In yet another innovative offering, Globe’s corporate venture builder 917Ventures has launched a new service set to revolutionize pet care in the Philippines.
PetPal, the newest tech start-up from 917Ventures, is a digital service that provides fast, easy and convenient access to healthcare from licensed and accredited veterinarians.
It aims to ensure that pets live their healthiest and happiest lives, with a complete and convenient healthcare journey and a digital pet booklet in one easy-to-access platform.
“At 917Ventures, we are committed to identifying and addressing the evolving needs of consumers. More than two-thirds of households in the country have a pet, the highest in Asia. Majority of them have more than one. Pets are members of the family and with PetPal we are bringing together all the providers and pet owners under one platform. Your pet’s health is our reason for being – a healthy pet, a better world,” said Glenn Estrella, Head of Ideation and Acceleration at 917Ventures.
PetPal offers a variety of services, including online consultations from anywhere in the country. It also provides home vet visits, home vaccinations and offline booking with partner vets for customers in Metro Manila. The PetPal website is easy to navigate, accessible, and provides full flexibility, with daily services from Monday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“We believe pet care should be stress-free for both pets and their owners. As pet owners ourselves, we understand the need for a more convenient and accessible way to take care of our pets’ health,” added Natasha Bautista, 917Ventures’ Head of Growth and Programs.
PetPal has partnered with dozens of licensed veterinarians across the country to ensure pets receive the best possible care. In addition, the company will be launching a mobile app this year, available on both Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The app will include a comprehensive online pet profile, allowing users to document their pet’s healthcare journey, record medicine intake, and track vaccinations.
“The upcoming PetPal mobile app will further enhance the user experience by providing a one-stop-shop for all pet healthcare needs. With our innovative platform and strong network of veterinarians, we’re confident that PetPal will become the go-to solution for pet owners in the Philippines,” said Carlo Flordeliza, Venture Builder and 917Ventures Head of Growth.
With PetPal, pet owners can now spend more time enjoying treats, cuddles, and walks with their beloved companions, and less time worrying about their health.
Learn more about PetPal and book a consultation by visiting https://petpal.asia/
Announcement – Scottish singer-songwriter LEWIS CAPALDI is coming to Manila for his ‘Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent’ Asia 2023 Tour on Thursday, July 27th at the New Frontier Theater. Tickets go on-sale on Saturday, April 15th 10AM via TicketNet.com.ph and TicketNet outlets nationwide. Presented by Wilbros Live.
It was almost two years since the Scottish singer-songwriter had released his debut, an album whose blockbuster success had kept him on the road, round the world, constantly in that time. Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent was a set of self-written songs that, out of nowhere – well, out of fiercely passionate word-of-mouth enthusiasm, viral streaming and wall-to-wall airplay – captivated the planet.
Breakthrough single Someone You Loved was 2019’s sound of spring (and summer, and autumn, and winter), a seven-week Number One and the biggest selling single in the UK that year. The following year it won Song of the Year at the Brit Awards (while Capaldi won Best New Artist), by which time it had also reached the top of the Billboard charts in the US, and been nominated for a Grammy. And now? It’s the longest-running UK Top 10 single by a British artist ever – and, with 2.3 billion plays, it’s the fifth-most streamed song on Spotify of all time.
With that tailwind, little wonder, perhaps, that even before he’d released Divinely Inspired…, Capaldi was a record-breaker: he was the first artist to sell-out an arena tour prior to putting out his debut album. He sold all 100,000 tickets in 10 minutes, long before the album was the fastest – and biggest – selling of 2019, and was lodged at the top of the charts for 10 weeks. It would also go on to be the biggest selling album of 2020.
As he points out, even with their global festival run the previous summer of 2019, he and his band were playing slots “where the music had kind of surpassed our position on the bill. And we were playing 2000-capacity rooms when we could have been filling the 15,000 ones. Selling out all of these shows across the world was huge – all these people coming and they’ve bought tickets just to see me.
As he puts it, for album two, the idea was simple but potent: That is, no bells, whistles, cowbells or starry featured vocalists; no ruinously expensive stays in distant studios; no guitars melted down into whizzy keyboards; and no songs about nonsense. Like it was on the first album, straight-up, full-force honesty – lyrical and musical – would be the order of the day. “I don’t want to create a new sound for myself, or reinvent myself. The songs I want to write are emotional songs, about love or loss.
The lead track is a driving pop song written with “the TMS boys” and recalls the best of the trio’s previous collaborations, Someone You Loved and Before You Go. As a follow-up to those two international bangers, Forget Me is evidence of the consistency of Capaldi’s songwriting talent.
Moving piano anthem-in-waiting Wish You the Best proves both points: that Capaldi never sounds better than when he’s doing things on his own terms, nor writes better when he has faith in his own abilities. The song began during a writing trip to Los Angeles.
Say it again: Lewis Capaldi is, finally, back writing and singing the songs that speak from his heart. For all the craziness and intensity of the three years prior to that cut-short arena tour, after two years’ enforced isolation, he’s bursting to share his music, his feelings, once again. If his first album made him an international star, with his second it’s nothing less than superstardom that beckons. And now, having put in the hard yards with the writing and recording, he’s ready to put in the miles all round the world.
This April 2023, Netflix published his documentary “Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now”, which was directed by Joe Pearlman. It follows the Scottish singer-songwriter as he overcomes obstacles to become a Grammy-nominated pop phenomenon from his beginnings as a scrappy teen with a viral performance. The movie was well-received by critics and audiences alike, and it won accolades for its frank and close-up depiction of Capaldi’s creative process. In addition, the movie highlighted Capaldi’s musical talents and appealing character, making his fans love him even more and helping his movie reach #1 in the UK. The film’s success is a testament to Capaldi’s rising stardom and Netflix’s ability to curate compelling content that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Get ready for another wild ride across the galaxy as everyone’s beloved band of misfits returns for Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3“. Grab your advance tickets now and catch the Guardians’ final adventure together!
In this much-awaited film, the Guardians are settling in their new home base on the planet Knowhere. But it doesn’t take long before their lives are once again upended, this time by the ghosts of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must lead his team on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life. A failure to complete this mission may spell the end for the Guardians.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” stars Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Dave Bautista (Drax), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), and features Vin Diesel (Groot), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Sean Gunn (Kraglin), Chukwudi Iwuji (High Evolutionary), Will Poulter (Adam Warlock), and Maria Bakalova (Cosmo the Spacedog). The film is directed by James Gunn and produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nikolas Korda, Simon Hatt, and Sara Smith.
Revealed by James Gunn, the track list for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a collection of 17 songs and is set for release on CD and Digital Download May 3. The soundtrack will also be available on 12” 2-LP vinyl on May 5 and will be followed by the cassette version on July 7. The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Original Score digital album featuring music by composer John Murphy (“The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” “Suicide Squad”) will be released on May 3. Listen to the Guardians of the Galaxy: The Official Mixtape playlist here, pre-order the Vinyl here, and pre-order the CD here.
Don’t miss the chance to watch the conclusion to the Guardians trilogy this May 3, 2023.
Follow Marvel Studios Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for the latest news and promos. Check showtimes available here. Join the conversations online using #GotGVol3PH.
To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken.
From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig comes “Barbie,” starring Oscar-nominees Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman and Will Ferrell. The film also stars Ana Cruz Kayne, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, Jamie Demetriou, Connor Swindells, Sharon Rooney, Nicola Coughlin and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.
Gerwig directed “Barbie” from a screenplay by Gerwig & Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, based on Barbie by Mattel. The film’s producers are Oscar nominee David Heyman, Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, with Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Ynon Kreiz, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.
In Philippine cinemas starting July 19, “Barbie” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.
Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #Barbie #BarbieTheMovie
Starting April 15, the Chicken McNuggets Meal meets BT21, featuring 10-piece Chicken McNuggets with two servings of the fan-favorite Cajun Sauce. The meal also includes McDonald’s World Famous Fries and a side of Coke for a complete and satisfying dining experience.
But the excitement doesn’t end there! Each Chicken McNuggets Meal comes with a collectible BT21 surprise. Don’t miss the chance to complete the seven-piece set of KOYA, RJ, SHOOKY, MANG, CHIMMY, TATA, and COOKY collectibles.
One order of the Chicken McNuggets Meal Meets BT21 is priced at PHP 550 and already includes the complete meal, as well as a BT21 collectible you can choose from. For those who can’t get enough of the Cajun Sauce, McDonald’s gets you and has you covered – enjoy an extra order of the dipping sauce for only PHP 20.
The Chicken McNuggets Meal Meets BT21 is available* only via Dine-In, Take-Out,Drive-Thru and for delivery exclusively through the McDelivery PH App (toy availability may vary per branch).
Enjoy the McNuggets Meal Meets BT21 before its release, only through McDonald’s App
For those excited to enjoy the meal, the McDonald’s App has an early access offer you wouldn’t want to miss! Be sure to download the McDonald’s App to avail the meal from April 13-14.
Enjoy the early access by following these mechanics:
Once in-store, open the McDonald’s App and click on the “My Deals” tab
From the “My Deals” tab, click the exclusive McNuggets Meal Meets BT21 deal banner
Press “Redeem” when you’re ready to order at the front counter (for Dine-In and Take-Out), or Drive-Thru
Claim the meal for P550.00
Whether you’re a big Chicken McNuggets lover, have been patiently waiting for the Cajun Sauce’s comeback, or a over of all things BT21, enjoy the McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets Meets BT21 Meal, available starting today through Dine-In, Take-Out, Drive-Thru, and McDelivery!
*The Chicken McNuggets Meets BT21 Meal is not available for purchase through third-party applications such as GrabFood and foodpanda. It may also not be availed with purchases done through McDonald’s Send To Many, Large Food Orders, Birthday Party, and McDo Party Box.
I am MAD (Making A Difference) Volunteers Inc. (I am MAD), a nationwide nonprofit, non-governmental organization, announced it is now accepting volunteers to its ‘MAD Camps’ this year, open for all ages, especially to the Filipino youth and young professionals.
Recognized by the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards Foundation, ‘MAD Camp,’ the organization’s flagship program is a three-day outreach program where it gathers volunteers to facilitate values formation activities anchored on the Department of Education’s core advocacies.
The group engages school children ages 10-12 with tasks designed to promote positive Filipino traits and inspire them to see themselves as dreamers and future leaders with a volunteer heart. Volunteers usually stay in the beneficiary school to camp. The last day is set aside for local community immersion and exploration. Know more about MAD Camp here bit.ly/madcampinfokit2023.
With a minimal contribution and on a first come, first served basis, registration is now open via bit.ly/madcamp2023reg.
“A volunteer’s registration fee to a MAD Camp is not a payment for comfort. It is an investment for a lifetime experience,” said Christian Marx Rivero, I am MAD co-founder and chairman as he emphasized that joining the volunteer work of I am MAD is not for comfort but for the lessons they will gain in making a difference together with each other and the communities it serves.
With the theme ‘Reignite the MADgic: Celebrating 13 Years of Volunteerism,’ the NGO calls on everyone to rekindle their spark in serving, relight their paths forward, reawaken their vision together with the organization, renew their individual passions, and relive the MADgic of volunteerism for the community.
This year’s MAD Camps mark the return of its full face-to-face community engagements that was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As schools and provinces reopen for face-to-face activities, I am MAD is encouraging everyone to be part of its upcoming full in-person volunteer opportunities get ‘MAD’ in the following areas of the Philippines: Albay (April 28-30), Davao Oriental (April 28-30), Sarangani (May 5-7), North Cotabato ( June 9-11), Davao de Oro (July 21-23), Nueva Ecija (August 26-28), Quezon (September 15-17), Isabela (October 20-22), Negros Occidental (November 10-12), and Bukidnon (November 24-26).
About I am MAD (Making A Difference) Volunteers Inc.
I am MAD (Making A Difference) Volunteers Inc. (I am MAD) is a nationwide, volunteer-powered non-profit organization focused on mobilizing the Filipino citizens, especially the youth, in helping empower our younger generation to discover their dreams and passions, adopt a more values-oriented mindset, and eventually make a meaningful contribution to nation-building.
I am M.A.D. believes that even through our smallest positive habits and simplest acts of volunteerism, we can contribute to the betterment of our society.
The organization has been twice recognized as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO)awardee in 2015 for its main program, I am M.A.D. Camp(under the Culture and Arts, Peace, and Human Development category); and a national finalist in 2018 for its MAD Talks events (under the Culture, Arts, and Heritage category).
Step inside Ayala Malls and you’ll immediately feel a tingle of excitement! Known for offering beyond the necessary, Ayala Malls commits to awaken amazing for mall patrons and visitors. Each mall is designed to be a lifestyle and cultural center that addresses not only your basic needs but provides you with leisure and recreational outlets as well. With creativity and diversity as main pillars, each Ayala mall is designed and developed with a unique and memorable concept in mind.
As the world continues to embrace its reopening, Ayala Malls is gifting customers with new brands opening in several of their branches, many of which are the first in the Philippines!
What’s new in Ayala Malls Manila Bay?
Ayala Malls’ largest shopping mall to date is housing more fashion brands with the arrival of HOKA’s first store in the Philippines, exclusive to Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Finally, runners have a new haven for their passion’s needs and wants! A favorite among many athletes and fitness personalities, the French-based label is known for its Meta-Rocker technology, which is designed to propel runners forward and encourage a more natural stride. HOKA is also famous for its cushioned running shoes. Empowering everyone to feel like they can fly, the store is designed with 300 overhead moving bulbs worth P16,000 pesos, giving its visitors a similar high and exhilaration of living your best adventure in wide open outdoor spaces.
What’s new in Ayala Center Cebu?
With its reputation as a prominent supplier of GPS technology, serving diverse markets such as aviation, marine, fitness, and outdoor recreation, Garmin is extending its reach with the opening of an exceptional new store in Ayala Center Cebu. This VisMin store sets itself apart by featuring a golf simulator – a first in Southeast Asian stores, providing customers in the region with an unparalleled shopping experience. Through the simulator, Golf enthusiasts can visualize and appreciate the Garmin golf devices with revolutionary advancements, ranging from launch monitors, range finders, and smartwatches that offer crucial insights and data, enabling golfers to achieve their best performance, regardless of age or skill level, from the driving range to the final putt.
What’s new in Alabang Town Center?
Without a doubt, active living is back! Not that it ever left. But nowadays, activities like running, fitness, and other sports and outdoor activities are more present than ever. In addition to the roster of fitness brands launching all over Ayala Malls is Nike—the iconic sportswear that never stops evolving! Being the innovator that they are now, they are opening Nike Live, a first-in-the-Philippines experiential store concept, in April 2023 at The Corte in Alabang Town Center.
For foodies everywhere, Kiwami opens its first South store in Alabang Town Center. Located in Corte de las Palmas, it features four Japanese masters in one space. Their menu combines all concepts making ordering convenient.
How about a comfort food classic? Tiong Bahru is bringing its award-winning Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice to the table at Alabang Town Center, its first branch in the South. Located in the Upper Ground Corte Expansion, the globally-acclaimed restaurant is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Awardee 5 consecutive years from 2017.
What’s new in Glorietta?
A favorite lifestyle destination located at the heart of Makati CBD, Glorietta continues to bring the best offerings to fashionistas, art enthusiasts, coffee aficionados and thrill seekers to name a few!
Its name mirrors sophistication and class— just like the brand! La Vie en Rose celebrates women through products that fit real life and provide comfort to body and soul, while making shopping for lingerie, swimwear, sleepwear fun and effortless. Founded in 1985 by Harry Karren in Canada, the brand has gained a niche for itself on a global scale and is now the leading Canadian specialty lingerie retailer. This year, it finally opened its first home in the Philippines in Glorietta — one of its first in Asia.
Art and fashion find a home in this unique, hybrid brand of sorts. The RVCA name (pronounced: rew-ka) was developed first and foremost out of the “v” and “a” = which symbolizes the balance of opposites and how they coexist: nature x industrialization, woman x man, past x present…future. today. tomorrow. life. It is a design-driven lifestyle brand which combines art, music and fashion in an original way. What’s more, this is also another first in the Philippines!
Feel like going on a Korean escape? You’re in luck because Korea’s largest coffee chain, Paik’s Coffee, is now in the Philippines. Founded in 2006 by celebrity chef Jong Won Paik, the franchise serves great Korean coffee with a variety of options, including Espresso, Americano, Caramel Macchiato, Cafe Mocha, and Condensed Milk Latte. There are also non-coffee options including Chocolate Latte and Green Tea Latte.
Enjoy active living through play and discovery at the recently launched Omniverse, one of four educational attractions of the Philippine Amusement and Entertainment Corporation (PAEC) in Ayala Malls. Marvel and learn from this 3,000 sqm museum, home to the biggest all-original, colossal lot of the BIGGEST collectibles in the Philippines – designed to inspire its guests through the virtues each showcased superhero personifies. See you at Japan Town, Roof Deck!
What’s New in TriNoma?
Ayala Malls continues to usher the most amazing lifestyle experiences to its patrons featuring new stores–each one standing as the brand’s first ever branch in Northern Metro Manila.
Fashion fave, Harlan + Holden moved to a bigger in-line space to showcase its first conceptual store in the Philippines featuring its very own cafe, Because Coffee by Harlan + Holden. The globally-recognized, minimalist fashion brand carries office classics and leisurewear with eye-catching cuts and silhouettes. Meanwhile, Because Coffee serves both classic and unique flavors—in addition to staples like flat white, latte, and long black, are drinks like flat monkey (a flat white with sweet and salty ground peanuts), sea salt latte (a brown sugar latte topped with sea salt cream), and campfire coffee (an espresso and thick double chocolate drink topped with toasted vailla marshmallow crème).
Other notable stores that opened its first branch in the North are Aston’s Steakhouse, a Singapore-based restaurant chain renowned for serving affordable Western cuisine; as well as ChaTraMue, a popular Thailand-based milk tea brand.
What’s new in Fairview Terraces?
The comeback of entertainment culminates at the grand opening of the BIGGEST Timezone in the Philippines at Fairview Terraces! Built for delightful family fun and adrenaline-pumping adventure, the branch is complete with arcade games, various kid’s activities, karaoke rooms, bowling alleys, and billiards tables.
After the action-packed adventure comes the yearning for mellow relaxation. Plan your next stop at the new Wiltlover Café, a cozy nook elegantly decorated with colorful dried fleurs. Wiltlover Café is specially dedicated to caffeine lovers and enthusiasts, promising to serve only high-quality coffee beans that are proudly sourced locally.
What’s new in U.P. Town Center?
Your neighborhood coffee shop is finally in U.P. Town Center: Chapter Coffee Roastery and Cafe! A go-to among aficionado, the coffee roasting company specializes in premium single-origin Arabica coffee. They also carry a collection of blended coffee beans, professionally curated and measured to create a truly unique flavor profile that caters to different taste preferences. Pair it with their new Chapter donuts for an indulgent afternoon snack!
Additionally, U.P. Town Center will be a new home for Reforma Studio, which offers pilates classes complete with machines. This specialized gym is the first-of-its-kind in the whole Katipunan area. Dare to challenge your fitness and seek a healthier you, with the guidance of expert coaches at the group classes.
What’s new in Ayala Vertis North?
Can’t get enough of Dean & Deluca’s epicurean delights? Well, the wait is over for many Northies as Dean & Deluca opens a new store in Ayala Vertis North! Featuring a global menu complete with pastries, pastas, steaks, and more, diners can celebrate special moments and feast with their loved ones at this exceptional restaurant.
The gastronomical adventure continues with another culinary favorite—Cibo. With the opening of its first branch in Northern QC, more Pinoys can get a taste of award-winning Italian dishes by the renowned Chef Margarita Fores.
With all the new concepts and stores now present in Ayala Malls, customers can rediscover the joys of shopping and dining. For more information, visit https://www.ayalamalls.com/ or head to /AyalaMalls360 on Facebook and @iloveayalamalls on Instagram. #KeepAmazingGoing
As more and more women today are pushing the limits, changing the norm, and revolutionizing industries, their voices deserve to be amplified, their horizon of possibilities expanded, and the great strides they are making sustained well beyond what they have already achieved.
As in previous years, Globe joined the International Women’s Month conversation as co-presenter at She Talks Asia 2023: Rebuild, a one-day summit recently held at the Globe Tower. This movement celebrates the modern Filipina, empowering more women to embrace their power and reimagine the active role they play in driving their dreams and ambitions.
Globe Chief Commercial Officer Issa Gueverra-Cabriera at She Talks Asia 2023
The event was graced by a powerhouse of inspiring young and fearless women, who led discussions about self-confidence, financial independence, work-life balance, and all the things that matter for women in rebuilding their personal well being, finances and career.
For its part, Globe sponsored a segment that brought to the forefront empowering stories of success by trailblazing Filipina entrepreneurs and executives.
During one of the sessions at the Globe and She Talks Asia Summit, Issa Guevarra-Cabreira, the first female Chief Commercial Officer of Globe, shared her colorful journey of breaking through the glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry.
As part of the women taking up nearly half of leadership positions in Globe, Guevarra-Cabreira spoke about her own experiences and those of other strong female leaders in achieving success amidst a challenging environment. She revealed her secrets to thriving in an industry with a gender gap, to inspire more women to feel unfazed and empowered despite the norms.
“What we are as women is more than the work that we do because we are many things at the same time. At different times of the day, we play multiple roles. Like now I am Chief Commercial Officer, but also part of our women’s community, a daughter, mother, and a friend,” said Guevarra-Cabreira.
“This means a range of challenges for which we need the right support so that we can overcome and inspire others with our own experiences and say these were worth going through,” added Guevarra-Cabreira.
Rizza Lana-Sebastian, the mindful entrepreneur behind skincare brands Mink and Lana PH, was also one of the featured guests at the summit, representing Filipina social entrepreneurs who continue to shatter stereotypes and thrive in the industry.
Lana-Sebastian talked about her business journey as a woman and how she grew her brands, shared the pivots that changed her life and her initiatives, and dished life lessons and enabling tips for budding women entrepreneurs. One of the highlights of her talk was also on the importance of embracing technology and digitalization in entrepreneurship.
“Success is all about being true to ourselves and our passions and being open to new things. All these combined with the best partners in business will enable us to thrive and succeed. Globe Business has been one of my brands’ reliable partners that provide empowering digital solutions and connectivity to achieve breakthroughs, resilience and continued success,” said Lana-Sebastian.
To further support not only women but also the underprivileged youth, 100% of the ticket sales from She Talks Asia went to the Mano Amiga Scholarship fund for girls to give them more access to educational resources and help promote early proficiency in technology.
Mano Amiga is a school that provides affordable, high quality education to disadvantaged learners. Its partnership with Globe brings to life the “Globe Maker Lab and Innovation Hub”, which is a program designed to enhance the delivery of world class STEM education to underprivileged K-12 students as part of Globe’s commitment to the 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
To know more about the event and how Globe’s ecosystem of solutions and services empower women today, you can watch the She Talks Asia Summit here.
After months and weeks of giving you teasers and hints on what may happen at this year’s RAKRAKAN , it has been revealed that this festival will be conquering CLARK GLOBAL CITY this June 10-11, 2023. This is to guarantee you that this year’s event will be more fun and exciting as we bring everyone to our new festival home in Pampanga. Everyone is welcome to attain another one-big-fun EXPERIENCE for this year’s festival wherever you will be coming from.
For your recognition, RAKRAKAN Festival is an annual music festival in the Philippines that features a wide range of music genres, including rock, metal, hip-hop, OPM, pop, and such. The festival was first held in 2013 and since its debut, the festival has grown to become one of the greatest music gatherings in the country. But because of the pandemic, it was postponed until 2020 to ensure the safety and wellness of our crowd. But now, there’s no more stopping by as the #TheReturnOfTheComback fever is on!
This year’s festival is actually inspired by COACHELLA which is well-known in the big international scene and is loved by the crowd because of its awesome presentation of activities and spectacular tricks. So, why not adapt its fever to RAKRAKAN Festival? This became the foundation of the event into molding the idea of creating a lot more activities for people to make the most out of it with fulfillment. In addition to a range of other attractions like skateboarding events, graffiti contests, food and merchandise bazaars, RAKRAKAN has developed a reputation for having a thriving and diverse music scene as well as for having enthusiastic and devoted fans.
How about you tell us your favorite bands you wish to perform at the festival? Don’t be shy, and write as many as you can because like the usual, RAKRAKAN festival is built with MULTI-STAGES to cater over hundreds of artists that will surely rock fire to the stage.
This year’s RAKRAKAN festival is pleased to add up interesting, fun, and wild flavors to the event for people to EXPERIENCE the best 2-day music fest of their life; making it sure that no dull moments will be captured.
Are you also into Car shows? RAKRAKAN Festival lets you enjoy it together with one of the biggest, the nation widest, and the longest running outdoor car show and lifestyle event in ASIA, BUMPER TO BUMPER CAR SHOW!
How about seeing artists participating in our FIL Pro Wrestling while mouthing wild wordplays in our Sunugan Rap Battle? We got it all for you!
But how are you not gonna miss everything in the festival? You should go CAMPING with us in order to catch up on all the best EXPERIENCE!
There are so many activities, truly a festive event, as we keep on bombing you with new and great interests. There’s more to expect. E-Sports and many more? Let’s just wait for more surprises! ?
For updates and ticket selling please visit rakrakanfestival Facebook, Instagram, and official website rakrakanfestival.com
“It’s more than an exorcism; it’s a conspiracy.” So says director Julius Avery about The Pope’s Exorcist, the terrifying new horror thriller opening in cinemas April 19. “There’s something much bigger going on. The stakes are massive,” To give the audience the feeling of how big the stakes are, Avery shot the film in larger-than-life international locations that reflected everything the characters uncover. “We shot on location in Rome. We shot in Ireland. We found amazing, old architecture, where we built some of the biggest sets I’ve been involved in,” he adds.
Building an abbey in Ireland
Central to those is the abbey. In the film, Vatican’s chief exorcist Father Gabriel Amorth (played by Russell Crowe) has to cast out the demonic possession of a young boy named Henry (Peter DeSouza-Feighoney), whose family had just moved to an old and abandoned abbey in Spain, as a fresh start and a new project for his recently widowed mom Julia (Alex Essoe).
Director Avery specifically wanted a Northern European gothic milieu – grey, cold, and foreboding – and they decided to look for locations in Ireland. Following an extensive search around the country, they settled upon an abandoned castle in Limerick. “It was a gothic type building structure, deep in the woods. It offered us an elevated site, a clear skyline behind us, and an approach road,” explains location manager Eoin Holohan. The design team dressed the grounds with dead vegetation and built an exterior entrance gate and a cloister.
The filmmakers captured the interiors of St. Sebastian Abbey on stages in Ardmore Studios outside Dublin, Ireland. “We created a composite set of what a Spanish abbey might have looked like, and built a huge set with multiple bedrooms, a giant entryway, a bunch of hallways, catacombs and chapel, all to create the reality of the environment,” recalls producer Doug Belgrad.
Henry’s bedroom, site of the demonic possession, was a crucial set at Ardmore Studios. This space incorporated a vaulted ceiling, a large window (which matched the exterior of the castle), and a mirror. “The room has the shadows of its former life as an abbey,” explains production designer Alan Gilmore. “There are religious symbols on the windows, a gothic arched vault; architecture from a bygone era, 400 years ago. In the movie, poor Henry gets possessed and a horrible transformation happens to him in his bed.”
Designing for the Devil
During pre-production for The Pope’s Exorcist, director Avery and director of photography Khalid Mohtaseb discussed the film’s visual language, tone, color scheme, and style. He and production designer Gilmore pulled together photography references and used mood boards to craft a muted world where colors are quashed and serene.
Costume designer Lorna Mugan helped achieve this aesthetic. “Color plays a huge role in the Catholic Church,” she explains. “From the humble black of priests, which represents poverty and simplicity, to the Pope in pure innocent white. In between, cardinals wear blood-red to represent shedding their blood or sacrifice for Christ. Their purple comes from the old notion of royalty.”
The characters were enhanced not only with their clothing, but with prosthetics. From the beginning of his involvement with the project, director Avery did not want to rely heavily on CGI. “The hardcore horror fans and audiences can smell something fake. They know it from a mile away when it’s not real,” says producer Michael Patrick Kaczmarek. “It was important to make these effects grounded in reality.”
Practical effects and prosthetics required DeSouza-Feighoney to spend three hours in the makeup chair, giving the young actor a crooked nose, a prosthetic forehead with no eyebrows, and a jaw glued to his neck. “I also had an evil grin prosthetic, which made me look constantly smiling,” he recalls. “I loved getting the prosthetics done, because the finished product was really cool.”
About The Pope’s Exorcist
Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican (Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe), The Pope’s Exorcist follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.
The film is directed by Julius Avery, screenplay by Michael Petroni and Evan Spiliotopoulos, screen story by Michael Petroni and R. Dean McCreary & Chester Hastings, based on the books “An Exorcist Tells His Story” and “An Exorcist: More Stories” by Fr. Gabriele Amorth.
The cast is led by Russell Crowe, Daniel Zovatto, Alex Essoe and Franco Nero.
In cinemas starting April 19, The Pope’s Exorcist is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #ThePopesExorcist
