Itziar Ituño and Najwa Nimri join the shooting ofBERLIN to play police Raquel Murillo and Alicia Sierra once again. Both characters will appear in the spinoff for La Casa de Papel, which Netflix will release this December.
BERLIN focuses on the golden years of the character played by Pedro Alonso and tells the story of one of the most extraordinary heists he carried out along with a gang that’s brought to life by Michelle Jenner, Tristán Ulloa, Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña Fernández and Joel Sánchez.
The 8 episodes of the series, created by Álex Pina (La Casa de Papel, Sky Rojo) and Esther Martinez Lobato (La Casa de Papel, Sky Rojo), are written by Álex Pina, Esther Martinez Lobato, David Barrocal, David Oliva and Lorena G. Maldonado and will be directed by Albert Pintó (Sky Rojo, Malasaña 32), David Barrocal (Sky Rojo) and Geoffrey Cowper (Tercer Grado).
The series started production last October in Paris and is still currently being shot in Madrid.
To encourage more Filipinos to try its high-speed data and value-for-money products, youngest telco player DITO Telecommunity now offers its DITO SIM Starter Pack with up to 25GB all-access data for only Php 39! New subscribers can also enjoy a bonus 30-day Amazon Prime Video mobile subscription for every purchase of any DITO Level-Up Pack!
In light of the new SIM Registration Act (SRA) as well, we are adding another 2GB bonus data for all DITOzens! New subscribers who activate their DITO SIM Starter Packs are eligible to enjoy this TODO SA SULIT bonus data promo! New DITOzens can get their maximum free data allocation by following these easy steps:
Step 1– Activate the DITO SIM Starter Pack by registering your SIM card and enjoy 3GB bonus data. Subscribers within 5G covered areas are also eligible to enjoy another bonus 3GB data.
Step 2- Download the DITO APP and update the customer profile to enjoy 4GB bonus data.
Step 3: Purchase or subscribe to any Level-Up Pack on the same day of SIM activation and get another 3GB bonus data. Subscribers will also receive 1GB bonus data for 7 days for each of the first 12 Level Up Pack subscriptions- total of 12GB bonus data.
Aside from the 25GB bonus all-access data, new subscribers can also enjoy unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls and 100 minutes of calls to other networks valid for 15 days.
“As the new year comes in, we want to encourage more Filipinos to try out DITO and of course register your SIMS. From Php 49, we lowered our SIM Starter Packs to Php 39 with increased bonus data offering to enable interested subscribers to discover DITO and experience our high-speed connectivity and value-for-money products,” said Evelyn Jimenez, DITO Chief Commercial Officer.
Water scarcity is one of the biggest issues that the world is facing today. Defined as a problem that occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available water supply, water scarcity is seen as a problem that will only get worse, especially since water use continues to increase at an unprecedented rate globally.
According to 2019 figures from UN-Water, an interagency mechanism that coordinates the efforts of United Nations (UN) entities and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues, global water demand is expected to continue increasing by 1 percent annually until 2050.
As a company with sustainability at the core of its operations, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) knows that there is a need for solutions that help address the degradation and depletion of the world’s natural resources. In line with this, the company has been continuously working towards strengthening its commitment to a circular economy, implementing solutions that help improve efficiency when using natural resources, including water.
“We all know that fresh water is a finite resource, so it is important that we try our best to conserve it. This is why SM has been adhering to a circular framework when it comes to our resource consumption, including the way we use water in our malls,” said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, Vice President for SM Supermalls Corporate Compliance Group and SM Cares Program Director for Environment.
To improve water efficiency in its mall operations, SM employs facilities that help reduce its consumption of fresh water. Among these are sewage treatment plants that treat wastewater plumbing systems. This allows the water to be reused, helping ensure that there is enough water for the malls and the communities nearby.
All wastewater from tenants and mall restrooms are treated in the sewage treatment plants to become non-potable water. The recycled water is then used for air conditioning operations, specifically by cooling towers, as well as for flushing toilets and watering of gardens.
In 2021, SM was able to save a total of 8.7 million cubic meters of water—enough to fill 3,480 Olympic-sized swimming pools—with the help of these facilities, which are present in 72 SM malls nationwide and have been in operation since the early 2000s.
“Aside from minimizing our impact on common water resources, recycling water through these sewage treatment plants allows our malls to save big on water costs,” Engr. Silerio said. “Now, imagine if we all did it. I think we can leave a significant positive impact on our country’s source of fresh water.”
SM Prime is committed to supporting the United Nations in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including “SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation” which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Other initiatives of SM aimed toward this include the Trash-to-Cash Market and Plastic Waste Collection initiative, both promoting responsible disposal of plastic waste so they don’t end up in seas and oceans; the AweSMSeas campaign in partnership with the USAID and PRRCI, which raises awareness of the importance of managing plastic pollution affecting the world’s waters; and the International Coastal Cleanup that gathers thousands of volunteers annually.Visit www.smprime.com/sustainability-overview to learn more about the sustainability programs of SM Prime Holdings.
Summer’s here! And what better way to enjoy the season than with a deliciously char-grilled meal, paired with the milky creamy goodness of halo-halo?
Mang Inasal, the country’s Grill Expert, has recently embarked on a #SummerSarapAtMangInasal campaign that introduced a more affordable variant of its well-loved Halo-Halo. For only Php 39, customers can now order an 8-ounce add-on Halo-Halo — either Extra Creamy Halo-Halo or Crema de Leche Halo-Halo — to their Ihaw-Sarap Savers meal! The extra creamy treat also comes in Small and Regular servings, starting at Php 79.
“Mang Inasal welcomes summer with the Mang Inasal Halo-Halo which many enjoy for its extra creamy goodness whether as dessert or snack,” said Mang Inasal business unit head Mike V. Castro.
Teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey thinks she knows everything there is to know about love. But when she moves halfway across the world to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, she’ll soon realize that relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line.
Jenny Han (Creator / Co-Showrunner) tells Netflix’s Tudum, “We all fell so deeply in love with Lara Jean and her story. So it felt like the greatest gift to give to Kitty was to let her as a character kind of set off on her own two feet and not put her in the shadow of either of her sisters.” Sascha Rothchild (Co-Showrunner) adds “She’s stepping into the fore — picking up the baton from Lara Jean.” For more, visit Tudum.com.
When the movie “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” opens, unfailingly optimistic bard Edgin (played by Chris Pine) and his best friend, the barbarian fighter Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), are locked away in the notorious prison Revel’s End, a result of the betrayal by the nefarious Forge Fitzwilliam (Hugh Grant), who took Edgin’s beloved daughter Kira to live as his ward in the great metropolis of Neverwinter where Forge installed himself as ruler.
On a mission to take back what has been lost to him, Edgin escapes together with Holga. Along the way, they are joined in their quest by an insecure sorcerer, a paladin and a Tiefling.
CHRIS PINE (EDGIN THE BARD)
Leading the cast is Chris Pine, who plays extroverted bard Edgin Darvis. “He will make the best out of any situation,” says Pine of his character. “He might seem like he has his stuff together, but more often than not, he’s winging it. It makes him, I think, a likable thief.”
Although Pine is no stranger to blockbuster filmmaking – having starred as Capt. James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ trilogy of Star Trek films and having played Steve Trevor in the Wonder Woman movies – he was new to the world of Dungeons & Dragons. In an ideal confluence of events, the same week he was offered the role in the new film, Pine happened to be hosting his nephew’s D&D group at his home. He decided to sit in on the campaign and was immediately hooked.
“I ended up playing with my entire family – my parents, my sister, my nephew, the two Dungeon Masters that run the game for my nephew – and we had a blast,” Pine says. “It’s such an incredibly creative game. It’s a game that depends on performance and investment and allowing for whatever comes and not censoring yourself and having fun. It teaches so many things from camaraderie to friendship to strategizing to team building. It’s joyful.”
REGÉ-JEAN PAGE (XENK THE PALADIN)
Among the characters Edgin and his best friend Holga meet along the way is handsome paladin Xenk Yendar, played by breakout Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page. Despite the character’s youthful appearance, Xenk is cursed with unnaturally long life after having narrowly escaped a ritual that transformed the residents of Thay into the undead. “Xenk is a very old man stuck in a young and virile man’s body,” says Page. “He is sworn to heroism. He’s infuriatingly upright, moral, a perfect paladin hero. Within D&D, paladins are known for being slightly overly heroic and showy. The joy of Xenk is that he’s all those things yet utterly unaware of them. He exists mostly to infuriate our group by being the hero that they’re not quite.”
Says Pine of the paladin member of their quest, “Xenk is the perfect man personified, and Edgin, who might like to believe himself to be a great version of the species, has to encounter the guy. He just hates the fact that Xenk has his stuff together. So, Edgin uses his nephecibility and his wit to try to cut this guy down to size—but he’s incapable of being cut down to size.”
JUSTICE SMITH (SIMON THE SORCERER)
While Xenk exudes confidence, half-elf wizard Simon Aumar does not. He often struggles to perform even basic magic, despite the fact that wizarding runs in his blood – he is descended from the great sorcerer Elminster Aumar. “He is riddled with insecurity about his magic,” says actor Justice Smith who won the role. “He has internalized that he is never going to be enough and bathes in his own self-deprecation and has resorted to using his tricks for petty thievery.”
But Simon also displays a surprising level of acceptance about his own shortcomings. “The thing that I find beautiful about Simon is that he’s not necessarily upset that he’s not good at magic,” says Smith. “He really has come to terms with it, and I love the idea of someone who’s practical about where they’re at and not in a woe-is-me kind of way. But it definitely is his obstacle throughout the story, trying to come into his own power.”
A REAL D&D BONDING EXPERIENCE
Once all the principal roles had been cast (including Rodriguez as Holga, Sophia Lillis as Doric, Chloe Coleman as Kira, and Daisy Head as Sofina), the filmmakers created a unique opportunity for the actors to bond, organizing a D&D campaign run by an experienced DM from Seattle, Wash.-based Wizards of the Coast. “We had the entire cast around the table, playing this unique one-shot adventure that she’d come up with for the team,” producer Latcham explains, noting that directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley joined as the character Jarnathan, who represents the race of nomadic bird-people known as the Aarakocra.
“They were there for four-and-a-half, five hours around the table playing, getting to know each other, understanding each other’s sense of humor, understanding each other’s sense of timing,” Latcham says. “To see them all come together, having fun was a delight.”
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures, opens nationwide March 29. Connect with #DnDMovie and tag @paramountpicsph
Photo & Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”
Bringing the story of Father Gabriele Amorth, known by some as the Dean of Exorcists and to others as the Vatican’s Exorcist, to the big screen was no easy task.
Watch the trailer below:
Before The Pope’s Exorcist, other producers had tried to adapt Father Amorth’s best-selling memoirs into a film but none were able to convince the celebrated priest – except for Michael Patrick Kaczmarek, one of the producers of The Pope’s Exorcist.
“I believe I was able to succeed where other producers failed in that I was able to convince Father Amorth about my sincere religious devotion,” explains Kaczmarek. “In our exchanges, I was able to convince him that if he took the chance to work with me, that I would try to make sure the Catholicity would be preserved in the film – and that he would be respected as a person along with the Church and his religious order.”
Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe, right) in Screen Gems THE POPES EXORCIST.
The producers lovingly refer to the film as “the James Bond of exorcists” because of the wealth of stories, anecdotes and real exorcism cases from its source material, Amorth’s memoirs An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories.
In The Pope’s Exorcist, Amorth is played by Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe. “Gabriele Amorth had a purity of faith that gave him a level of courage and bravery to do the job,” says Crowe. “It’s a very dark pursuit – you’re dealing a lot with people who are suffering deeply.”
Father Esquibel (Daniel Zovatto) and Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) in Screen Gems THE POPES EXORCIST.
To make the film frightening beyond the jump scares, screenwriter Michael Petroni created a narrative that seeks to delve deep into the motivations of the devil. “This required our character of Father Amorth to do some serious investigating and uncovering of a secret history, to find connections where the demon might have appeared before,” says producer Kaczmarek.
In the film, Father Amorth and his partner, Father Esquibel, played by Daniel Zovatto, investigate a possession at St. Sebastian Abbey in Castile, Spain, where a young family is making a fresh start by renovating the old property. “In the movie, the abbey has a long history with the Catholic Church, and there are some things that happened there which get uncovered,” says Crowe. “These events took place during some of the darkest days of the Catholic Church, as punishment was meted out to people who didn’t measure up to the depth of their belief. We all thought that that was an excellent way to dig deeper into the history of Spain.”
Lending greater authenticity to the film is executive producer Edward Siebert, S.J., a Jesuit priest and founder of Loyola Productions.
“Stories of good and evil are as old as time but the story of Father Amorth and his unique role in fighting evil is an important story to tell,” says Siebert. “The Pope’s Exorcist reflects on some of the most challenging aspects of faith. When we shed light on sin and evil, it reflects back the pain of our past and present. While the demons in the film may seem extreme and exaggerated, the movements of disturbance and evil inside of us have the power to overtake us. I have always believed that the power of prayer, the naming of demons, the forgiveness of sins, and the conquering of evil are central to faith. Any story that ends with the enemy’s defeat is ultimately a story of hope.”
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
Student filmmakers from West Visayas State University (WVSU) screened their cinematic works for free at Cinematheque Centres nationwide last March 18 as part of Academedia and official launch of other academic programs of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).
WVSU students, or Taga-West, got to show their short films and documentaries, namely “Judith” by Daniel de la Cruz, “Kinatao” by Lovely Jaro, “To Those We Loved the Most” by Leander Hofileña and Chelsea Young, “Modyul, Modyul Lang” by Maria JC Emmanuelle Momblan, “What If?” by Hofileña and Aimee Barte, “Panakayon” by Francis Cabinos, and “Sa Likod Sang Lense” by John Angelo Arroyo and Mars Dela Cruz, at Cinematheque Centre Manila, Iloilo, Negros, Nabunturan, and Davao.
In “Judith,” a broadcasting student realizes the dangers of the pandemic as realities of life unfold.
“Kinatao” tackles the story of a student struggling to adapt to her online classes. A nursing sophomore goes through a life-changing experience when she literally finds herself between her neighbor’s legs.
Meanwhile, in “To Those We Loved the Most,” a working student is bent on doing his best as he struggles to manage his time between his job and his studies. Only his younger sister is left in his family.
“Modyul, Modyul Lang” is a documentary film about the realities faced by grade school pupils in public schools because of the pandemic.
“What If?” starts with a spark of curiosity as two young and ambitious minds meet and feel an instant connection, eager to explore the mysteries of life and constantly searching for the “what ifs” that can lead to new relationships and infinite possibilities.
“Panakayon” focuses on the journey of a multifaceted Taga-West bracing his way to success.
Finally, “Sa Likod Sang Lense” centers on the life of a woman as she tries to reach for her goal, follow the footsteps of her friends, and have a better future in the media industry.
The films won at the recently concluded University Days Short Filmmaking Competition 2023 at WVSU.
Members of the WVSU Film Society and Sinemaskom, led by their adviser Prof. Kareen Gancio, attended the event at Cinematheque Centre Iloilo.
Academedia, formerly known as UFlix, provides an exhibition platform for the works of student filmmakers to support and encourage them to pursue their passion for filmmaking. This month, the FDCP featured student films from WVSU and De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde.
In between the two sets of screenings for Academedia, two other programs, namely the Academic Film Society and the Student Film Assistance Program (SFAP), were launched through a forum led by FDCP Chair and Chief Executive Officer Tirso Cruz III, executive director Dan Morales, technical consultant Jose Javier “Direk Joey” Reyes, and program officer Mark John Pamintuan.
The FDCP, through the SFAP, will open 25 slots per cycle to Filipino student filmmakers enrolled in academic institutions that will register to be part of the AFS. Successful applicants may receive up to 50,000 pesos worth of cash grants to help them produce their thesis films and capstone projects.
FIBA Basketball World Cup (FIBAWC) global partner Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues the countdown to the world’s biggest basketball event as it unveils the official FIBAWC 2023 video on the iconic 3D billboard at the Bonifacio High Street Crosswalk (between Central Square and One Bonifacio in Bonifacio Global City).
The larger-than-life 400-square meter 3D Billboard features JIP, the official mascot of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, whose name stands for the three host nations in this year’s FIBAWC showcase: Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The launch drew quite a crowd of excited fans at the venue, giving off familiar vibes with the way people gather at 3D billboards seen at Times Square in New York City and the famous Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo.
Ranked #40 in the world, the Philippines has gained an outright berth in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Games by being one of the host nations. This is the sixth time that the Philippines is playing on the world stage, and its second time as host nation following its hosting in 1978 where it finished in the top eight.
For basketball fans who frequent the Pioneer area along EDSA, watch out for Smart’s special FIBAWC billboard installation soon for an exciting new virtual basketball experience. To enjoy this interactive billboard with AR (augmented reality) integration, simply scan the billboard using a smartphone camera. After this, you will be redirected to an AR Instagram filter that allows you to see larger-than-life digital players dunk on an actual rim installed on the billboard.
With Smart, Filipino basketball fans can live more today with non-stop FIBA basketball action by catching all the games, including those played in the previous windows, via Smart Livestream App, which exclusively hosts live and on-demand sports, concerts, and other epic events.
Through the app, which is downloadable on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, Smart subscribers can catch every minute of live basketball action when the FIBAWC 2023 games get going and get a chance to win tickets to the live games.
To enjoy the app, subscribers will only need to enter a valid Smart Prepaid or Postpaid mobile number to continue. Upon registration, users will promptly receive an OTP code via SMS, which can be used to start enjoying the features of Smart LiveStream on their smartphones.
Relive the best plays of previous FIBA WC 2023 qualifiers with Smart LiveStream powered by Smart, the Philippine winner for Best Mobile Network, Fastest Mobile Network for five years in a row, and Best Mobile Coverage as awarded by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.
Enjoy all of these and more by registering your Smart mobile numbers until April 26, 2023 at http://www.smart.com.ph/simreg.
vivo, one of the leading smartphone brands in the Philippines, has officially launched the newest addition to its V lineup– the vivo V27 Series. This new flagship smartphone boasts a first-of-its-kind technology in the industry, the Aura Portrait Algorithm, that will elevate users’ mobile photography game with a studio-level experience right in their hands.
This new lineup offers two variants– the vivo V27 5G and vivo V27e. The vivo V27e will be officially available for pre-order in vivo’s E-store from March 22-29, while fans can pre-order the vivo V27 5G from April 10-16.
With the vivo V27 Series dubbed as The Aura Portrait Master, vivo encourages its fans to radiate their best aura anytime and anywhere with their very own pocket studio, the vivo V27 and the vivo V27e.
Capture Studio-Level Photos Effortlessly
As with previous V series devices that offer top of the line camera features, the vivo V27 Series is packed with a new innovation in smartphone imaging technology. Both variants under the vivo V27 Series carry vivo’s latest breakthrough– the Aura Portrait Algorithm technology. This first-in-the-industry feature is vivo’s solution that covers the three aspects in the light and imaging processing journey. First is the Aura Light, a built-in ring light that serves as an extra light source but with a smoother and more delicate effect compared to regular phone camera flash.
Second aspect in this camera system, particularly in vivo V27 5G variant, is the 50MP OIS Ultra Sensing main camera powered by SONY IMX766V sensor, a first in vivo’s V Series history. This flagship sensor has an ultra-large 1/1.56” sensor size which allows 145 percent more light intake for a stronger picture quality even in low-light surroundings. Meanwhile, its V27e variant has 64MP OIS Ultra Sensing Camera and Super Night View capability to capture HD quality and vivid images.
Lastly, this upgrade includes a perfect synergy between hardware and software with vivo’s full and exclusive line of Portrait Algorithms. All three aspects complete the Aura Portrait Algorithm feature of the vivo V27 Series that intelligently adjusts the lighting according to the environment, perfectly capturing studio quality images for portrait shooting day and night.
Vlogging Made Easier and More Fun
Great adventures are some of the best moments to vlog, until you get home and realize your shots are blurry and shaky. Avoid this mishap with the vivo V27 Series backed with EIS+OIS Dual Ultra Stabilization feature. This imaging system allows users to shoot videos in the most stable way even without extra tools like selfie sticks and gimbals.
vivo also ensured that whether with the back or front lens, users can shoot high-quality videos, thanks to the vivo V27 5G’s 50MP Eye AF Vlogging camera and vivo V27e’s 32MP Vlogging lens.
Moreover, vivo enables its fans to produce more creative videos worth-sharing on social media through the vivo V27 Series’ Microfilm feature. This serves as a one stop solution where users can edit vlogs with just a few clicks, access 26 effect templates for free, use built-in professional standard video enhancement software, and enjoy a hassle-free vlog making experience.
Premium Design without Compromising Comfort
The series sports new colorways that can easily match users’ every style and aesthetic. The vivo V27 5G variant exudes sophistication with the Emerald Green colorway boosted with vivo’s signature photochromic 2.0 technology design, now more reactive to light making color-changing process faster than its predecessor.
Meanwhile, vivo V27e is available in eye-catching Lavender Purple colorway created through vivo’s photolithography process to achieve its glowing peacock feathers design and the Glory Black partnered with glittering fluorite AG effect for a delicate and luxurious finish.
On top of vivo V27 Series’ colorways, both variants boast a slim and smooth frame for a comfortable grip. The vivo V27 5G has 7.36mm 3D-Curved Screen, the thinnest curved screen in history of vivo V Series while the vivo V27e has 7.7mm thin flat frame. Now, users don’t need to choose between style and comfort as the vivo V27 Series has both.
Powerful Flagship Performance
Inside the vivo V27 5G’s slim and compact body is a MediaTek D7200 4nm chipset that supports Dual-Mode 5G and Dual 5G Standby to balance performance and power consumption. Along with a powerful processor, the vivo V27 Series offers a bigger update with the help of vivo’s Extended RAM 3.0. With this technology, vivo V27 5G’s 12GB RAM and vivo V27e’s 8GB RAM can support up to 8GB extension that allows multiple and large-scale apps to smoothly run in the background simultaneously. Both variants are also packed with 256GB ROM so users can store as many files as they want.
vivo V27 Series also takes users’ productivity to the next level with its all-day battery which has a doubled life span that can handle up to 1,600 charge cycles. It is also boosted with a 66W FastCharge feature to quickly recharge the phone’s power from 0 to 50 percent in just 19 minutes.
Pricing and Availability
With vivo V27 Series and its innovative camera features, enjoy the pocket studio experience and bring out your best aura whenever, wherever you are. Both the vivo V27 5G and the vivo V27e are packed with powerful features inside, giving them the ability to keep up with today’s demanding lifestyles.
The vivo V27 5G is priced at PHP24,999 while the vivo V27e sells at PHP16,999. Pre-order starts on March 22-29 exclusively in vivo’s E-store for vivo V27e variant where fans can take advantage of up to 3 months installment with 0 percent interest via credit cards. On the other hand, the vivo V27 5G variant is available for pre-order on April 10-16.
Early birds can also take home a TWS Bluetooth headset or a vivo VIP Card for every purchase of V27 Series phones online until supplies last. To know more about the vivo V27 Series, visit vivo’s official website, or follow them on their official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
