8 Years of A Song Of Praise Music Festival

I have bared witness with ASOP Music Festival for a couple of years now, and on their 8th installment this year, it’s going to be much bigger. This is a competition and platform for praise music and yes they’ve had so much good outputs these past couple of years that some of them are being sung on churches and praise centers. To honor God and be part of this is such a huge honor already and there have been thousands of entries for this songwriting contest ever since. After a grueling 12 month competition, ASOP unveiled their finalists this November 5 at the penthouse of Hexagon Events Place in Quezon City. 

For November 2018 they got OH MAMA with its composer Jhoter Jone Villan and performed by Chacha Canete. For December 2018 they have ALAY KO composed by Madonna Rosas and Pau Ortiz performed by Brenan Espartinez. For January they have IKAW AY IKAW composed by Vanduan Banua performed by Radha, February is DON’T GIVE UP by Cheryl Labating and performed by Jinky Vidal. For March they have DIOS NG KATOTOHANAN composed by Darrel Joseph Villanueva performed by Nina Espinosa. For April they have PUPURIHIN KITA composed by Chris Givenchi Edejer performed by Gerald Santos. For May they have DI MABILANG NA TALA composed by Carlo David and interpreted by Gidget Dela Llana. For June it’s YOU ARE WONDERFUL composed by Franz Loren Bigcas and for July it’s GOD HAS HIS PURPOSE composed by Lambert Reyes and Roman Cundungan performed by Ethan Loukas. For August they have SAGWAN composed by Aiza Narag and performed by Louie Ann Culala. For September it’s AKO AY TUNAY NA MAGTATAGUMPAY composed by Shaun Billones and performed by Kim Baluzo. For October it’s TAHAN NA composed by Rinz Ruiz and performed by Vanz. Song ownerships will be still with composers, and will be admistered by them so it can be released digitally. They have a huge social media department which will take care of that.

The twelve songs will vie for the coveted Php 800,000 prize pot and will be announced as Song of the Year. The even will also be graced by BMPI President and CEO Daniel Razon. There will also be a prize for Best Interpreter, Peoples Choice and Brother Eli Soriano’s Choice Award. This will all happen on November 10, 2019 7PM at the New Frontier Theater in Araneta City, Cubao Quezon City. 

Ruru Madrid and Jasmine Curtis for Cara x Jagger

I have been hearing about Cara x Jagger since early last month and I'm a little excited for my boy Ruru Madrid. I think it's high time the spotlight shines on him and this new play on partnerships with Jasmine Curtis. This is under APT Entertainment and Cignal Entertainment, and is a mainstream movie. One asks, who is Cara and Jagger?

They are lovers, but set in a different situation. It is character centric, not fortelling how love should be, but making it as hurtful as this, may spell that it's numb or being a martyr, but really, how would you stay in a relationship that is bound to fail?

Jasmine says "This is for the ones who choose to love, to those who don't know what to do on moments you're already hurting someone. Who knows, you may end up as close friends, or spark a second chance. Ruru says he got intimidated with me but we both overcame it and there is a level of comfort how he moves now. We have familiarity." 

Ruru says "Sometimes relationships fail, but it doesn't mean you don't have to go through the experience to get over it. You need to love, we understand who Cara and Jagger is, for me, the script is good and Jasmine and I helped each other executing lines, even connecting our personal experiences, our past, the gravity of it. You choose the similar pain even if you haven't gone through it yet. I didn't know in the beginning how I would approach her and did research, we both did. It helped when we did the workshop because she gave me her trust, that I think made it easy."

Here's part of the blogcon on video:

Cara x Jagger is gonna be shown in Cinemas this November 6, so if you're in love or not, go watch it on theaters.

Aga Mulach and Alice Dixson in Psycho Thriller Movie NUUK

Nuuk is a little too foreign for Filipinos. For those who don’t know, it is the capital of Greenland. To say that it’s cold there most of the year would be an understatement. This is also the same title as the movie starring Aga Mulach and vampire Alice Dixson. These two will be the first to also shoot a Filipino film in Greenland - and with a good story, they’re just going to make this film better by being in the midst of glaciers, and a psycho thriller plot.

They also have opened for the Danish Film Festival last October 9 in Shangrila Plaza. The film only got finished October last year because of schedule constraints but most of the scenes have been shot entirely in Nuuk. The sub zero temperatures is no joke but it was a breeze because of the crew they worked with and the small but tight nit Filipino community in Greenland. Aga and Alice have worked in the past in films under Direk Maryo J Delos Reyes. The film discusses a very difficult subject about what happens when you’re in a downward spiral of alcoholism and vices, which Alice Dixson’s character Elaiza Svendsen undergoes after the death of her husband. She will be left fending for herself, and Aga (who plays Mark Alvarez) just happens to be lonely and wanting maybe, another chance at love.

Here’s some photos from the premiere night.

Mayor Herbert Bautista was there to support his friend Aga Mulach

The Director, did a pretty good job.

Sana ALL may collarbones

This is directed by Veronica Velasco and will show on theaters starting November 6 under Viva Films. Make sure you see it because the views are just amazing! And we miss them don’t we?!


Honestly, it's quite nice. Worth every penny you're planning to pay for it. Aga just reminds you that if a good actor is good, he will always be doing worthwhile films, a thing he does quite often. Alice is very articulate, you will have to seriously see if she is going to be someone you'll care about, or fear, or maybe none of those. Guess who's gonna frighten you. Oh it is disturbing, don't make the kids watch.

Dress Like the Brits at Uniqlo

British fashion for me always refers to something formal, chic and classy. The thing is, it's not all London... and we have to think back how these different parts of the UK actually give the persona to what is is for the Brits. We tend to forget how lovely and raw the great British outdoors is, and how it has given so much inspiration to JW Anderson with his recent collaboration with UNIQLO. He's Jonathan Anderson, regarded as one of the most innovative and forward thinking designers of his kind. He debuted in 2008's London Fashion week and has never stopped reppin eversince. 

This is part of the Fall/Winter Collection 2019 and is now available in UNIQLO stores in the Philippines. Honestly, I wasn't supposed to cover this and just wait for friends in the nearby coffee shop, but am glad they got us to see this ahead of everyone. After all, the Filipinos are going global and our travel essentials are becoming varied. The British outdoors are all cold, breezy, layered and played with leather, plaid, fleeces, jackets and kilts. Now we have a choice because UNIQLO carries them all!

I like what I saw!

Thick but light jackets with shades of fall, a little mustard or darker beige, pretty outside and very comfy. It will still let a little coolness in, but probably protect you from intense cold. This collection reminds me of the Queen's hunting sessions. Just throw in a mallard on a belt and call it a day, I kid.

Jonathan used a lot of plaid. His shirts dives on the lifestyle of woodchucks but not in Canada, which they then paired with kilts and layered with another lined jacket.

There were also knitted wear, some thick pieces that remind me of sheep's wool, but lighter. 

Another essential, some bonnets and scarves made of the same warm material.

I was also looking intently at these lovely socks. May it be for formal occasions or a usual day, this would be so nice to peek under your trousers.

I think it's high time we get to also take our fashion sense a notch up by wearing these kilt like skirts, albeit being designed for women, it would look good on men too.

These bags were wonderful! A man bag which you can switch in and out, so you're basically getting two for the price of one. It also has straps to carry around like a knapsack. I like this a lot!

This one was good too, a bit fleece like but more of a thin sweater with sliced sides. If you're just going out for a stroll, or maybe in a tropical country that got a little nippy, this would get the job done.

Again, another essential are trousers. Theirs is a more dressed up type for luxurious forest trips, glamping, or just casual occasions. This is pretty trendy now and I'm not surprised.

The JW Anderson collection is now available in UNIQLO stores in the country and if you're up to it, make a trip down to your nearby mall or this one in Glorietta 5 because it's only gonna be there season long! It's time to dress like the Brits, and this would be a good place to start. It's classics designed for today!