisty performance with a video so strong there was certainly no ignoring this talented new singer-songwriter, surfing between tough RnB and rap.



That was followed by “Price Tag”, the anti-materialistic anthem of its year, and an album that sold in its millions going platinum several times over. But that was just the beginning of a journey that would see Jessie become the first British woman in history to take six top ten singles from one album and never mind that it was her first outing.

To add to those achievements are some pretty impressive statistics: coming up for 15 million sales, a Brit, the BBC Sound of 2011 award, two number one singles in the UK, number ones in no fewer than 19 countries, a number six hit in the US with “Domino”. There are many more. We could go on. And that’s not to mention her part in The Voice UK, the highly-rated BBC1 Saturday night prime-time show where she has mentored hopefuls alongside legends like Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am.

The former Voice UK coach also released her second studio album Alive in September and shaved off her trademark bob for Comic Relief, donating the hair to be woven into wigs for children who had lost their hair during cancer treatment.

“I wrote my first album when I was 18. This is definitely more mature,” she said of her new record on which she wrote and worked on with the likes of Rodney Jerkins, Claude Kelly and Stargate.

Witness as Jessie J delivers an evening of hits, dance tunes, trendsetter ways and show-stopping vocals which alters from jump-up and rave anthems made for nightclubs to soft ballad highlights including Domino, Laserlight, Thunder, Excuse My Rude, Do It Like A Dude, Wild, Who You Are, Price Tag, and It's My Party.

Tickets will go on sale on April 8, 2014 at 9:00am at www.ticketnet.com.ph and Ticketnet outlets. For inquiries, call 911-5555.

Nigel, the smart villainous cockatoo that was left flightless in the worldwide hit “Rio” has caught the eye and heart of a toxic frog named Gabi (voiced by Kristin Chenoweth) in the latest family adventure “Rio 2” from Blue Sky Studios.  Our favorite “Rio” characters Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Sergio Mendes, Jemaine Clement, George Lopez, Tracy Morgan and Jamie Foxx are joined by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, Tony® winner Kristin Chenoweth and scar/Emmy®/Tony winner Rita Moreno.  RIO 2 also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monáe and Wondaland.


Now, Saldanha returns to Brazil and reunites his beloved characters in “Rio 2.”  In the new film, it’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids, after they’re hurtled from Rio to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful and villainous Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all…his father-in-law.

When Jewel decides the kids need to learn to live like real birds, she insists the family venture to the Amazon.  Blu tells his buddies of his travel plans, but Nico, Pedro and Luiz warn him of the myriad dangers that could lie ahead in the wild.  But the ever-positive Rafael encourages Blu, reminding him that “a happy wife means a happy life!”

Meanwhile, the treacherous cockatoo Nigel plots his revenge on Blu, aided by Gabi (Kristin Chenoweth), a cute poisonous frog who is fiercely loyal to Nigel and though small in stature, possesses a huge villainous heart.  While Blu deals with rigors of jungle life, a disapproving father-in-law, and a potential rival for Jewel’s affections, yet another threat looms.  Nigel, who suffered the most undignified of indignities at the end of “Rio,” is back. He’s followed Blu and Jewel to the Amazon, and now he’s hungry for payback. For Nigel, revenge is a dish best served cold…and with lots of blue feathers.

In “Rio,” Nigel was defeated by what he calls “the pretty birds,” including Blu, with the wily cockatoo losing his feathers in the process.  Now he flies like a chicken and works as fortune-teller’s assistant at a third-rate street fair.  Nigel isat the lowest point in his life, and he’s not happy about it. So when he sees the blue birds that have caused him so much misery, he seeks vengeance.  “He’s had some bad luck, professionally,” says Jemaine Clement, who returns as Nigel.

 As he did in “Rio,” Clement focused on the character’s less unsavory qualities.  “Nigel’s predominant passions are Shakespeare, alliteration, revenge, and attention,” he notes.  “He is still evil but Nigel really wants to return to acting.  Sometimes that can affect his focus on evil-doing.”

 Nigel’s dreams of show business glory take flight in a particularly telling moment.  As he prepares to deal with Blu once and for all, Nigel instead ends up taking center stage, in disguise, at the auditions overseen by Nico, Pedro and Rafael.  Nigel comes up with an act, on the fly, which sparks his inner artist.  His rendition of the Gloria Gaynor standard “I Will Survive” (with special parody lyrics by Clement and co-screenwriter Yoni Brenner) is a big hit.  In fact, Nigel is told he’s made the cut for the musical extravaganza!

Nigel’s henchperson – hench-frog, that is – is an amorous amphibian named Gabi, who is deeply in love with Nigel – “understandably so, of course,” says Clement.  The tragedy of their love is that they can’t canoodle because Gabi is highly toxic – and Nigel has no interest in her, anyway.  Indeed, he often finds her to be quite annoying.


Venomous adoration doesn’t prevent Gabi from trying to bond with her wannabe soul mate.  “Gabi wants to make Nigel proud of her,” says Kristin Chenoweth, who voices the role. “That is why she’s always by his side and hoping he notices her in the way she wants to be noticed, which of course he doesn’t.  Gabi will do whatever it takes to keep Nigel safe and happy and where he belongs, which is on the stage.”

 “Poisonous Love,” with music by Carlinhos Brown and John Powell, lyrics by Randy Rogel, and performed by Kristin Chenoweth and Jemaine Clement, is one of Powell’s favorites.  The scene has the toxic amphibian proclaiming her love for the cocky cockatoo.  “I must admit that every time we get to ‘Poisonous Love,’ I always end up laughing,” says Powell.  “There’s something about the passion with which Kristin sang, as well.  She just goes for it and when performed with that much belief, you’re on the edge of laughing and crying simultaneously.”

Another show-stopping musical moment comes with Jemaine/Nigel and Kristin/Gabi’s impromptu rendition of the classic Gloria Gaynor hit “I Will Survive,” during the Amazon auditions.  The parody lyrics are by Jemaine Clement and co-screenwriter Yoni Brenner.

Powell was initially surprised, if not shocked by that song choice, but he notes, “When they showed me the scene, I suddenly realized, oh, they’re on to something here. And when Jemaine performed the song and added a rap section he had written, which happened, literally, while we were recording his vocals, it really came together.  He started coming up with these incredibly funny lines.  The hardest thing with Jemaine is to pick the lines you want, because there were so many great ones. And Kristin was the perfect partner, adding her own special touches and fun to the tune.”

 “Rio 2” in 3D and 2D will open nationwide in theaters on April 9 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

  Meet Zero, a lobby boy who became the proprietor of the Grand Budapest Hotel.  Follow his funny rags-to-riches story in the thrilling caper comedy movie “The Grand Budapest Hotel” to be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas nationwide starting April 19 (Black Saturday).



 “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a thrilling caper in constant motion, kinetic and comic; a timeless tale of friendship, honor and promises fulfilled. Director Wes Anderson says his eighth feature film comes from a mix of inspirations including the pre-code comedies of the 1930’sand the stories and memoirs of Viennese writer Stefan Zweig.

At the beginning of “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Jude Law portrays the role of “the Young Writer” who  finds himself in conversation with the enigmatic Mr. Moustafa, who from his earlier years is known as Zero, the hotel’s owner, who sets about relating the story of how he rose from the ranks of junior lobby boy to become the proprietor of the Grand Budapest.


Playing Zero Moustafa in his youth, during the period when he first arrives at the hotel, is newcomer Tony Revolori.  Since Zero was intended to hail from a fictional Middle-Eastern country, director Anderson originally started seeking out actors in Lebanon and Israel, as well as North Africa, and various European immigrant communities – but eventually he found Revolori, who has a Guatemalan background, during auditions in Los Angeles. As soon as he met him, Anderson recognized the same open earnestness that characterizes Zero.  And when he introduced Revolori to Fiennes, the comedic chemistry was immediately clear.


Fiennes was impressed not only by Revolori’s preparation, but also by his strong natural instincts.  “Tony as Zero brings this wonderful quality of intelligent innocence.  He’s innocent but he’s also very smart,” says Fiennes.

For Revolori, working with Anderson was “an experience unto itself, unlike any other.”He continues: “I felt like a part of his family, and immediately everyone – actors, crew – helped bring me in and started teaching me and giving me advice, which was a fantastic thing.”

This was especially true of Fiennes. “He really helped guide me.  He’s become an older brother in a way,” Revolori muses.


Their rapport was obvious to everyone on the set.  Observes Willem Dafoe:  “Ralph has his British reserve, his dry humor and his beautiful sense of language, and Tony is just so fresh and easy.  The minute I saw them together, I thought it was a fantastic combination.”

Playing Zero as an older man is F. Murray Abraham, who, as he details the history of his character’s rise to his current stature, comes to serve as the story’s main narrator. Abraham was thrilled to take on the role of raconteur. “One of the things that I do well is tell stories,” he notes. “I have a granddaughter, I’m very close to her, and telling her stories and listening to her tell me stories is one of the joys of my life. I also believe that’s a tradition upon which films are based – storytelling – although those great tales that really say something seem to have been lost somewhere.  Wes insists on saying something, and in this film, which I believe to be his best, he tells a story that will have you smiling the whole way through.”

Especially interesting to Abraham was the notion that the adult Zero Moustafa has weathered both war and personal tragedy, and yet manages to maintain a lightness of spirit.  “Zero has led a very full life and lost everyone who was dear to him, but he’s not cynical. To me that’s a very important facet of Zero, and it happens that I share that facet. I believe in the future of humanity and I believe that people are basically really good at heart. I do.”

Zero found the love of his life in Mendl’s, the best and most famous bakery in Zubrowka.  Amidst the rolling-pins and puff-pastry, that Zero meets Agatha, a striking young apprentice with a birthmark on her face, who makes the town’s favorite pastry of all, the “Courtesanau chocolat.”  To play Agatha, Anderson cast Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, who received an Academy Award® nomination at age 13 for her supporting role in Joe Wright’s adaptation of “Atonement.”

Ronan jumped in without reservation.  The actress recalls her first day on the set, her first time working with Anderson: “I came in, and the whole place was just kind of buzzing,” she remembers.  “There were loads of people running around; and you could see everyone was at the top of their game because Wes is so specific about what he wants when it comes to the look and the style. You could see that everyone was really tuned into his way of working.”

Agatha, in spite of her better judgment, eventually winds up at the center of Zero and Gustave’s criminal exploits.  Ronan explains: “She brings emotion to the story because Zero is so motivated by his love for her in everything he and Gustave are doing.  I think Agatha doesn’t at first realize what she’s gotten herself into but she follows them all the way through because she loves them and believes in them.”

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” is an Ayala Malls Cinemas exclusive and will open on April 19 nationwide.

  “What is Love” lyric video performed by Janelle Monáe from Blue Sky Studios’ “Rio 2” family movie is now up on YouTube.


                In April 2011, Twentieth Century Fox released Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studio’s CG animated feature “Rio.”  The film was born from the imagination of Carlos Saldanha, who co-directed or directed the global blockbusters “Ice Age,” “Ice Age: The Meltdown” and “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.”

                To fully realize the scope and breadth of this magical world and its vivid characters, Saldanha brought together an all-star voice cast, led by Oscar® nominees Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg, Oscar and Grammy®-winner Jamie Foxx, acclaimed musical artist will.i.am, actor-musician Jemaine Clement, comedic actress Leslie Mann, actor Rodrigo Santoro (a Brazilian native), actor-comedian George Lopez, and funnyman Tracy Morgan.

                The filmmakers enveloped the action – and audiences – with a combination of Brazilian sounds and contemporary pop music.  The soundtrack featured a stellar musical cast performing under the guidance of composer John Powell and Brazilian music legend and “Rio’s” executive music producer, Sergio Mendes. “Rio” became a worldwide smash with a global box office tally of $486 million.  It also was a huge hit on DVD and Blu-ray disc.


             
                Now, Saldanha returns to Brazil and reunites his beloved characters in RIO 2.  In the new film, it’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids, after they’re hurtled from Rio to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful and villainous Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all…his father-in-law.
             
                Our favorite “Rio” characters are joined by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, Tony® winner Kristin Chenoweth and Oscar/Emmy®/Tony winner Rita Moreno.  RIO 2 also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monáe and Wondaland.

                In RIO 2 we find Blu, Jewel and their family living the perfect domesticated life in the city.  The offspring are: Bia(voiced by “The Hunger Games’” Amandla Stenberg), who lives with her beak in a book and likes spouting facts and figures, just like her dad; Tiago (Pierce Gagnon, “Looper”) the youngest, who is always up for adventure, especially if it involves destroying something; and Carla (singer/actress/comedian Rachel Crow), the eldest, a spunky teen who longs to get a little space from her protective family so she can express her musical side.

                So, in RIO 2, it’s on…in the Amazon, not only visually, but musically.  “We wanted to look at different musical ‘flavors,’ sounds and exciting new beats that make the soundtrack for RIO 2 even bigger than the first film’s,” says the director.

                After Saldanha wrote the story, screenwriter Don Rhymer, who had worked on “Rio,” began fleshing out Saldanha’s ideas.  It was a fruitful collaboration, which sadly ended when Rhymer passed away in late 2012.  “Don was our guy,” says Saldanha. “He embraced the vision of the first film and had really exciting ideas for RIO 2.  His death left a big gap for us.  We were lucky to have the amazing writers Carlos Kotkin, Jenny Bicks and Yoni Brenner help finish the screenplay, but Don was a very special person who played a big role in the project’s development.”

                “Rio 2” in 2D and 3D opens April 9 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.