Best.Partee.Ever. Having 6 Day Run On SM's Cine Lokal

Had so much fun this afternoon. I honestly haven't watched this film because I was busy during last year's QCinema International Film Festival but I'm so glad they are showing this on October 20 - 26 at SM Cine Lokal.

We talked to two of the actors in this indie film and they graciously answered our questions. The bubbly Shandii Bacolod had us on her loft to talk about the film. She's a Producer, Director of several films but she induldged herself in this project because this role and script was done  with her in mind, so after her busy schedules promoting a different movie, they went ahead with this project with JC De Vera and Jordan Herrera (who was there too by the way!). 

Shandii shared how this came about and said "The real life story is really in Mandaluyong, but it was nice to see they had relationships inside the prison. I talked to murderers, there were things that shocked us because there were people that the Director knew personally. Things are different inside, we also thanked the people there by giving them hygeine kits. There are kissing scenes, long and passionate, we have to abide by their curfew and only shoot within their limits, even the night scenes. It was so fun sometimes and I helped sometimes in blocking actors. JC is very happy, this movie wasn't really done with a script and we had to compromise because we need to improvise on the concept especially the first few days. The actors that were under Brilliante Mendoza had it easy, but JC tried to learn from actors while in the shoot. He was humble, cautious and curious about the characters in order to tell their story. We laughed a few times because I had to do Visayan scenes, Aaron Rivera and Jordan Herrera is so good in this film. I might have done theater before but this is different, our ensemble was so good."

She adds "Gays have a lot of issues in the prisons. The STD's, even AIDS and how he did come out inside the prison and how the family got shocked. The sex and intimacy without real privacy, it was shocking for some, when I went there the firs time I got a little rattled because we had real prisoners locked up during some scenes. JC even went the mile and had himself paddled for real. When he won in the awards night we really supported him. We were rooting for him!"

We then talked to Jordan Herrera right after he arrived from the airport and he was very gracious, very down to earth, a total dream boy for women (although he's happily married with kids), he shared his experiences in shooting this film and told us how difficult it was to actually do it. Imagine a real life prison, in a remote area where you can smell the stench of real life prisoners who have been convicted of various crimes including drugs and murder. They had to spend the whole day taking videos of those scenes and interact with them every once in a while. They had to often sleep and take refuge in the same location for a couple of days and for normal people that would really be unbearable. They stayed otherwise and mustered finishing the project when it seemed impossible. JC and Jordan witnessed the same relationships they had in the movie inside that same prison so they said it was actually easy to connect with each other, admitting awkward at times but since they knew how different it was to deliver that story, they did it. Jordan and JC eventually won awards and we even witnessed how they Shandii gave the best supporting actor trophy to him that evening. That made all the sacrifices they did in this movie FULFILLING according to Jordan and he wouldn't mind doing another one if he gets offered a sequel. 

I watched the movie and I must say, it's as REAL as it can get. It was nice to actually witness a love story unfold in the confines of that prison, and by any standards, I would agree that a LOT of people should watch it!

Make sure you don't miss this commercial run and the previews they plan to do in the future, because it's cute, very touching, to see grown men go through this too.

KUMAGCOW

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CIGNAL Launches "TABI PO" The Series on Sari-Sari Network

Content is king so CIGNAL and VIva's Sari-Sari Channel is gambling on new shows this last quarter as they unleash a new series called "TABI PO". With digital content on the forefront this all seems to be the right time to get new concepts on TV and digital, and what's more interesting than popular Philippine folklore?

The words "TABI PO" stemmed from the things superstitious Filipinos say so as not to disturb spirits, dwarves, entities if you are entering their territory. It started from an award winning online comics series by Mervin Malonzo. During the event he says "I feel I am accomplishing something great when this concept was pitched to me by Viva and Cignal. My new interpretation of Philippine folklore is driven by my imagination, with what I wanted to see when it becomes a full blown tv series. I hope you like what you see on Sari-Sari channel. It's a story of Elias, in a period drama series that set in not so ordinary locations."

Aj Mulach adds "This show will showcase outstanding special effects, which you'll see and feel because they did the work in post production. The fighting scenes here have been really designed to showcase martial arts, fit to make an unbelievable show, you've never seen anything like this on Philippine TV." 

Phoebe Walker quips "One of the things I like about this show is the dedication of the people we work with. What we're doing here is non traditional, we know how much work is put in on the scenes and had to be patient at times because the output feels like it's all worth it!"

The Director came up on stage and introduced the show to us and said "Thanks to everyone who came here especially to all the artists who appeared in the show. You've all worked hard to do this even in the wee hours of the morning. This is so difficult to make but it's a dream to actually do. To our production staff, I am thankful to have you do this bloody show and make it into a reality. This looks so much like a movie and I hope it gets appreciated by the viewing public. Without the producers this wouldn't materialize, being brave to do this, I am so proud to see how far we have come. You'll see all blow up on screen on Episode 1."

This show will premier on October 27, 2017 and will air every Friday thereafter at 8PM on the Sari-Sari Channel, thanks to CIGNAL TV. If you want to know more about the show, please go to Facebook.com/SariSariChannelPH.

KUMAGCOW

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Convenient Mobile Blogging with Smart GigaSurf!

Have you ever wondered how much people cherish internet connection nowadays? It's like they die a slow and painful death if they get offline. They're agitated, they can't think well, they get so uncomfortable if you don't see updates from your friends and family. Communication, Internet Connection is now a basic human right as accorded by UN Human Rights Council. Think about that for a minute. Isn't that a wonderful thing?

These are opportunities, we may have regrets, but we shouldn't wallow because the technology is continually changing, evolving as it fits our lifestyle. Things should be easy, affordable too. I upload a lot of stuff on the internet, from fashion show photos, shots of celebrities, to events I go to and even short interviews, I'd like that to be included in my blog posts. I have a postpaid line, but if I'd use my other phones I always carry along one that I could depend on, with a subscription that won't make me broke even if I just need it to get through the day. I'm glad Smart has prepaid promos that can hook me up to the internet, bigger data that doesn't cost that much.

Imagine if I subscribe to Gigasurf 50, I could get 1GB open access data that allows me to visit any site or use any app on my phone without restrictions. I also have a separate 300MB allocated for data streaming if I need to use Youtube, watch shows in iflix or other video streaming apps. It also includes unlimited text to all networks and would only cost Php 50 for 3 days. All you need to do is text the keyword GIGA50 to 9999. For those who want more, you can get Gigasurf 99 for 2GB of data, unlimited text to all networks which would only cost me Php 99 and last me 7 days. You can get that fast just by texting GIGA99 to 9999.

I mean, that's cheap already and you definitely get MORE data for that amount. You don't really have to suffer, they've got really good customer support too. I'm glad I still use my prepaid lines, believe me it has saved me a LOT of times from covering your favorite celebrities in Manila. You'll know how convenient it is if you're a Smart subscriber! 

It shouldn't be complicated at all! Visit https://smart.com.ph/prepaid/gigasurf/ for more information about the promo :)

Indie Film "4 DAYS" Now Shown In Greenbelt and Trinoma Cinemas

I had the chance to watch 4 Days last week through a private screening arranged by the film's Director Adolf Alix Jr. and the cast of this movie. Yes, it's being shown right now on theaters through a commercial run at Greenbelt 1 and Trinoma this week, perhaps even an extended run if it actually does good in the box office. The trailer alone had people raving about it, enough to get it viral and gain countless views. For starters, I'd laud it for it's truthful depiction of an LGBT relationship in a setting that is very relateable to this generation. 

The premise started innocent, some supposed young straight men going through colorful strides in their college life. Struggling in keeping relationships, or playing along to score, misogynistic at times, then completely become a one sided battle when one gets distraught by the rules of falling in love. Then Derek gets depression (Seb Castro's character), no, melancholy in fact. This spurred Mark's eagerness to care for a friend (played by Mikoy Morales), to see his imperfections and struggles as opportunities to connect, reverse with a little comedy until he refuses to let him off that easy. Then they found themselves looking at each other, eye to eye, with an uncanny thirst for uncontrolled lust, passion... even love. This is all happening while they're supposed to be straight one day, then question themselves the next. Yet at the back of their minds, it was unmistakeable... they liked it.

In dire situations, I had a hard time believing how they were cool about it the day after but the bond they may have made years before that might have gotten their feelings for each other in a very complacent position. Now they're closeted, never felt to even ask this position to be wrong, or right. I wouldn't want to spoil things for you, but in a nutshell you should put an end to this feeling of wanting to watch this film. This definitely deserves your attention, and you'll never look at showers or ketchup the same way again. Seb Castro and Mikoy Morales took two interesting characters to heart and made it believable, intense at times... but fairly romantic. 

We had a short chat with Seb Castro during the intimate press preview of their film. Director Adolf Alix was there too during that afternoon and showed us his short film called KINABUKASAN which stars Alden Richards and Nora Aunor, a bonus if you watch the movie on theaters.

I fervently hope you get to watch it this week as they go on a commercial run in Greenbelt 1 and Trinoma Cinemas, they hopefully would get extend and have it shown for an even wider audience. Something I'd love to see.

Wish you all the luck buddy!