Kim Domingo Bares All on State of Undress

We spent a really great afternoon at Puradak Chicken restaurant in Timog Avenue earlier to meet the lovely, sexy, FHM Top 2 sexiest woman in the Philippines Kim Domingo. She currently stars in GMA hit show D'Originals (shown everyday) and and gag show Bubble Gang on Fridays plus some other shows she guests in between.

Mark Sablan head of GMA Artist Center says "Being number 2 on FHM's list and having this new book from Summit makes us very proud, very happy and this is just the start. There will be a lot more things lined up for Kim Domingo and you should definitely watch out for her new show, with an ensemble cast for primetime. After seeing how she was recently accepted in Malaysia by celebrities from other countries a couple of weeks back, we dubbed her now as the real deal "Pantasya ng Asya"."

We asked Kim Domingo about D'Originals and she says "I have mixed emotions - and very sad - but thankful because we were extended for 12 weeks. It came where we are still high in the ratings, and it's okay to end something good at that point. About FHM, I had been number 9 in the past, but being number 2 is not bad at all. All the girls in the top list are all deserving. That includes Liza and Ms. Marian, that's my opinion as I find them really sexy and beautiful."

"For this project (talking about State of Undress), we had three photographers do the execution of our concepts. From sexy, classy and innocent. It's like a journal too from when I was a kid and how I achieved all the things I was dreaming of today. Almost all the shots were done in one location. I had EJ Leung, Paolo Pineda and Shaira Luna do the photography. I had lots of bashers but I don't mind them, I even reply jokingly on instagram and I am thankful for those who support me. I feel I always start from scratch if I stopped working, so I do continue to do so. I love Zayn Malik, he's my ultimate crush."

"After D'Originals I'll have The Good Teacher with Ms. Marian Rivera and the stort is going to be tragic. This is going to be magical. My book is only 250 pesos and we are planning tons of book signing, the nearest one is in Glorietta 1. I used to skip meals in the past, even get indecent proposals and I don't even bother to look at them. Even if I don't show skin or whatever beauty you posess, if you feel sexy you ARE sexy. To tell you the truth, I got hurt the most being called dumb and I don't have brains. But I cherish all those who comment that don't judge me even if they don't know me that much. I learned early on to be confident, to present myself nicely and I do plan to put this off later on. People were egging me to join beauty contests in the past but I didn't really want to. I really love to sing and perhaps develop that, and pursue it in the near future." 

"My dream role is to be something like Princess Sarah, be beaten up, a role like that would be so challenging. I haven't really thought about what to wear in the FHM party, we are not sure yet. I did a Twerk it Like mikey video (when she was starting) and I didn't know it would blow up like that - then I got messages from people of Bubble Gang (Roadfill) which started my stint with the network. I want someone who's a gentleman, take me to Paris for a date because I really find that romantic. I don't want to hurry but if I were asked I'd be happy to get married when I'm around 28-30 years old as I'd still want to have kids."

Again if you want to see more of Kim Domingo, check out her coffee table mag/photo book entitled Kim Domingo: State of Undress available in leading mag stands and book stores nationwide! You'll know more about the "Pantasya ng Asya" (The Fantasy of Asia) if you get it! 

KUMAGCOW

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TOFARM FIlm Festival 2017 Announces 6 Entries

Another year, another successful staging of TOFARM Film Festival 2017. I distinctly remember the time that they announced the films that were able to successfuly finish their entries last year and this year looks mighty good. Universal Harvester Inc. (UHI) has been doing this for three years now and there's no stopping eccentric Dr. Milagros in bringing forth agriculture themed films to help film and farming industries in the Philippines. Last year's successful entries became the talk of the town garnering not just nominations in the local award giving bodies but also some international accolades and praise helping a lot of flm makers take their craft to the next level.

Veteran Film Director and Festival Head Maryo J. Delos Reyes quirps "We are so happy to announce this year's TOFARM Film Festival entries as it signifies the Filipino Film making genius. After looking at about 117 scripts, to shortlisting it to 76 and now confirming and presenting 6 entries is a difficult task. We have long been able to acheive it's purpose last year and now it has elicit awareness and excitement for Filipino film makers to create works of art that showcases the lives of Filipino farmers for which we are all really truly thankful for."

Included in this year's TOFARM Film Festival are:

"BAKLAD" by Topel Lee - This film talks about Fishpen Boys who thrive and survives in lakes. The story includes their sexual awakening and about dreaming big, hoping to never go back to the old fishpens they belonged to. It stars Ronwaldo Martin (Coco Martin's brother) ELora Espana, Rafa Sigueon Reyna.

"HIGHTIDE" by Tara Illenberger - This one is about climate change and how it has affected their lives while living in a small island. Their livelihood includes finding clams in the sea, a not so lucrative thing when extreme weather happens. This stars Sunshine Teodoro, Dalin Sarmiento and Arthur Solinap.

"INSTALADO" by Jason Paul Laxamana -  This is a science fiction film set on a farm, doing bionic technology and the quest to alleviate themselves from poverty. Cast includes McCoy De Leon, Junjun Quintana and Francis Magundayao.

"KAMUNGGAY" by Vic Acedillo - This is story of living in a small Visayan Town and surviving off a small vegetable patch thoroughly farmed by an old man for years. Cast includes Kent Raymond Basa, Roger Gonzales, Dulce Cruzata, Skyzx Labastilla and Bayang Barrios.

"SINANDOMENG" by Byron Bryant - This talks about the dying industry of farming an how generations of neglect and how it has forced employment abroad, and living with crazy neighbors. Cast includes Sue Prado, Julio Diaz, Lou Veloso, Lui Quiambao, Star Orjaliza, Gab Pangilinan and Jayvhot Galang.

"WHAT HOME FEELS LIKE" by Joseph Abello - This is about a retiree starting to put up his own farm. The unsure way of living off of it an fatherhood. Cast includes veteran multi awarded actors Bembol Roco and Ms. Irma Adlawan. 

Dr. Milagros O. How, the Executive VP of UHI and the festival's premier advocate says "TOFARM Film Festival has and always will be a tribute to all our hardworking farmers to celebrate their lives in various artistic ways. I am so glad that it is happening again this year because this will help a lot of people understand their lives even more."

TOFARM Film Festival 2017 will have it's theater run on July 12 to 18 and the awards night on July 16, 2017. The festival is also supported by Landbank of the Philippines, SM Cinemas, Gatway Mall, Greenbelt, Cinematheque (through FDCP), UP Cinema, Net 25, Pinas FM 95.5 and Universal Harvester Incorporated. I can't wait to see them all on screen! I believe some of them also got nominations in recent award giving bodies, a really good start!

KUMAGCOW

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GMA Announces Stellar Cast for HAPLOS

I've been waiting for this show to come to GMA Afternoon Prime for the longest time as hunky actor Rocco Nacino and vixen Sanya Lopez has been hinting about this project a few week ago. This GMA show won't be holding back on stellar cast as it includes drama princess Thea Tolentino, Pancho Magno, Patricia Javier, Francine Prieto, Emilio Garcia, Diva Montelaba and legendary Celia Rodriguez to make your afternooon viewing more interesting. 

Yes this is a love story, but it's got some interesting twists banking on the love team that formed in Encantadia called DANQUIL who's characters were portrayed by Rocco Nacino and Sanya Lopez - giving the pairing of Aquil and Sanggre Danaya some sort of continuation, which their fans would surely enjoy. Though these ladies are not ordinary as they posess powers they use for good and evil, patterned upon the mysteries of local witchcraft. That would make this fight a huge one, unprecedented, totally original on GMA Afternoon Prime.

The Director Gil Tejada adds "This was conceptualized way before when I was in the project and I only arrived and fine tuned it because the characters were already made. I really hope you like this show, it's so different."

Rocco will play Gerald Cortez, a hardworking salesman who only wants to have a family of his own. He says "I am surprised about how we were accepted starting from our pairing in Encantadia, I am thankful to GMA for this big role. This is good news for me as this probably was brought upon our pairing in the other show. We are confident about this show because we already know parts of it, as it puts us on top of our game. I see how we both improved in the show and you'll see that in Haplos. Being with Sanya, I see myself when I was starting. There are a lot of people waiting for the kissing scenes, but we will present it differently because our love story is kinda weird between Angela and Gerald.The audience will really appreciate how this story would be told. Sanya is so hardworking I'd be glad to give her a massage after all the work she's done."

Pancho Magno portrays Benedict Dizon and he says "I am blessed and grateful to have worked with Direk Gil, Rocco and Sanya so this was easy to me. I was surprised about our preview with the effects and all. Encantadia almost ran a year and this is a good place to start again. They are really good friends, let's just say that."

Thea Tolentino plays Lucille Bermudez, Angela's half sister. She says "I don't base my character from previous shows, I only do it as accorded by the script and ask the help of my director to properly portray the role." 

Sanya Lopez says "I am thankful and greatful that I was trusted by the network. There is a huge difference between Danaya and Angela as the former is quite strong willed. She fights for Gerald most of the time and her family. Haplos means taking care of each other, that's what Rocco is to me everytime I need him, I could have gotten that from one person, but he gives that to me willingly. He always asks me in kissing scenes, he's quite a gentleman. If there are love scenes, we'll do it appropriately. He is naturally sweet and cingy, especially with everyone in the shoot. We are very close with our work in Encantadia (which lasted a year), we know our priorties and doing all the things we need to do in the show is a priority."

Patricia Javier adds "Knowing that I would be getting to play her Mom in this series, I was excited because I always wanted to have a screen daughter (all my other projects included sons). She's genuinely kind an humble, she really focuses on her work and I only have good words for her. She's like a bamboo, the higher she goes, she still bows when there's a wind."

Emilio Garcia says "I don't want my kids to end up like these characters because I always want them to bond."

Ms. Celia Rodriguez laments "I am surprisingly not evil here, I am very good. Whether you believe the fantasy or not, it's all up to you. The witch I play switches between science and magic, of chemicals or natural medicine, some goodness and some demonic inspiration. I helped a lot of people here and it is all up to the people to find if I'm doing a good thing or not with also raising Angela. Let's just watch how it unfolds because it also questions science, it's that contradicting."

HAPLOS will begin in July 10 on GMA's Afternoon Prime replacing D'Originals. You should definitely watch this!

KUMAGCOW

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Take A Look at SEDA Hotel Vertis North

This is a funny story, let me tell you how it started.

I was just covering the ASEAN Food Festival off of the new Vertis North grounds wherein the new Ayala Mall will stand. I made a comment about one of the vendors (Seda Hotel) and how it was a little out of the box for a Japanese chain to serve something that close to home. My mistake. I thought SEDA was a Japanese chain (judging from their previous properties that followed a very minimalist design) as I have observed it in their BGC branch - which I kinda frequented because of events there.

I mean, I could have picked up that this was Filipino judging from the name alone, which means "silk" in our language. So after someone read my article a few weeks ago, they got in touch with me by finding my contact details here on my website. Funny I had the feeling I was being called into the Principals office because of the wrong notions I had about the hotel, but not really. I met some really great people and they gladly answered my questions complete with a tour of the property. I haven't really seen any reviews yet of the place so in a nutshell, this was like first dibs to see what's about to be dubbed as the first 5 star hotel in Quezon City. So shall we?

Checking In

If you haven't been to SEDA Hotel Vertis North, you'll appreciate the check-in counter right off the bat. It's very spacious and you'll be greeted by modern art right at the back of the pedestal. If you look closely, that signature on the artwork is a giveaway. It's an Ayala artwork which he leaves as a mark in every property. I like how it blends into the space, albeit being modern, monochrome-earth toned, industrial and engulfed in fine lines. This was when it was explained to me, SEDA is actually a Filipino concept, a Filipino hotel, wholly owned and operated by Filipinos (with the exception of the fine GM whom I met a little later). This is under Ayala Land Hotels and Resorts Corporation who's got about a hundred years of experience in the real estate industry - you know them I'm sure right?

More space to work, good news for business travelers or if you're going to a conference or event in this place because they've got ample wifi. Who doesn't love that?

The lobby area is a legitimate work area. They've got Mac computers which you can use connected to the internet laid all over salvaged hardwood tables and high chairs so you could work comfortably if you have your own laptop. There are also other areas in the lobby which you'll love, but we'll get to that later. In the meantime, let's go up the rooms.