Heads up Saint Seiya fans, we have some great news for you! The Knights of the Zodiac movie, based on the popular manga and anime series, is heading to cinemas soon. And if you’re wondering what the live-action adaptation has in store for you, check out the trailer for the film below:
Knights of the Zodiac follows Seiya, a tough street kid who fights for money while he searches for his kidnapped sister. Everything changes when he discovers that he has mystical powers, which soon throws him into a world of warring saints. He must then learn to hone his magical abilities and protect a reincarnated goddess.
Mackenyu, who is also set to play Zoro in Netflix’s live-action One Piece series, plays the character of Seiya. Directed by Tomek Baginski, the film also stars Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman, Diego Tinoco, Mark Dacascos, Nick Stahl, and Sean Bean.
The film is set for release in US theaters on May 12.
As the temperature rises and summer arrives, nothing beats the heat quite like a refreshing and vibrant dessert. In the Philippines, that perfect summer treat is halo-halo, a delightful mix of crushed ice, sweetened fruits, jellies, and other tasty ingredients, all topped with evaporated milk and scoops of ube ice cream. Let’s dive into the history, ingredients, and variations of halo-halo, the ultimate Filipino dessert experience.
History and Origins: Halo-halo, which translates to “mix-mix” in English, is a beloved Filipino dessert with roots dating back to the pre-colonial era. It is believed that halo-halo has been influenced by various cultures, including Japanese and Spanish culinary traditions. The dessert’s evolution can be traced back to the Japanese kakigori (shaved ice dessert) and the Spanish granizado. Over time, Filipinos have adapted and enriched the dessert with local ingredients, making it a true reflection of the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Key Ingredients: The magic of halo-halo lies in its diverse and colorful assortment of ingredients. While there is no definitive recipe, some of the most common ingredients include:
Sweetened fruits, such as bananas, jackfruit, and mangoes
Gelatin or agar-based jellies, like nata de coco (coconut jelly) and various flavored gulaman
Boiled sweet beans, such as red mongo beans, white beans, and garbanzos (chickpeas)
Kaong (sugar palm fruit)
Sweetened corn kernels
Sago (tapioca pearls) or boba
Leche flan (a caramel custard dessert)
Ube (purple yam) ice cream or jam
Crushed ice
Evaporated milk
Variations and Personalization: One of the most appealing aspects of halo-halo is its versatility. The dessert can be easily customized to suit individual tastes and preferences, with ingredient choices limited only by one’s imagination. Some variations include adding different fruits, using alternative sweeteners, or even incorporating modern twists like flavored syrups and unique ice cream flavors.
Serving and Enjoying Halo-Halo: Halo-halo is traditionally served in a tall glass or bowl, with ingredients layered in a visually appealing manner. To enjoy the dessert, simply mix all the ingredients together, breaking up the layers and blending the flavors and textures into a delightful and refreshing treat. Halo-halo is best enjoyed on a hot summer day, surrounded by friends and family, as you savor the taste of the Philippines.
With its colorful array of ingredients and refreshing taste, halo-halo is the quintessential Filipino summer dessert. Its rich history and endless possibilities for customization make it a treat that transcends generations and brings people together. So, the next time you’re looking for a unique and delightful way to beat the heat, indulge in a glass of halo-halo and experience the delicious symphony of flavors that the Philippines has to offer.
What’s your favorite Halo-Halo mix-in?
This article was assisted by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a language model that provided guidance and suggestions during the writing process.
Returning to AnimeJapan 2023, Netflix showcased their diverse slate of current and upcoming anime including fan-favorites like PLUTO or newly announced series Ōoku: The Inner Chambers, delighting fans both in and outside Japan during multiple booth presentations and a star-studded stage event.
The broad lineup across genres like sci-fi, action and more includes newly announced titles Ōoku: The Inner Chambers (Coming in 2023), the first anime adaptation of the hit manga by Fumi Yoshinaga, or Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune (May 2023), an anime series adapted from a brand-new military science fiction novel by Carlo Zen, who made his debut with The Saga of Tanya the Evil. These and more titles are joining the previously announced Onmyoji (Coming in 2023), an animated series based on the world of Baku Yumemakura’s well-known tales about the ancient yin-yang diviner Abe Seimei, which is set for release later this year.
“Over the years, we’ve learned that fans love the breadth of our lineup. From titles like PLUTO and Ooku: The Inner Chambers by top storytellers, to buzzy fan-favorites like Onmyoji, Yakitori and so much more in store — this year, there’s a show for every anime fan. We’re humbled the global interest in anime has been strong and growing, with over 100M members watching anime every year,” says Yuji Yamano, Director, Content, Netflix.
During the AnimeJapan event, Netflix also welcomed the author of PLUTO (Coming in 2023), Naoki Urasawa, Japanese voice talent Yoko Hikasa (Shaman King) and Minori Suzuki (Macross Delta), as well as title supervisor Macoto Tezka to the stage, who shared their enthusiasm for the highly-anticipated anime adaptation of PLUTO (coming 2023) with the audience. During their appearance, Netflix also gave another glimpse at the ambitious project, revealing a new teaser art by original creator Naoki Urasawa himself, that gave another glimpse at the characters and the world of PLUTO.
Japanese global apparel retailer UNIQLO is bringing LifeWear closer to more Filipinos as it expands in the east of Metro Manila next month.
The brand is opening their first store in Rizal province on April 21, 2023 in Robinsons Antipolo. Residents from the area can look forward to having direct access to UNIQLO’s LifeWear collection of women’s, men’s, kids and baby items.
UNIQLO is also opening their fourth roadside store in Marquinton, Marikina City on April 28, 2023. Located along Sumulong Highway, the store brings Marikenos a more convenient one-stop shopping experience.
Aside from the wide LifeWear lineup now made closer to home, people from Antipolo, Marikina, and nearby areas are treated to limited offers and special gifts from UNIQLO during the stores’ opening weekends.
For more updates, please visit UNIQLO Philippines’ social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph), Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial), Tiktok (tiktok/com/uniqlophofficial) and UNIQLOPhilippines’ website atuniqlo.com.
Download the UNIQLO App via Google Play Store or Apple Store, or visit and shop from UNIQLO online store at UNIQLO.com/ph.
Many people use their mobile phones to capture the important moments in life – be it travel adventures, family gatherings or even a night out with friends. It’s these precious milestones that call for an equally impressive phone with camera features to record epic memories – such as those that come with the new Galaxy S23 Series.
Launched at the Epic House party held at The Fifth Rockwell, the Galaxy S23 Series comes with some truly stunning innovations when it comes to photography and videography. Just ask renowned fashion and lifestyle photographer BJ Pascual, who took guests on a tour of the Epic Nightography room, which featured the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s incredible camera features such as the enhanced Nightography mode and the 200-megapixel camera.
As a long-time Samsung Galaxy user, BJ mentioned that he has always loved the phone and was curious how they will be able to top the last one. But upon trying the Galaxy S23 series, he was amazed by how Samsung was able to pack all the amazing features in such a slim package.
BJ was particularly impressed with the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 200-megapixel camera. “As photographers, we love data, and that’s a lot of data, and it has more megapixels than my work camera. It’s so crazy! I’m actually excited to try it at an actual photoshoot,” he said.
The Galaxy S23 series also features an enhanced Nightography setting that allows you to take pictures in any lighting condition, be it at a neon-lit nightclub or at a camping trip under the stars.
“That’s another area the camera improves so much. The Super HDR of the Night Photography is insane, and I think, this is their best yet. It would be helpful especially for those people who like to go out at night and not a lot of places have good lighting, so the HDR really helps with tricky lighting situations, so everything looks great,” shared BJ.
With Super HDR, the smartphone is able to balance the brightness of a photo so it does not appear too dark or too light that its details get lost. With the enhanced Nightography feature in the Galaxy S23 Series, photos appear vivid and crisp, even at night.
The Galaxy S23 Series also allows you to be a true photo master. Combined with the enhanced Nightography feature, the smartphone also has an Expert RAW app that allows you to control the light and the shadows within the photo you took. “When you shoot raw photos, you kind of have a lot of control over the [pictures]. It’s kind of like a film. When you take photos with film, there’s room for you to brighten it or darken it, as long as it’s exposed. The Expert RAW app makes you the master of the HDR,” BJ explained.
From the 200-megapixels, to its Nightography and Expert RAW app features, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Series makes taking epic photos easier than ever, anytime, and anywhere. BJ also shared some key tips to make your photos more epic than ever. If you’re doing an Outfit-of-the-Day photo look for you social media posts, BJ advises that “if you want to look taller, frame the photos with the face near the middle of the frame and the feet near the bottom of the frame, so you can get more space on top and then you crop it after. The distortion of the wide lens makes your legs look longer.”
If you’re taking a selfie, BJ recommends that “the best selfie is actually finding your light, so whether it be like natural or artificial light, just make sure the light is generally in front of you to diffuse everything so that less imperfections can be seen. If it’s outdoors better to take a picture under the shade or in front of a window, where the light is not directly hitting your face but the diffused light is just coming in.”
Aside from using the nightography features of the Galaxy S23 series, BJ also shared a tip on how to take a great selfie in the evening or when you’re in a club or event. “Take photos in front of an LCD or LED screen – it’s like an artificial window!”
The Galaxy S23 series is now available through Samsung Experience Stores, Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online. The Galaxy S23 series comes in four nature-inspired matte hues: Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender 32 . The Galaxy S23 retails for PHP 53,990 for the 128GB variant, and PHP 57,990 for the 256GB variant. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23+ starts at PHP 68,990 for 256GB variant, and PHP 76,990 for the 512GB variant. Lastly, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is available at PHP 81,990 and PHP 89,990 for the 256GB and 512GB variants respectively. A samsung.com-exclusive 1TB Galaxy S23 Ultra is also available at PHP 103,990.
For more information about Galaxy S23 series, please visit: www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy- s23/, https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s23-ultra/, news.samsung.com/global or www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/.
Come one, come all for a day loaded with fun and games at Diamond Hotel Philippines’ EASTER FUNLAND on April 9, 2023 from 10am to 3pm. At Php1,000 net per person, there’s something for kids and kids-at-heart with the line-up of Easter activities at the Diamond Ballroom and 2nd Floor Function Rooms such as: Arcade Games, Inflatables, Bubble Show, Face Painting, Kids’ Salon, Photo Booth, Puppet Show, Little Chef, Glitter Tattoo and Lootbag giveaways.
To delight the guests, the hotel will prepare a delectable culinary spread available for sale at the Ballroom foyer. Guests can have their fill of delicious snack bites such as freshly baked cookies, sandwiches, spaghetti, chicken shawarma wrap, mini pizzas, popcorn and a whole lot more!
Ticketholders are entitled to join the raffle for a chance to win Roundtrip Airline Tickets to any local destination for two persons via Cebu Pacific! Also at stake are gift certificates from Diamond Hotel Philippines.
Tickets for the Diamond Hotel Easter Funland Event are available for sale now until April 9, 2023. For ticket inquiries call (632) 8528-3000 ext. 8461. You may purchase at the hotel lobby or online at onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com.
Book the Easter Staycation Package from April 1-9, 2023 and get ready to have an amazing family staycation. Rate starts at Php7,500 nett for an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room inclusive of one (1) FREE ticket (per room, per stay) to the Easter event on April 9. Stay also includes buffet breakfast for two at Corniche, wifi access, use of the Health Club and Spa, access to the swimming pool, 20% discount at Corniche and 20% discount on massage.
Room packages are applicable to local residents only. Prior reservation is required. Offers may not be availed in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts. For room reservations, call (632) 8528-3000 ext. 1141.
Every day will give a delightful surprise‒ literally! ‒ as customers may receive all kinds of freebies with their orders in the Robinsons Supermarket Freebies Alert, exclusively via MetroMart, running from March 20 until April 12, 2023.
The Robinsons Supermarket Freebies Alert, exclusively via MetroMart, will have various items available for FREE with their online grocery delivery orders. Customers just need to add to cart the Free Item of the day, and continue shopping at Robinsons Supermarket on the MetroMart app. These products include Nestlé Koko Krunch Cereal, Hershey’s Kisses Special Selection, KitKat Bites, Oreo cookies, Pringles chips, and toiletries or household items such as Safeguard soap, Cleene ethyl alcohol, Sanicare facial tissue, and so much more. All New and Existing Users may check their MetroMart app to see the freebie of the day throughout the promotion period, March 20 until April 12, 2023.
Please see the first half of the Robinsons Supermarket Freebies Alert itinerary below:
*Sale items are subject to availability in Robinsons Supermarket branches.
The Robinsons Supermarket Freebies Alert, exclusively via MetroMart, are applicable to New and Existing Users of MetroMart. A minimum spend of only ₱1,000 is required in order to avail the discounted items. Each freebie item will be available starting at 9:00 AM each day. Only completed checkout of orders within the scheduled day and time can avail the sale items.
Customers can also maximize the discount deals with other ongoing promos of MetroMart such as the Payday Specials, running this March 31 to April 2, 2023. By using codes MARPAYDAY300, MARPAYDAY200, and MARPAYDAY100, shoppers may avail of discounts up to ₱300, ₱200 and ₱100, respectively. This promo is valid for ALL Users, for a one-time redemption within the promo period, and applicable across all stores, terms and conditions apply.
The Robinsons Supermarket Freebies Alert is available in participating branches of Robinsons Supermarket. MetroMart’s online delivery service is available all over Metro Manila and key locations throughout the Philippines, including Cebu, Cavite, Davao, Iloilo, Bicol, Baguio, Pangasinan, and more.
MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include Robinsons Supermarket, S&R (with or no membership card required), Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Ever Supermarket, UltraMega Supermarket, and over 500+ specialty store retailers like Pet Express, No Brand, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys”R”Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in 2 hours! For more updates on MetroMart, like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @metromartph. Order groceries online or download the app via https://bit.ly/DownloadNowMM
Join the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival and vie for the Grand Prize in the biennial choral competition slated on July 20 to 23, 2023, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.
Interested choral groups may submit their application, addressed to the Festival Director, Mr. Joey Vargas, via mail at the Artist Training Division, Arts Education Department, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City 1300 Philippines. Or email the requirements to secretariat@aovchoralfestph.com. The deadline for submission of application is on June 01, 2023.
The application must include: fully accomplished application form; audio/video recording of two (2) to three (3) songs of different genres, recorded within the last six (6) months prior to application; recent profile and photo of the choir taken within the last six (6) months prior to application; and recent profile and photo of the conductor taken within the last six (6) months prior to application.
To be submitted after notice of the choir’s acceptance: repertoire per category; five (5) clear copies of each of the music scores (to be returned after the competition); permit for the use of original/photocopied original scores; and registration fee – USD 300 for non-Filipino choirs, and Php 10,000 for Filipino choirs.
The participating choirs will compete in various categories: Folk Song, Equal Voices, and Mixed Choir. They can participate in any or all the categories as long as each competing choir fulfills the necessary requirements for each category.
Two winners from this competition will be chosen to participate in the Asia Choral Grand Prix.
Produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the choral competition is named after National Artist Andrea O. Veneracion, founder of the world-renowned choir recognized as the first in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice in 1997 and in 2007.
For inquiries, visit the AOV website (https://aovchoralfestph.com) or email secretariat@. Follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok for latest updates.
Panda Express® is finally bringing its signature dish The Original Orange Chicken® outside Metro Manila. The world’s largest American Chinese dining concept has made its way to the Land of the Brave and is opening its first store in Tanza, Cavite on March 24 —marking its first location in South Luzon.
Panda Expressinvites all hungry Caviteños and Caviteñas to visit its maiden branch in the province located at SM City Tanza, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, to experience the mouth-watering bold flavors of its wok-cooked dishes with Chinese and Sichuan influences.
“We are thrilled to open our first restaurant in Cavite and in South Luzon as we continue to expand in the Philippines to make it more convenient for our guests to enjoy Panda Express’ world-famous American Chinese dishes,” said Doug Stalgren, Vice President of Panda Express International Business Development. “We can’t wait to welcome our fans on the opening day.”
From entrees to appetizers to sides, Panda Express offers a variety of scrumptious menu choices cooked with fresh, quality ingredients every day that leave its guests wanting for more. Among them is Panda’s top seller, The Original Orange Chicken, which is prepared with crispy boneless chicken bites wok-tossed in its signature sweet and spicy Orange Sauce.
In time for Lent, the new branch also offers meat-free options for Christians and Catholics choosing to abstain from eating meat during this period. Some of their meatless options include:
Honey Walnut Shrimp: One of its award-winning entrées, this dish is made with large tempura-battered shrimp wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts.
Savory Shrimp: Another beloved shrimp recipe, this dish is inspired by the flavors of Hunan cuisine. It features premium, juicy shrimp, stir-fried with onions, green beans and bell peppers in a savory sauce that adds a beautiful burst of color, textures, and flavors.
Kung Pao Fish: This Sichuan-inspired dish is a close cousin of another classic American Chinese staple, Kung Pao Chicken. It’s a divine combination lightly breaded, crispy boneless fish,a variety of freshly-cut vegetables and peanuts, all tossed in a savory sauce.
Eggplant Tofu: A good source of protein, this entrée is made with lightly browned tofu, eggplant, and red bell peppers tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce.
Deals and treats await Panda Express guests with the first 30 customers in line during the opening day able to receive free Panda Bears. Exciting freebies also await those who will visit the Cavite branch via dine-in or take out from March 24 to 26.
Panda Express SM City Tanza is also available for long distance delivery via GrabFood, foodpanda, and order.pandaexpress.com.ph.
Panda Express is also going full speed ahead with its expansion this year with a new drive-thru branch in the pipeline, which is expected to open in Pacita, San Pedro, Laguna next month. This will become the first Panda Express store to have a drive-thru lane in South Luzon. For more information about Panda Express®, visit www.facebook.com/PandaExpressPH/ (Facebook) and @PandaExpressPH (Instagram).
If you feel like spending some of your free time this month of April on the couch, watching films, PBO Channel has you covered with their lineup of Pinoy movies. And to make it even easier for you, we’ve rounded up eight movies from their lineup that you might want to catch on your TV!
Mang Kepweng Returns
April 6, 9 AM | April 10, 9 AM | April 23, 5:15 PM
When Mang Kepweng died because of mysterious circumstances, he buried with him a secret–aside from his son Zacharias (James Blanco), he had another son named Kiefer (Vhong Navarro.) Kiefer is the heir to the magical bandana that possesses the power to heal any kind of illness.
Suarez: The Healing Priest
April 6, 11:15 AM | April 15, 8:15 AM | April 18, 3:30 PM | April 28, 11:30 PM
When Fernando Suarez (John Arcilla) was given the gift of healing at 16, he hid it for many years until he became a priest only to find himself in scandals and squabbles with the Catholic Church.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUfqqtT9iA
Meet Me in St. Gallen
April 6, 7:30 PM | April 12, 3:30 PM
An aspiring painter and a frustrated musician become instant friends but decided to end and leave everything as is just like complete strangers. What will happen if they meet again as two completely different people?
Unforgettable
April 4, 11:15 AM | April 22, 4:30 PM | April 25, 9:30 PM
Jasmine (Sarah Geronimo) embarks on an unforgettable journey to reunite with her beloved ill grandmother and bring a dog named Happy, which she thinks will help her fully recover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iggIFDFczwA&t
Tragic Theater
April 8, 5:30 AM | April 17, 4:30 AM
A team of exorcists is sent into an old theater that is rumored to have been the site of a great tragedy during its construction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8yFuTnQTc4
Seven Sundays
April 8, 11:30 AM | April 17, 3:15 PM
The Bonifacio siblings reunite when they find out their father is diagnosed with cancer. In the process, they have to deal with unresolved issues among themselves before it’s too late.
Miss Granny
April 8, 2 PM | April 11, 5:15 AM | April 19, 5:15 PM | April 27, 3:15 PM
Fely is an elderly woman who finds a second chance at youth after a visit to a mysterious photo studio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn8vbPY_o5s
100 Tula Para Kay Stella
April 7, 5:15 PM | April 16, 9:30 PM
Throughout his four years in college, Fidel, a stuttering student, tries to finish 100 poems dedicated to Stella, an aspiring but frustrated rock star, to win her heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9E9cjs6Ai8&t
For more Movies on PBO Channel this April and for the daily schedules of PBO, click here.
[Note: schedules are subject to change without prior notice]
