We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Ravens Are Intelligent, Strategic, And Playful
A "Love for Living Animals" Essay Edgar Allen Poe's classic poem, The Raven, has through generations, led people to know about this bird for the first time. The poem turned Poe from a nobody to an overnight celebrity. Children followed him everywhere he went, flapping their arms like bi.....»»
97th birthday for a beloved mother, Nenita Floirendo
Celebrating the 97th birthday of their beloved mother, Nenita del Rosario Floirendo, her children Linda F. Lagdameo, Maricris F. Brias and Marisa, with their brothers Tonyboy, Ricky and Vince, made sure to include not only their large family but also an intimate group of close friends......»»
FEU Cheering Squad wins UAAP Cheerdance Competition crown
MANILA, Philippines — Bringing nostalgia through its Super Mario-themed routine, Far Eastern University Cheering Squad reclaimed the UAAP Cheerdance Competition crown in Season 86 on Saturday The FEU Cheering Squad brought 18,122 spectators at the Mall of Asia Arena and millions of television viewers to the world of Super Mario, the classic and beloved video.....»»
Five Christmas Movies to Watch for a Perfect Holiday Bonding
As the holiday season approaches, there’s nothing quite like cozying up with loved ones to watch heartwarming Christmas movies. Whether you’re seeking classic tales of love and joy, animated adventures, or a touch of humor, there’s a Christmas film for everyone. Here are five must-watch Christmas movies that will undoubtedly put you in the holiday.....»»
Popoy and Basha singing Ben& Ben? ‘One More Chance’ to become a PETA musical
Before the emergence of hugot and modern love in Filipino films, an entire generation of Filipinos bawled their eyes out as Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz threw heartbreaking lines against each other and tried mending their broken relationship in the Cathy Garcia-Molina film One More Chance. Now the classic film will become a musical courtesy of the stalwart theater group Philippine Educational Theater Association, which announced on 22 October, during the closing night of its latest musical Walang Aray, that it was developing the material into One More Chance, The Musical. What’s more, the upcoming show opening in April 2024 at the PETA Theater Center will use the music of Ben&Ben, one of the country’s most popular contemporary bands, adding another layer of pop relevance to the production. Gio Gahol and Marynor Mademasila, who acted as star-crossed lovers in Walang Aray, a modern adaptation of Severino Reyes’ classic sarsuwela Walang Sugat, teased the announcement of the new production by recreating an iconic scene from the Star Cinema movie. Then out came Ben&Ben who performed their hit songs “Kathang Isip” and “Araw-Araw,” throwing the closing-night crowd into a frenzy. Following Walang Sugat’s successful run, PETA made its upcoming production social media-official. “Natapos man ang love story ni Tenyong at Julia, simula naman ng kwento nina Popoy at Basha. Kamay sa dibdib, mga mangingibigs! WALANG AARAY dahil muli tayong IIBIG sa susunod na handog ng PETA…” said its post, along with a photo of Ben&Ben surrounded by the Walang Sugat stellar cast. PETA has produced over 500 plays in the last 55 years, among them the acclaimed musicals Care Divas, Three Stars and a Sun and Rak of Aegis. One More Chance is in good hands with PETA as it transitions into a brand-new musical that can bring devotees of the beloved movie as well as a new generation of fans into the theater. The post Popoy and Basha singing Ben&Ben? ‘One More Chance’ to become a PETA musical appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility
There is something quite riveting about Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar. Her gaze direct, her rhetoric fluid, she shares stories of immersing in conflict areas, of being in Leyte post-“Yolanda” and in Marawi post-violence, and within the same conversation, of her corporate hat within the “power, banking, food, land and infrastructure sectors.” Not so much as a vein mars her refined features. If not for those eyes, which reveal a depth of thought and feeling, hers would likely be a face some might take as just another classic beauty. Then again, her relationship with similarly strong-minded women cannot be discounted. She says, from the get-go, that she would rather not talk about herself or her sisters (Risa, the senator, and Pia, the broadcast news personality). Unlike them, she took the private route, but now unwittingly finds herself in the limelight. The Aboitiz Group, for which she handles a vital role, has many exciting things to share, Ginggay says. Smiling, she proceeds to rattle off some of these pillars — in education (“to create future leaders” who are solutions-oriented), in climate action and in enterprise and jobs. “For over 35 years, we’ve delivered probably over 5,000 CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects, spread over all the business units all over the Philippines. We’ve partnered with something like 600,000 individuals and organizations and we’ve invested the amount of P5.1 billion in all these different programs. We’re trying now to reevaluate what it is that’s next for Aboitiz Foundation, and then how we can serve our stakeholders better, and what are some of the things that we want to scale. Maybe to create a bigger impact in the country, help the country more, I think is what we want to do.” In the pipeline toward this goal of creating a bigger impact on development, Aboitiz Foundation is seeking more collaboration — “more conversations between organizations that are doing a lot of work already here in the country, and probably having a stronger voice and then putting that voice out there,” she enthuses. Clearly, Ginggay is in her element in the world she inhabits — at the heart of an “old legacy conglomerate,” her words, that now sees the need to transform along with the climactic times. “I lead a department called Reputation Management. We cover brands, media, corporate communications, sustainability — the ESG (environmental, social and governance) journey for the Aboitiz Group. We provide strategy, direction, governance and then very recently, just this year, we have our CSR arm which is called Aboitiz Foundation. It was recently also placed under us. Because at the end of the day, Aboitiz Foundation is like the big ‘S’ in our ESG — it’s really all about the social impact, the social good that we want to continue,” Ginggay tells the DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview on Pairfect. Ginggay is currently vice president for Reputation Management and Sustainability at Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., a holding company of the Aboitiz Group. For the Aboitiz Foundation, meanwhile, she works to help “scale its impactful programs for systemic change.” The mother of two is also communications lead for the Philippines’ Private Sector Advisory Council and team leader for APEC Business Advisory Council, which are areas where the visionary leader, Aboitiz Group chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz, holds key roles. Grateful her children are adults now, Ginggay keeps her nurturing side on overdrive with her current responsibilities. “Aboitiz is a group,” she emphasizes. “And as a family of organizations, our priority has always been about people. That’s always been our passion, whether it’s the well-being of our own employees or the well-being of communities where we have our businesses. It’s really always been about people. “We don’t feel it’s right that a business does well and then the community that it’s in doesn’t. It cannot be like that — it has to go hand in hand. So, we’ve always been like that. Very people-centric. I think what we’re trying to change now in our transformation or evolution is to see how can we use more of technology and innovation and balance it with our people-centric approach. So maybe we can be a little bit faster, be better, be more data-driven in the kinds of things that we’re doing,” she says. And has her heart always been in this kind of work — one she freely admits is demanding and sometimes even emotion-driven? “My dad was pretty laidback. And he usually let us do what we want to do as long as you know, like, please do well in school, and things like that,” Ginggay recalls. “My mom was very attentive to us and she just wanted to make sure that aside from doing well in studies, you also had to do well in something else. And then, very ingrained, I think, in our DNA, I think as a family also, is that aspect of service, whether it’s public service, or you know, just service in general — whether it’s to your community or to your family, or your immediate set of, I suppose, stakeholders. So, it’s almost been like part of my DNA or something like that, or probably my character as well.” With so much on her plate, and a daily grind that consists of steering various teams to ensure the conglomerate is moving toward its goals smoothly, Ginggay makes sure she takes time — even just 30 minutes a day, she says — disconnecting from it all and connecting with herself. “Our days are very fast — they are jam-packed with schedules, meetings, a lot of stakeholder engagement activities,” she says. “There’s a lot of collaboration also that goes on between our team and the rest of the business units in the Aboitiz Group, and then a lot of meetings as well with the board just to check in on directions and things like that. It’s very fast-paced. It’s very demanding. It takes a lot of time and I think a lot of commitment… and this is what I see from all our team leaders and team members — people are really passionate about what they do. I think that’s important.” For Ginggay, certainly, such passion is necessary to lead the company toward its goals including “delivering on communications and brand that are integral to the transformation of the group into the Philippines’ first techglomerate.” Techglomerate, she explains, “is a dream in Aboitiz Group, something that we have really been working hard on for the past few years. We kind of coined the term from ‘technology’ and ‘conglomerate,’ putting it together — and it is really about trying to be more technologically advanced but we also want to incubate exciting businesses which are more in the techspace or, say, data science. To incubate all these new companies and hopefully lead in certain industries… and I think at the end of the day we realized we have a much greater responsibility to the country.” And what’s next? “We realized that to stay ahead, we also need to transform… and I suppose that transformation should happen first and foremost at the level of the person. We’re also really focused on building a new kind of culture for the Aboitiz Group, still very much rooted in our core values of responsibility, innovation, teamwork, integrity. But now, probably trying to imbibe more of the behaviors like being more entrepreneurial, trying to be more articulate, being better storytellers, being more open to new things, being more data-driven in our decisions, you know, and a lot of other things that we’re trying to do in terms of helping to develop this new culture.” In her capacity as first vice president at Aboitiz, as well as in her other roles — senior adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, for example — Ginggay keeps her “eye on the prize” no matter what challenges come along. This “multi-disciplined, results-oriented and multi-awarded leader,” as she is described in the Women of the Future, may prefer to keep herself below the radar, but Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar will certainly not stay unnoticed. The post Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar: Scaling the realms of social responsibility appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Christmas tree lighting kicks off holiday season at Peninsula Manila
Christmas Season 2023 officially kicked off on 6 October at The Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City with the lighting of its 45-foot Christmas tree. The highly anticipated annual tradition that dates back in 1976 was held at the hotel’s famous The Lobby that has been festively spruced up for the most wonderful time of the year. The Peninsula Manila’s general manager Masahisa Oba led the ceremony, which aims to spread the message of hope and peace. He was joined by the children from Virlanie Foundation. “This will be my fifth Christmas in Manila,” Oba said in as statement, “but the buzz of excitement in the city, with its holiday parties and festive gatherings, never fades.” Before and after the formal Christmas tree lighting ceremony, a concert took place featuring the Lighter Side Movement Orchestra and The Peninsula Strings. They played classic and well-loved Christmas songs, including Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kumukutikutitap” and Apo Hiking Society’s Tuloy Na Tuloy Pa Rin Ang Pasko.” The concert also featured soprano Bianca Lopez Aguila, who regaled the audience with more Christmas carols such “O Holy Night,” as well as a few Broadway show tunes and kundiman songs. The post Christmas tree lighting kicks off holiday season at Peninsula Manila appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Snow White’ like never before
Repertory Philippines’ Theater for Young Audiences opens its first production after the Covid-19 pandemic with a new version of a classic fairy tale. Snow White and the Prince is a love story between these two iconic characters. Written by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, the same authors of RTYA’s very successful 2017 production Rapunzel, Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale, it is a musical comedy for the young and the young at heart and will be enjoyed by the whole family. On the eve of her birthday celebration, Snow White anticipates her first ball, and dreams of romance. She meets a charming prince at the ball but her dreams are shattered by her stepmother who is jealous of her beauty. For her protection, her loving nursemaid sends her to the forest to find the nurse’s seven (of course) friends. Also, in the picture are a magic mirror who can never lie and, the symbol of evil, an apple. The guiding principle behind all RTYA productions is that children deserve as good a theater as adults and this production strives to do just that. Joy Virata, director and RTYA’s creative director, has gathered a group of both veteran and young actors to tell the story through simple and humorous dialogue and delightfully tuneful songs. Leading the cast are REP and RTYA regulars Carla Gueverra Laforteza and Pinky Marquez as the Queen with newcomer Julia Serad alternating. Veterans Chino Veguillas and Franco Ramos play the all-important Mirror along with newbie Sebastian Katigbak. In the title roles are Kiara Dario, Pappel (Ashlee Factor), Jillian Ita-as and Anyah as Snow White and MC dela Cruz, Neo Rivera and Rapah Manalo as the Prince. Abi Sulit, Ring Antonio and Cara Barredo alternate as the Nurse. Fourteen (seven times two) actors of all heights, weights, genders and ages (and with varying theater backgrounds), play the friends. The post ‘Snow White’ like never before appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Change with the times
Times have changed. Before, going abroad was like a death sentence for a typical Filipino family. Stories of infidelity, marital problems, drugs, gambling, and other vices were aplenty for Filipinos seeking greener pastures overseas. It was understandable. Working abroad wasn’t easy. Before you could talk to your wife and children, a father working in an oil field in Jeddah or Riyadh had to go to Souq every Saturday so he could use a telephone. If his children wanted something, say a pair of rubber shoes, they had to trace their feet on a sheet of paper and mail it to Dad. It took a week or two — even months — before the mail arrived in the Middle East. The same went for the wife. If she wanted to say something she couldn’t utter over the phone, she had to record it on a cassette tape and mail it to Saudi. Again, it was a long process, and many things would have already happened before her husband could hear her voice. This kind of setup led to a lot of broken families. How often have we seen a situation where the husband got lonely abroad, fell in love with his workmate, and decided to marry in the Middle East? During vacations, they would go home to their families as if nothing happened. Some established families in the Middle East while sending remittances to their original families in the Philippines. The children also were affected. With their father or mother working abroad, the children had nowhere to turn but to their relatives, who usually had their own families to tend to. Yes, their fathers or mothers always provided their wants, like the latest gadgets, chocolates, shirts, and rubber shoes, but the children still felt empty as they longed for the love, care and affection that only their parents could provide. Without their parents, the children became vulnerable, leading to many bad choices. They fell prey to a lousy company that encouraged them to smoke, gamble and do drugs at such a young age. And when they ended up in either a drug facility or prison, the overseas-based parents would come home and blame their children, saying: I sacrificed a lot and went abroad for you. Why did you do this to me? But everything is now a thing of the past. With the advent of social media and other modern communication tools, the world is now more miniature. Overseas Filipinos can now call their families anytime, anywhere, and talk to them as if they were just in the next room. A Viber call from Doha, Toronto, Rome, or Los Angeles is now almost the same as a call from Quiapo or Divisoria. If you want to know the whereabouts of your beloved, just a few clicks on Facebook or Instagram, and you will get instant answers. If you want to see their faces, you can call them via video call to talk to them as if they were standing beside you. You can also install CCTV cameras inside your house and access them through your mobile device, even if you’re out of the country. With that, you can monitor your children’s routines even if you’re not around. But the best part is that everything is free if you have cellular data or a stable internet connection. That’s why many Filipinos are becoming bolder and more aggressive in pursuing careers overseas. With the advent of modern technology, they have become more open-minded about packing their bags and going abroad, knowing that they can earn a decent living without sacrificing their families. Filipino families have gone global. Times have truly changed. The post Change with the times appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fun-filled Par-Tee with Pete the Penguin
Golfers, leisure enthusiasts and sports aficionados turned up in their comfy yet stylish outfits bearing the iconic Pete the Penguin logo for the launch, on 18 September, of Original Penguin’s latest golf collection. Nine pairs of guests participated in a friendly mini golf competition at the event called Pete’s Par-Tee and held at the North Court of the Power Plant Mall in Makati City. Sam Godinez-Valenciano, a photographer and graphic designer, won the grand prize with her brother Mikel Godinez by what seems like pure luck and a bit of strategy. “I’ve tried mini golf for fun, but I have, like, no golfing skills,” she told DAILY TRIBUNE. “It’s my brother who started playing golf recently. We chose simple holes first then worked our way through the rest.” [caption id="attachment_187048" align="aligncenter" width="525"] SPORTS anchor Andrei Felix, who placed first runner-up in the friendly mini golf competition, came to the event with his fiancée and sports reporter Pauline Verzosa.[/caption] “I’m here for the brand,” she explained on her attendance. She went on describing the shirt she’s wearing by the brand that’s officially called Original Penguin Golf by Munsingwear and known as a division of the Perry Ellis International fashion empire. “It’s light, it’s Dri-Fit [material].” “I’d probably wear this playing football. I actually play more football,” Godinez-Valenciano said, adding that the shirt is perfect for running mommy errands. She and her husband Paolo Valenciano, a popular director of concerts, have two children. “So, I’ll actually rush there now to breastfeed.” The first runner-up spot went to sports anchor Andrei Felix and his fiancée Pauline Verzosa, a sports reporter. They are likewise non-golfers, but they’ve been wanting to learn how to play the sport. “She wants,” Felix said of Verzosa. “She’ll be a better player.” [caption id="attachment_187049" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Photographs courtesy of Original PenguinANTHEM Group CEO Cheryl Lao and chairman Ericson Lee awarded the grand prize to siblings Sam Godinez-Valenciano and Mikel Godinez for winning the friendly mini golf competition.[/caption] He then explained, “I come from a family who plays golf. I went with my dad so many times to take us through the driving range. I feel I don’t have the patience for it. Because I always feel to go right away. But it’s something that we’re always looking forward to play eventually.” “The main reason why we’re here is I’ve been a believer of Penguin,” he pointed out. “I have a couple of shirts. I like the fabric. I like the design. It’s very classic and classy. You can wear it anywhere.” Among the celebrity guests was sportscaster and golfer Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, who came with her son Paul Hizon. GMA-7 actor Benjamin Aves and his model-girlfriend Chelsea Robato also joined the friendly mini golf competition. They were joined by model Gita Gumabao and content creator Stevie Eigenmann, who’s the youngest daughter of the late actor Mark Gil. Other attendees included filmmaker Robbie Dinglasan, fashion designer Sari Lazaro Tiu, sports anchor Charles Tiu, news anchor Rizza Diaz and basketball player Nick Demusis. The post Fun-filled Par-Tee with Pete the Penguin appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Classic mooncake offerings
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, is one of the most important occasions in Chinese culture. It is during this season when families reunite, often traveling long distances to be together. These important days are hardly complete without mooncakes, the beloved pastries filled with lotus seed paste, red bean, or other fillings. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 29 September. With the season fast approaching, get your delectable signature mooncakes at these places for your lunar reunions. The Peninsula Manila At the Peninsula Boutique, choose from the rich and iconic egg custard, or the traditional white lotus seed paste with egg yolk. These seasonal favorites come in boxes of six (Mini Lotus Seed Paste with Egg Yolk) or four (Mini Egg Custard). Have the best of both worlds with an eight-piece mooncake box that offers these quintessential flavors in one box. [caption id="attachment_181865" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Mini Egg Custard | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE PENINSULA MANILA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_181861" align="aligncenter" width="1500"] TRADITIONAL mooncake. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF NEWPORT WORLD RESORTS[/caption] Email penboutiquepmn@peninsula.com or call 8887-2888 (trunk line), extension 6691 and 6694 (restaurant reservations), e-mail dining PMN@peninsula.com. Visit peninsula.com/manila. Shangri-La The Fort Available until 29 September, Shangri-La The Fort’s generously filled mooncakes come in six flavors: Pineapple and Walnuts, White Lotus with Salted Egg Yolk, Red Bean and Pine Nuts, Mixed Nuts, Jasmine Tea and Black Sesame with Salted Egg Yolk, in mini size (75g) at P588 or regular size (150g) at P788. They also come in elegant and intricate boxes such as the Square Box of two (with two pieces regular mooncakes) at P1,688, Square Box of four (with four pieces regular mooncakes) at P3,388, Cheongsam Box of six (with six pieces mini mooncakes) at P3,688, and Premium Moon Box of four (with four pieces mini mooncakes) at P4,888. Custom Shangri-La hampers are also available with rate starting at P5,888 where you can combine à la carte picks together with your mooncake flavors of choice. Reserve your mooncake boxes and hampers today through eats.slfm@shangri-la.com or 091SLFMEATS (09175363287). [caption id="attachment_181864" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] LUNG Hin mooncakes. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Marco Polo Ortigas[/caption] Newport World Resorts Savor the distinct flavor of autumn with the intricately crafted pastries that come in ube, red bean and lotus flavors at Newport World Resorts. Bring light to these celebrations with these premium cakes that come in a majestic lantern box. The package set of four is available for P3,888 per box. Sample the festive mooncakes in Shanghai Ube for P238, Red Bean for P378, and Crispy Ube and Lotus for P478 each. The signature mooncake collection will be available the whole month of September at the Newport Garden Wing restaurants: Garden Wing Cafe, Victoria Harbour Cafe, Happy 8 and Newport Grand Wing’s Silk Road. Share special Marriott Moments this Moon Festival with The Gold Mooncake Box from Marriott Hotel Manila. Indulge in classic and unique flavors of mooncake like Red Lotus Paste with Salted Duck Egg Yolk, White Lotus Paste with Salted Duck Egg Yolk, Durian, and Wine Cranberry. Available for the whole month of September, each piece is priced at P588, while a box of four is priced at P3,388 and a box of six at P4,388. Every purchase of Marriott Manila’s mooncakes supports a worthy cause with part of the proceeds given to a chosen beneficiary of Marriott Worldwide Business Councils-Philippines. Call +63 917 584 9553, +63 917 624 5980 or email manilamarriottrestaurants@marriott.com. Visit www.newportworldresorts.com. Marco Polo Ortigas Paying tribute to its Hong Kong roots, Marco Polo Ortigas’ award-winning Cantonese restaurant, Lung Hin, is offering a delightful selection of premium mooncakes until 30 September. These authentic delicacies come in four flavors: Red Bean with Double Egg Yolk, White Lotus with Double Egg Yolk, Red Lotus with Double Egg Yolk and Mixed Nuts Flavors, beautifully packaged in auspicious boxes. Available in individual box (P938); box of four (P3,488); box of six (P5,168); limited-edition box of four (P3,688); or limited-edition box of six (P5,368). Reserve your Mid-Autumn Treasures via 7720-7777 or lunghin.mnl@marcopolohotels.com. The post Classic mooncake offerings appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Netflix finally finds a manga hit with ‘One Piece’
Netflix has spent years trying to adapt Japanese manga and anime into live-action TV with little success, but its latest effort, "One Piece", may finally have cracked the code. The US streaming giant's latest show, based on the most famous manga comic of them all, was watched more than 18 million times in its first four days, putting it at the top of the charts. The story of Monkey D Luffy, a boy with a straw hat and stretchy superpowers determined to become king of all pirates by finding a treasure known as one piece, has captivated manga fans since its first editions in 1997. And it should have been a shoo-in for TV success, having already been widely adapted for the screen in a series of animated movies. But manga fans feared the worst before the Netflix live-action version hit the screens in late August. The American giant has tried and failed with other beloved Japanese manga and anime. Its "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Death Note" failed to convince in 2017 and 2021's "Cowboy Bebop" was ditched after one season, crumbling under the weight of bad reviews. With One Piece, Netflix cannily sought to keep fans onside by holding on to the most valuable commodity: the comic's author, Eiichiro Oda. 'Guard dog' Oda is tightly bound to the comic, having written all the editions for its entire run -- a world record -- and was brought on as series supervisor by Netflix. He was well aware of the challenge. "Various manga had been made into live action, but there was a history of failure," he told the New York Times in a rare interview published in late August. "No one in Japan could name a successful example." He told the paper that Netflix agreed to give him final approval. "I read the scripts, gave notes, and acted as a guard dog to ensure the material was being adapted in the correct way," he said. Reviews have been broadly positive, with Charles Pulliam-Moore writing on The Verge website the series "gets all of the important things right". He wrote that the series, with a budget of more than $100 million, had put huge efforts into re-creating Oda's vision in its production design and populating its scenes with a cast of whimsical background characters. This effort, he wrote, meant the series "is able to feel like a living, breathing place with history that you can step into". And that history still has much left to be told -- the first run of eight episodes covers only the first 12 volumes of a comic that now boasts roughly 100. The post Netflix finally finds a manga hit with ‘One Piece’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed dead: family
Tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed, a controversial billionaire and the father of Dodi who was killed along with Princess Diana in 1997, has died aged 94 his family said in a statement Friday. "Mrs. Mohamed Al-Fayed, her children, and grandchildren wish to confirm that her beloved husband, their father, and their grandfather, Mohamed, has passed away peacefully of old age on Wednesday, August 30, 2023," his family said in a statement released by the football club he once owned, Fulham FC. "He enjoyed a long and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his loved ones. The family has asked for their privacy to be respected at this time." Fayed will be remembered most for his outspoken and often foul-mouthed manner, his revenge on the Conservative party, his controversial purchase of the Harrods department store, and ownership of Fulham football club and the Ritz hotel in Paris. With a business empire encompassing shipping, property, banking, oil, retail, and construction, Fayed was also a philanthropist, whose foundation helped children in the UK, Thailand and Mongolia. Fayed bought the Ritz in 1979 with his brother and the pair snapped up Harrods six years later after a long and bitter takeover battle. The post Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed dead: family appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CLASSIC ROCK OPERA BALLET ‘RAMA, HARI’ RETURNS
Rama, Hari, the acclaimed Filipino rock opera ballet, returns to the stage this September, with performances at the Metropolitan Theater on 15 to 16 September and at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater on 22 to 23 September. The production holds the prestige of being the only collaboration that features the masterful works of five National Artists: Alice Reyes for direction and choreography, Ryan Cayabyab for music, Salvador Bernal for production Design, and Bienvenido Lumbera for lyrics and libretto with English translations by Rolando Tinio. Presented by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in partnership with the Metropolitan Theater and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, with the generous support of Birch Tree Adult Boost, the production features artists from CCP’s Professional Artist Support Program and Alice Reyes Dance Philippines. Inspired by the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana, the ballet tells of the adventures of Rama, prince and incarnation of the god Vishnu, who comes down to earth to save the world from Ravana, the most powerful of demons, and in time falls in love with Sita, daughter of the king of Mithila, Janaka, and eventually marries her. The evil Ravana attempts to tear the two apart, only to find himself defeated. In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, a new musical genre was born, referred to as OPM, or Original Pilipino Music. Rama, Hari has the distinction of being the first OPM music and dance theater masterpiece. Rama, Hari was last restaged in 2012 and won 14 Philstage Gawad Buhay Awards. It was intended to be restaged once more in 2020 but was canceled due to the pandemic lockdown. The 2023 cast features Arman Ferrer in the lead role of Rama, with Vien King alternating. They will perform alongside dancers Ronelson Yadao and Ejay Arisola. Karylle Tatlonghari, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and Nica Tupas alternate in the role of Rama’s beloved wife Sita, with dance counterparts, Monica Gana and Katrene San Miguel. Rak of Aegis Star Poppert Bernadas takes on the role of the demon King Ravana, alternating with Los Angeles-based musical theater actor Matthew San Jose (making his Manila debut) and Jonel Mojica. Dancing the role are Richardson Yadao and Tim Cabrera. Theater icon Audie Gemora takes on the role of King Dasaratha. Also joining the cast are Katrine Sunga and Maron Rozelle Mabana in the dual role of King Dasaratha’s Third Wife, Kaikeyi, and the Golden Doe, while Miah Canton and Raflesia Bravo take on the dual role of Kaikeyi’s evil adviser Kooni and Ravana’s demon sister Soorpanakha. Paw Castillo and Jon Abella do double duty as Monkey Army General Hanuman, and Rama’s brother Lakshmana. Certain performances of Rama, Hari will have live music performed by The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth. The post CLASSIC ROCK OPERA BALLET ‘RAMA, HARI’ RETURNS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice
With Emma Stone as a sex-mad reanimated corpse in "Poor Things" and Wes Anderson presenting his take on Roald Dahl, the Venice Film Festival was taken on some wild rides on Friday. "Poor Things" was set to premiere on the Lido without its star to light up the red carpet, due to the ongoing Hollywood strike barring actors from publicity work. Rumors at the festival suggest the horror-comedy, in which Stone plays a woman brought back from the dead by a mad scientist, could be an early awards frontrunner. Its Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos has established himself as one of the most imaginative and daring filmmakers of his generation. His previous film "The Favourite", also starring Stone, won the Jury Prize in Venice in 2018 and best actress for Olivia Colman, paving the way to her Oscar triumph. "Poor Things" is among 23 movies competing for the top prize, the Golden Lion, to be awarded on September 9 by a jury including directors Damien Chazelle, Jane Campion and last year's winner Laura Poitras. Anderson's Dahl Meanwhile, another indie darling, Wes Anderson, was feted in Venice with a lifetime achievement award. He presented "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar", a 40-minute film based on a short story by beloved children's author Roald Dahl. It is one of four Dahl adaptations the whimsical director has made for Netflix featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel and Ralph Fiennes. As always, there is a meticulous, chocolate-box feel to Anderson's film. "It's more like a little theatrical presentation that we found a way to film," Anderson told reporters. The director, who previously adapted Dahl's "Fantastic Mr Fox", said he was strongly against moves to alter the author's books for "sensitivity" reasons. Asked about recent revisions to Dahl's books to remove character descriptions like "fat" and "crazy", Anderson said: "No one who is not an author should be modifying someone's book." He added: "I understand the motivation for it, but I'm in the school where, when the piece is finished... the audience participates in it, we know it, so when it's done, it's done." Strikes and waivers Also premiering on Friday was "The Promised Land" starring Mads Mikkelsen, described by The Hollywood Reporter as a "gripping historical epic" about a low-born soldier seeking to better himself. Mikkelsen was able to attend the festival for the Danish film, but Venice has lost out on several star appearances due to the actor and writer strike in Hollywood, which is primarily over pay and the potential threat of AI. Some independent films have been given a waiver, including Michael Mann's "Ferrari" which premiered on Thursday, allowing lead actor Adam Driver to attend. But others such as Stone and Bradley Cooper (for his Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro") are not coming, costing the studios valuable PR shots of their stars arriving by gondola and working the red carpet. Still to come in Venice are new movies by Sofia Coppola ("Priscilla" about Elvis Presley's wife) and David Fincher ("The Killer" starring Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton). There are also out-of-competition premieres for controversial directors Woody Allen ("Coup de Chance") and Roman Polanski ("The Palace"). The post Emma Stone stars in sex-mad Frankenstein-like tale at Venice appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
R. Magsaysay Award: 65 years of excellence
Established shortly after the tragic death in March 1957 of Ramon Magsaysay Sr., the seventh President of the Philippines, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Asia, preserves the beloved leader’s legacy by honoring individuals who are exceptionally outstanding in their fields. To be named a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee is to receive Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, and this year, the Award was bestowed on four individuals, including Filipina peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer who, in 2012, chaired the Philippine government’s Peace Panel tasked to negotiate peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which led to the signing, in 2014, of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro by the Philippine government and the MILF. Coronel, who was recognized by the RMAF board of trustees for her “unwavering belief in the transformative power of non-violent strategies in peacebuilding and her devotion to the agenda of harnessing the power of women in creating a just and peaceful world,” is also co-founder of the Southeast Asian Women Peace mediators, the pioneering group of women engaged in convening safe spaces for dialogues and supporting mediation initiatives in countries like Myanmar and Afghanistan. Also named a recipient of the Award is Korvi Rakshand from Bangladesh who, in 2007, established the JAAGO (Bangladeshi for “wake up”) Foundation, a non-profit NGO aimed at addressing problems of access and quality of education for underprivileged children. From small beginnings, JAAGO has grown into one of the largest non-profit organizations in Bangladesh, providing free-of-cost government-recognized English language primary and secondary education to underprivileged children through 11 traditional and online schools in 10 districts in Bangladesh. Rakshand’s work with the underprivileged, his visionary leadership in democratizing education, and his inspiring thousands of young people to heed the call of social transformation have been recognized by the RMAF board of trustees and have bestowed on him the coveted Ramon Magsaysay Award. Agriculturist Eugenio Lemos, 51, was introduced to permaculture in 1999 and resolved that he would devote himself to promoting that kind of sustainable agriculture among his people. He established the Permakultura Timor-Lorosa’e, which includes a Youth Training Program that teaches youths water and natural resources management, farming, aquaculture, and agroforestry. Also a songwriter and a singer, Lemos communicates social issues through his songs. Recognizing Lemos’s vision and passion for integrating local and indigenous cultures in his advocacy for caring for the environment and the well-being of people, the RMAF has named him one of the four recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award this year. The fourth awardee is surgical oncologist, Dr. Ravi Kannan, who as director of the non-profit, philanthropy-funded Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Silchar, Barak Valley of Assam in India, expanded CCHRC into an innovative, widely admired full-service cancer care facility. From an institution with limited facilities, CCHRC, under Kannan’s leadership, is now a full-fledged comprehensive cancer hospital and research center. From a staff of 23 when he came on board, CCHRC now employs over 450 people. Kannan’s vision is CCHRC’s: “...to become a state-of-the-art cancer center that ensures no individual develops cancer that can be prevented; that no patient is denied appropriate cancer treatment for want of resources; that no patient dies in agony and indignity; and that no family suffers treatment-induced poverty and grief” — a bold statement that the hospital translates into actual practice. For his devotion to public service, commitment to pushing the boundaries of pro-poor health and cancer care, and for building — without expectation of any reward — a beacon of hope to millions in the Indian state of Assam, the RMAF board of trustees named Kannan one of this year’s recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. This year’s awardees share qualities and “greatness of spirit” inherent in other such laureates as St. Teresa of Calcutta, the 14th Dalai Lama, Grameen Bank founder and Nobel Prize awardee Muhammad Yunnus, One Village One Product conceptualizer Morihiko Hiramatsu, and the rest of the over 300-plus recipients of the Award whose selfless devotion to public service and outstanding contributions to society have transformed Asia and serve as shining inspiration to the world. The post R. Magsaysay Award: 65 years of excellence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Adding value to memorial properties
Like all investments, memorial properties must continue to add value to succeed and thrive by enhancing their services and setting themselves apart from the competition. As customer preference shifts toward cremation and lower burials, funeral homes compete with e-commerce. In the face of this competition, Golden Haven Memorial Parks successfully implemented various aesthetic upgrades to deliver an exceptional customer experience for Filipino families and investors seeking to purchase memorial properties. Golden Haven’s upgrades began at its flagship property, Golden Haven Las Piñas, where a pet play area is now under construction. This unique pet-friendly feature sets Golden Haven apart in the memorial property sector, allowing families to enjoy their park visits. At the same time, their beloved pets, some of which may have belonged to their departed loved ones, can romp and play freely. Meanwhile, Golden Haven Norzagaray’s Aero Columbarium has undergone a vibrant transformation. Collaborating with a talented artist, Golden Haven has infused the dome with striking colors and intricate designs inspired by the park’s ‘jardin tropicale’ theme. This masterpiece seamlessly blends artistry and nature’s beauty, offering a visually stunning tribute to those who have passed on. Golden Haven Manaoag, renowned for its serene ambiance, has unveiled their latest masterpiece, the Romanesque-style Puerta Real. This architectural marvel, which takes inspiration from the classic landmarks of Ancient Rome, is envisioned to enhance visitors’ and memorial property owners’ overall experience. Meanwhile, Golden Haven Amadeo now displays a vibrant hand-painted mural at its entrance. Called “Entresuelo de Baracco,” the captivating artwork embodies the park’s loving spirit and warmly welcomes all visitors. Visitors may also indulge in strolls on the park’s newly completed pathwalk that meanders through verdant landscapes. Additionally, Golden Haven Amadeo’s investors and property buyers will enjoy ease of transactions during park visits when construction of its site office is finally completed. Still on a roll, Golden Haven Padre Garcia and Golden Haven Liliw now boast artistic and cultural enhancements, completing their gates inspired by Japanese Minimalism and a “Pamana” theme, respectively. The memorial park developer also shares that the construction of two new bridges at Island Lagoon in Golden Haven Cebu has been completed, adding to the park’s beauty and enhancing visitors’ overall experience. On the functional side, security and convenience are ensured at Golden Haven San Jose, where construction of a gate and guardhouse is underway. Golden Haven is likewise completing construction work on the gates and guard houses of Golden Haven Koronadal and Golden Haven Bukidnon. Finally, preparations are underway to commence construction in Golden Haven Puerto and Iligan. Despite being recently launched, these parks rapidly expand their regional presence, fulfilling Golden Haven’s vision of thematic beauty and tranquility. Even as Golden Haven’s park upgrades are set to exceed expectations, it has more positive revelations: Golden Haven has transitioned over half of all its properties nationwide to solar energy. This eco-friendly initiative highlights the company’s assurance of a sustainable future while providing investors with a valuable asset. Today, park visitors can indulge in the tranquil beauty of Golden Haven properties, knowing that the park operates entirely on clean energy. The post Adding value to memorial properties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taylor Swift announces film of massive ‘Eras’ tour
Didn't score tickets for Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour? Never fear -- the culturally defining juggernaut will hit movie theaters with a concert film released on 13 October. "The Eras Tour has been the most meaningful, electric experience of my life so far and I'm overjoyed to tell you that it'll be coming to the big screen soon," Swift said on social media Thursday. "Eras attire, friendship bracelets, singing, and dancing encouraged." The giant AMC movie chain is vowing that each of its theaters across the United States will play the film at least four times a day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tickets are on sale now. The company said it had upgraded its website and ticketing services to "handle more than five times the largest influx of ticket-buying traffic the Company has ever experienced before." "But AMC is also aware that no ticketing system in history seems to have been able to accommodate the soaring demand from Taylor Swift fans," the statement added, warning that customers may experience delays and outages. Earlier this year botched sales for Swift's wildly popular tour wreaked havoc, prompting a congressional hearing over Ticketmaster's purported anti-competitive practices. And while "Eras" tickets reached thousands of dollars, fans will be able to nab movie viewings at $19.89 for adults, $13.13 for children and seniors, plus tax. As of Thursday morning, the website for AMC showed that opening weekend tickets in the New York area was already close to selling out. A few hours after Swift's announcement, the release of Universal's sequel to the horror classic "The Exorcist" was pushed up a week to avoid clashing with the concert film. "Look what you made me do. The Exorcist: Believer moves to 10/6/23 #TaylorWins," producer Jason Blum posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The 33-year-old Swift wrapped the North American leg of her global tour with four shows in Mexico and will pick back up in Argentina in November, with plans to tour into the end of 2024. With 146 total stadium dates, it is expected she will set the record for the first billion-dollar tour, with trade publication Pollstar estimating she's selling some $14 million in tickets per show. Swift's team does not report box office numbers. The current record-holder is Elton John, whose "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, which began in 2018, ultimately made $939 million. The post Taylor Swift announces film of massive ‘Eras’ tour appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Dirty Linen’ down to its last 2 scorching weeks
Was Dolly de Leon invited to the final media conference on Wednesday afternoon, 16 August, for the ABS-CBN series Dirty Linen, but her schedule of local commitments prevented her from accepting the invite? Or did the production decide not to have her around because she would steal the limelight from all the show’s stars even without trying? [caption id="attachment_172737" align="aligncenter" width="843"] Dolly de Leon. | Photograph Courtesy Of Ig/Dolly De Leon.[/caption] The media huddle was held just two days after De Leon walked off with a Balanghai trophy as Best Supporting Actress at the Cinemalaya 2023 for her portrayal of a loving mother to a speech-deprived son in Iti Mapukpukaw, an Ilocano animated film which also won Best Picture in the festival. It was De Leon’s second Philippine award, but the first ever she received personally. The first one was from the Famas in a digital awards in 2021 for her work in Verdict. It was also for Best Supporting Actress, and the Best Actress winner then was Janine Gutierrez for Babae at Baril, which had also won for her Best Actress from the Urian of the critics group Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Gutierrez topbills Dirty Linen. The death of Olivia, the mistress-household help character portrayed by De Leon in the grandiosely and glamorously ruthless series, is what ignited the intensely engaging revenge drama that is slated to end in two weeks. It was a special guest role De Leon breezed through soon after her breakthrough appearance in Triangle of Sadness, which landed her at the Cannes International Film Festival, unarguably the most prestigious film festival in the world. Her character’s death in Dirty Linen became a big deal only because it led to the killing of some other members of the household staff who had the bad luck of seeing Olivia’s corpse in the living room before it was dragged into a nearby pit. They were all servants of the Fierros, an evil wealthy family in some provincial town. The family is headed by fierce matriarch Doña Cielo (Tessie Tomas), with her only son Carlos (John Arcilla) and Carlos’ son Aidan (Zanjoe Marudo). Angel Aquino portrays Feliz, the unwanted and unhappy daughter of the Fieros, while Janice de Belen is Leona, the cold-blooded wife of Carlos and mother of their two children, one of whom is the daughter portrayed by young star Francine Diaz. Epy Quizon portrays Ador, the husband of Feliz whose desire to give her and their two children (Xyriel Manabat and Raven Rigor) a well-off life that could somehow match that of the Fierros led him to keeping a secret pornography business that Mila discovers and exposes during a party meant to honor Doña Cielo. Christian Bables plays a digital expert who can hack any digital system as part of the revenge plot. Changing the landscape De Leon was once quoted in an interview as saying that Dirty Linen is “changing the landscape of Philippine television.” Tomas, who was at the media huddle at Studio 10 of ABS-CBN, declared that Dirty Linen is the best show she has ever been. Though more famous in her younger years as a stand-up comedian who parodied weird well-off women, Tomas is indeed a veteran of TV shows in varying genres. Gutierrez did her best not to cry in gratefulness for the opportunity of topbilling what seems to be ABS-CBN’s most expensive drama series. The Fierro mansion is a triumph in opulent production design, since the location is not a residence but the refashioned clubhouse of Summit Point, a popular golf and country club in Lipa City, Batangas — a project of Sta. Lucia Land Inc. The show’s production designer is Nancy Arcega, who’s been at her work for over 30 years now. It’s hard to argue against claims that Dirty Linen is the best Filipino-produced drama series in the country so far. But for us, personally, it is so far the series that has the most sordid storyline and characters. Practically everyone is evil in varying degrees. And Pinoys love it, for better or for worse. ABS-CBN says the series has gone over a billion views since it was launched on several platforms in January this year. Almost all the major cast members of the series turned up at the media huddle. Only Jenica Garcia, Andrea del Rosario and Soliman Cruz were not there. The post ‘Dirty Linen’ down to its last 2 scorching weeks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Barbie’ retains top spot at N. American box office for fourth week
Warner Bros.' hit "Barbie" dominated North American box offices for a fourth consecutive week, industry estimates showed Sunday, as director Greta Gerwig continues to bust industry records. Gerwig, who with "Barbie" had already become the first solo woman director to rake in more than $1 billion at the global box office, this week became the highest-grossing woman director of all time in the domestic market, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated this weekend's haul for "Barbie" at $33.7 million, bringing its domestic total to $526 million. Gerwig is currently vying against Jennifer Lee, who co-directed the animated sequel to Disney's "Frozen" with Chris Buck, to be the highest-grossing woman director of all time at the global box office. Starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken, "Barbie" has earned a whopping $1.2 billion worldwide. Universal's "Oppenheimer," a historical drama about the development of the atomic bomb, regained its second-place position, with the other half of the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon taking in an estimated $18.8 million over the weekend. Last week "Oppenheimer" had been beaten by the Warner Bros. monster flick "Meg 2: The Trench," which fell to fourth this week with an estimated $12.7 million. The success of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" has come amid a backdrop of turmoil in Hollywood, as a historic double strike by writers and actors has brought productions to a halt. Both unions are renegotiating their collective contracts with studios to demand better pay, guarantees to limit the use of artificial intelligence, and other working conditions. While on strike, union rules prohibit actors from promoting their films, imperiling the marketing events for upcoming releases as talks show no end in sight. Third place this weekend went to Paramount's animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem," up one spot from the week before with $15.8 million. In its debut weekend, Universal's vampire film "The Last Voyage of the Demeter" took a frighteningly distant fifth place, at just $6.5 million. Based on Bram Stoker's classic "Dracula," the period film takes place on a doomed ship transporting the blood-sucker from his Eastern Europe home to England. "This is a weak opening for a horror film based on a chapter of the legendary Dracula story," said analyst David A. Gross. With poor reviews and an estimated budget of $45 million, the film is a "difficult sell under any conditions," he added. Rounding out the top 10 were: "Haunted Mansion" ($5.6 million) "Talk to Me" ($5.1 million) "Sound of Freedom" ($4.8 million) "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" ($4.7 million) "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" ($900,000) The post ‘Barbie’ retains top spot at N. American box office for fourth week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»