Several Actors Shine on GMA's "PULANG ARAW"

I've been trying so hard to keep mum about this series, I'm talking about GMA's biggest series yet, "Pulang Araw".

See, I think I've heard about it a few years ago and thought that it was going to be shelved. I'm so glad to be proven wrong today as it does the world TV premiere, right after it's launch through Netflix a couple weeks ago. 

When I heard of the story, I really felt how quite promising it would be. Delving in history, the war, the Japanese, and the personal/family complications... there's just a lot of things you can pull off from that. 

Here's a video of the red carpet event:

Then there's the artists portraying the role. Coming from the very successful "Maria Clara at Ibarra", GMA wants a continuation of the #BarDa pairing so they got David Licauco and Barbie Forteza in this show. Then a little about 10 years ago, they already told Alden Richards about it. This is also the first time he is being paired with Sanya Lopez, so there's a lot to see where their stories would go.

 

The first episode I could say had no SHORTCHANGING in the acting department. Since this is a backgrounder, the young versions of these four gigantic stars of GMA would take the spotlight. Aside from them, this is the time you'll notice how underrated RHIAN RAMOS is as she plays the mother of Barbie and Alden's characters (Adelina, Eduardo). Rhian Ramos as the mother of young Alden and Barbie is EXCEPTIONAL. She's feisty, didn't hold back raising arms for her son and daughter who got beat up, teased and bullied by other kids. She's a gem in this series albeit short-lived, it was enough to showcase who she IS as an actress. I'd give her a trophy today just for that, and I'm not even joking.

Aside from Rhian who stole the show (first episode), another person decided to tell us during the preview that he's a force to reckon with. His name is Aidan Veneracion, whom I often see in workshops under Ms. Ana Feleo (with or without reason, he comes voluntarily). Albeit new to the business as a Sparkle Teen, he's really outstanding in the first salvo. Another star is Cassy Lavarias who played the young Barbie Forteza. She has this innate charm to pull you in on her struggles. She cries like a legendary actress, but she's still a child... so imagine the things she can do in a few years. Heck, she'll give a lot of veterans a run for their money. She's that good. They could be the reason you'll love PULANG ARAW on the first episode, and  follow these individual stories through.

Here's the press conference on video, please enjoy!

 Here are some of the other stars to join the show!

See, this is not normal. I could just have seen the first episode to be just another episode, but no. PULANG ARAW deserves the attention NOW and in the next few episodes. The sweetness of relationships, friendships, and nationalism, mixed with the star power of the lead stars they've managed to put together in one show, how can you not love a story like this?! 

You need to watch the show, PULANG ARAW is now streaming on Netflix. The episodes will be out early in the platform, a few days before the one shown on TV and GMA subsidiaries. You don't need to deeply think about the story, you just have to have the heart to love it just like what they did to the people in their lives and this story. Imagine if it's going to be Alden, Barbie, David and Sanya's turn, they actually were phenomenal in the short instances they appeared in the first episode (Alden made the war scenes in the forest quite a visual feast!)

Make sure you watch it, because as far as I'm concerned, it's one WELL MADE series that deserves to be seen. It's realistic, excellent graphics (especially the planes during the war), funny in some places, and you'll love how.. in a way, shape or form, impress you even if you don't like it. It's that impressive!

One Awesome SPARKLE Grand Fans Day

Had so much fun at the #SparkleGrandFansDay at the SM SkyDome in North Edsa Quezon City. The event was hosted by Rain Matienzo, Migs Almendras and the bubbly Angela Alarcon.

Alden Richards also appeared at the event and said "It's been a yearly tradition to do this, and this is our way of giving back to every Kapuso fan who supported us and hope this serves as a Christmas gift. I would like to also take this opportunity to invite everyone to support us in our upcoming show Pulang Araw with David Licauco, Barbie Forteza and a lot of other Kapuso artists. Also, please support every entry in MMFF 2023, especially those who have Sparkle artists in them this December 25th."

Jak Roberto also opened the show, charmed his way with a song that was loved by everyone at the SkyDome, they must be anti silos scholars like me. The Sparkle Teens also got to the stage and danced a few numbers, sang a few love songs as some of them are being paired now. Their PPOP group CLOUD7 also performed their original song, it was fun, they were very young, but pretty good stuff.

It was so touching to see how fans were able to also perform with their idols at the event

Sparkle Leading Ladies #Sparklegrandfansday2023 

Also, #TeamJolly was a staple. I like their songs too, perfect for making the fans kilig in the afternoon. They had several artists I've never interviewed so it was really fun to get to know them a bit through this event. 

Lucky fans also didn't go home empty handed as they also got to give away prizes from their sponsors like Beautéderm, Robinsons, Demplus, Goldshine Pharma, HONOR, Dirt Bug Sun, Jimms, Kedds, Penshoppe, SM North Edsa, Park Inn by Raddison, Hobe, Savoy Hotel, and so much more.

Congratulations SPARKLE! This was so much fun!

Funny Things at the Dark Movie "Babae at Baril"

The movie was dark, cerebral and I'm sure not everyone would get it but the director Rae Red told me a few days ago they would be counting on the Filipino viewers intelligence when they see this film. It would make you squirm on some of the scenes, relate to it especially when you are female, have gone through horrible situations and just wanted to explode. Janine did good and the young guy who played the balut vendor. You have to think a lot how they tried to tie it all up together, and it will take a long loop to get back to that scene (we wouldn't want to spoil things for you). But I have a lot of funny things experienced while watching this film.

The GUN was empowering, not the usual toting kind but Janine was portraying a newbie anyway so it was the perfect reaction to what she was doing.

EVERYONE WANTS TO BLOW UP THINGS especially if you're the kind who just takes things lightly. It just all gets stored in you, but one day you will just get fed up with the BS and kill people. We all think about it, but have you done it? Janine in this movie did. If I did a movie with what I had in mind, a lot of people would have died and we wouldn't have Earth anymore.

SOME MEN ARE AH.. I specifically said that because there are still a few good ones out there. But don't ever get complacent because there are still a LOT of predators out there and you could be the victim. This is where Mr. Roco's character comes in. Was it good? No, it was painful to watch especially the length of that scene, it could have been just done fast because we got the message already. It was a huge topic after the movie and you will have to see yourself if it was enough. Anybody can be an AH actually, not just men, and I know.

THE POPCORN WASN'T GOOD at the Gateway Mall's movie house, it felt like crumbs cooked from three days ago. I had to say that.

PEOPLE ARE NOISY... I am sometimes too but some people at my back were just too involved and resorted to ask their seatmates what happened about a scene three minutes ago. Maybe that was the goal of the movie? To stir discussion, and that was done A LOT of times during that screening. Wish this was available online so I could hear some of the things I missed because some were just talking loud over the conversations in the film.

THERE ARE CAMEOS... This includes the foot of Janine which you're gonna see a couple of times. We need stricter laws against the proliferation of expensive stockings in department stores which sales ladies can't even afford. 

GREAT MUSICAL SCORING... From the funk music of Radioactive Sago Project to the other things that were repeatedly used for background music, it had that cool feeling that this would be a great film. It had a lot of promise.

Would I recommend you to watch this film? Not entirely, but if you're a weirdo, a music lover, one who loves blood and dark scenes in movies, or maybe a fan of Janine's gorgeous face, then yeah this is for you. It just takes a little bit of thinking, but when you do watch it you'll ask yourself... WTF WAS THAT?! And I think that is a good thing. 

It shows today as part of QCinema International Film Festival. Go rush to select QC Cinemas where the Festival is happening.