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Tom Cruise Returns to the Skies in the Long-Awaited Sequel ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Thirty-six years after portraying Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun, Tom Cruise returns to the iconic role that catapulted him to global superstardom, with the long-awaited sequel, Paramount Pictures’ Top Gun: Maverick (in Philippine cinemas May 25).

“I’d thought about a sequel to Top Gun for all these years,” says Cruise. “People had asked for a sequel for decades. Decades. And the thing I said to the studio from the beginning was: ‘If I’m ever going to entertain this, we’re shooting everything practically. I’m in that F/A-18, period. So, we’re going to have to develop camera rigs. There’s going to be wind tunnels and engineering. It’s going to take a long, long time for me to figure it out.’ For years, people had said, ‘Can’t you shoot [the movie] with CGI?’ And I always said, ‘No. That’s not the experience.’ I said, ‘I need to find the right story. And we’re going to need the right team. This movie is like trying to hit a bullet with a bullet. I’m not playing.’”

On the original movie, although Cruise was filmed in the cockpit of an F-14 Tomcat, his castmates weren’t so successful in their endeavors. “We had other actors up there, flying,” says legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer. “Tom was the only one we had usable flight footage for. We had tons of footage of the other actors in the air with their eyes rolling back in their heads. This time, thanks to Tom, all the actors on Top Gun: Maverick became accustomed to the fundamentals and mechanics of flight and G-forces, because of all the training they did months in advance. Unlike the first film, our actors are actually in the cockpits of the F/A-18s in flight, acting and speaking their lines of dialogue.”

Cruise says there is a “majesty and beauty” in flying an airplane. “It’s both using and defying nature,” he says. “And playing Maverick again, at a different stage of his life, has been an incredible experience for me. Maverick is still Maverick. He still wants to fly Mach 2 with his hair on fire. But you see the transition that Maverick undergoes. The pressure of him losing his best friend, the responsibility he feels about that and how he has carried that with him. This film is about family and it’s about friendship and it’s about sacrifice. It’s about redemption and the cost of mistakes.”

And that emotion hasn’t just been up on screen, but behind the scenes, on a journey that has taken the makers of Top Gun: Maverick both back in time and forward, into new frontiers in filmmaking. “What we have achieved with the aerial sequences is genuinely something that people will never have seen before,” says Cruise. “We’ve trained actors to be able to fly and perform in real F/A-18s. And, to do that, we took the greatest fighter pilots in the world [from the U.S. Navy] and we taught them about movies – the pilot and the actor had to work as a team. This is the sophistication of the aerial sequences. No one’s ever done this, ever.”

It’s not just pride that Cruise feels, though. Top Gun: Maverick isn’t just a movie – it’s a destination. A culmination of everything he has learned in his 40 years in this business (Cruise’s debut, Endless Love, was released on July 17, 1981), this is a story he’s been building towards. A love letter to aviation, for sure. But a love letter to movies too.

About Top Gun: Maverick

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris.

The film is written by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, based the characters created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie and David Ellison.

Top Gun: Maverick is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/paramountpicsph/; Instagram at www.instagram.com/paramountpicsph/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZ7igjHZB-5k8DDM7ilVJw. Connect with #TopGun and tag paramountpicsph

May 17, 2022
NCT Dream Headlines ‘Begin Again: KPOP Edition’ at The Smart Araneta Coliseum
Four of the biggest South Korean acts are slated to visit Manila for “Begin Again: KPOP Edition” taking place on May 29, 2022, 5 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Fans are sure to have a blast with NCT DREAM, SHINee’s KEY, WEi, and ALICE performing their latest hit songs on the Philippine stage.

NCT DREAM will be headlining the show, coming on the heels of their widely successful album “Glitch Mode.” Released last March, NCT DREAM has recently wrapped promotions after selling an impressive 2 million albums. This makes them a double million-seller for two consecutive years—a feat only a handful of groups have achieved.

Seemingly a magnet for historic achievements, NCT DREAM is set to tick another one on its checklist. Back in 2020, the group is the last to hold a live concert in the Philippines before COVID-19 lockdown. Now, they’ll be one of the first international artists to perform live again after two years. Needless to say, NCT DREAM is making dreams come true with their return to the country.

Performing alongside the group is labelmate KEY, lead dancer, and lead rapper of SHINee. In 2018, KEY made his solo debut with the single “Forever Yours,” which he quickly followed up with a full studio album titled “Face.” The album peaked at number 5 on Korea’s Gaon Chart and snagged a top 10 entry on the US World Albums Chart.

September last year, KEY released his first mini-album “Bad Love,” which earned him another top entry on the Gaon Chart. The titular track also enjoyed commercial and critical success with its Music Core win and The Ringer naming it the Best KPOP Song of 2021.

WEi, a six-member boy group from OUI Entertainment, is also joining in the fun. Though only debuting 2 years ago, the group is no stranger to the limelight. Members DAE HYEON, DONG HAN, YONG HA, YO HAN, SEOK HWA, and JUN SEO have different charms, and as a fourth-generation youth icon, WEi is loved by domestic and international fans.

In March of this year, the group released their fourth mini-album “Love Pt.1: First Love” with “Too Bad” as the main title. The album sold more than 100,000 copies and placed at number five on Korea’s Gaon Chart.

Last but definitely not the least is ALICE, consisting of members EJ, Do-A, Chaejeong, Yeonjae, Yukyung, Sohee, and Karin. In 2018, the group was named the Best Rookie Group at the 24th Korean Entertainment Arts Awards. Fresh off the May 4 release of their latest single “Power of Love,” these fearsome femmes are ready to wow on the stage.

The 2-hour concert marks the first live KPOP show in the country since the COVID-19 lockdown. Don’t miss this historic event and come see talented artists on one stage. Pre-selling of tickets begins on May 17, 2022 (12NN) via https://www.cdmentertainment.ph.

Official ticket selling begins the next day, May 18, 2022 (10AM) via https://www.ticketnet.com.ph/ and all Ticketnet outlets nationwide.

Prices are as follows:
- Patron A PHP10,250
- Patron B PHP9,450
- Lowerbox PHP7,850
- Upperbox PHP4,950
- General Admission PHP3,250
*Prices are subject to ticketing charges.

“Begin Again: KPOP Edition” is brought to you by CDM Entertainment in partnership with BRODYWORKS.

#BeginAgain_KPOP
May 17, 2022
TV Guide: Movies Showing From May 16 to 22, 2022

Isn’t it a bummer when you see your favorite movie already playing halfway through when you turn on the TV? Fret not! From rom-com and action to horror and thriller, we’re giving you a heads up on all the must-watch movies on TV from May 16 to 22, 2022.

May 16, Monday

Top Gun
(4:25pm, Cinemax)
The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where the best of the best train to refine their elite flying skills. When hotshot fighter pilot Maverick is sent to the school, his reckless attitude and cocky demeanor put him at odds with the other pilots, especially the cool and collected Iceman. But Maverick isn’t only competing to be the top fighter pilot, he’s also fighting for the attention of his beautiful flight instructor, Charlotte Blackwood.

Love Is Blind
(5pm, Cinema One)
A woman with selective perception, who cannot see her mother, is prescribed by her psychiatrist to spend time with a suicidal man that has fallen in love with her – but she cannot see either.

Maybe This Time
(5:30pm, PBO)
Steph learns to be tough and sets her sights on bigger dreams after Tonio ends their relationship without saying goodbye.

May 17, Tuesday

This Guy’s In Love With You Mare
(5:30pm, PBO)
Lester catches his ex-boyfriend proposing marriage to Gemma. He hatches a plan to keep Gemma away from his ex by making her fall in love with him.

Mad Max: Fury Road
(6:05pm, HBO)
Years after the collapse of civilization, the tyrannical Immortan Joe enslaves apocalypse survivors inside the desert fortress the Citadel. When the warrior Imperator Furiosa leads the despot’s five wives in a daring escape, she forges an alliance with Max Rockatansky, a loner and former captive. Fortified in the massive, armored truck the War Rig, they try to outrun the ruthless warlord and his henchmen in a deadly high-speed chase through the Wasteland.

The Bucket List
(6:35pm, Cinemax)
Billionaire Edward Cole and car mechanic Carter Chambers are complete strangers, until fate lands them in the same hospital room. The men find they have two things in common: a need to come to terms with who they are and what they have done with their lives, and a desire to complete a list of things they want to see and do before they die. Against their doctor’s advice, the men leave the hospital and set out on the adventure of a lifetime.

Forever and a Day
(7pm, Cinema One)
A young man falls in love with his new friend, but she pushes him away.

May 18, Wednesday

Can’t Help Falling In Love
(7pm, Cinema One)
Gab becomes engaged to her long-time boyfriend Jason and discovers that she is already married, but to a total stranger, the happy-go-lucky Dos.

Talk Back and You’re Dead
(9:30pm, PBO)
Samantha falls in love with a hot-headed guy named Top, the leader of a gang.

May 19, Thursday

Me Before You
(12:45pm, HBO)
Young and quirky Louisa “Lou” Clark moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor, a wealthy young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier. Will’s cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living. As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined.

The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin
(5:30pm, PBO)
After defeating terrorists, Pvt. Benjamin becomes the Philippines’ worldwide sensation, but the attention causes him to neglect his duties and, to remain enlisted, he must become a bodyguard for a misbehaving kid.

Close To You
(7pm, Cinema One)
A man realizes he’s in love with his childhood friend.

Drag Me To Hell
(11:55pm, Cinemax)
Christine Brown has a loving boyfriend and a great job at a Los Angeles bank. But her heavenly life becomes hellish when, in an effort to impress her boss, she denies an old woman’s request for an extension on her home loan. In retaliation, the crone places a curse on Christine, threatening her soul with eternal damnation. Christine seeks a psychic’s help to break the curse, but the price to save her soul may be more than she can pay.

May 20, Friday

Gone Girl
(1:10pm, Cinemax)
In Carthage, Mo., former New York-based writer Nick Dunne and his glamorous wife Amy present a portrait of a blissful marriage to the public. However, when Amy goes missing on the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary, Nick becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. The resulting police pressure and media frenzy cause the Dunnes’ image of a happy union to crumble, leading to tantalizing questions about who Nick and Amy truly are.

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
(4:15pm, HBO)
Now in his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry learns that many in the wizarding community do not know the truth of his encounter with Lord Voldemort. Cornelius Fudge, minister of Magic, appoints his toady, Dolores Umbridge, as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, for he fears that professor Dumbledore will take his job. But her teaching is deficient and her methods, cruel, so Harry prepares a group of students to defend the school against a rising tide of evil.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
(6:30pm, HBO)
As Death Eaters wreak havoc in both Muggle and Wizard worlds, Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for students. Though Harry suspects there are new dangers lurking within the castle walls, Dumbledore is more intent than ever on preparing the young wizard for the final battle with Voldemort. Meanwhile, teenage hormones run rampant through Hogwarts, presenting a different sort of danger. Love may be in the air, but tragedy looms, and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Suddenly It’s Magic
(7pm, Cinema One)
An actor and a baker experience heartbreak but find love and solace together.

May 21, Saturday

Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo
(7pm, Cinema One)
First-time parents have a lot to learn about raising children.

13 Hours
(10:45pm, HBO)
On Sept. 11, 2012, Islamic militants attack the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killing Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith, an officer for the Foreign Service. Stationed less than one mile away are members of the Annex Security Team, former soldiers assigned to protect operatives and diplomats in the city. As the assault rages on, the six men engage the combatants in a fierce firefight to save the lives of the remaining Americans.

May 22, Sunday

Space Jam
(5:05pm, Cinemax)
Swackhammer, an evil alien theme park owner, needs a new attraction at Moron Mountain. When his gang, the Nerdlucks, heads to Earth to kidnap Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, Bugs challenges them to a basketball game to determine their fate. The aliens agree, but they steal the powers of NBA basketball players, including Larry Bird and Charles Barkley — so Bugs gets some help from superstar Michael Jordan.

Pixels
(5:25pm, HBO)
When aliens intercept video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, they attack Earth, using the games as models. Knowing that he must employ a similar strategy, President Will Cooper recruits his childhood pal, former video-game champ and home-theater installer Sam Brenner, to lead a team of old-school arcade players and a military specialist in an all-out battle to save the planet.

It Takes A Man and A Woman
(7:15pm, PBO)
The relationship between Miggy and Laida didn’t last, and neither did Miggy’s business success. When Laida returns to help with a presentation to MET, old feelings come to the surface.

May 17, 2022
The End of an Era: a Review of ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’

I have been an avid fan of the series ‘Downton Abbey‘ since it first came out back in 2010. I have seen all six seasons (the series is available on Netflix) when they came out and even caught the movie that was released in 2019. So watching a new ‘Downton Abbey’ movie has the same feeling as that of coming home. I’ve lived (and loved) these characters for over 20 years now. It has been three years since the last film and I don’t remember much about it. But just after ten or fifteen minutes into the sequel, ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era,’ everything just came rushing back.

For those who have loved these characters, it’s really like having a family reunion.

While series creator Julianne Fellowes is still the scriptwriter and Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge producing, Simon Curtis takes over the directing helm. Even with a new director, the movie still feels like the series. Curtis seems very much aware of the little details of each character and their dynamics with each other that he manages to capture it in such a seamless manner.

After all, even with its soap opera-ish narratives, the true joy of watching any ‘Downton Abbey’ content, whether it’s the series or the movies, is its dignity and elegance and the deep relationships of these characters. A lot of the stories in the show are familiar and universal. What makes these characters so endearing is their interactions with each other.

The whole cast has returned and they fit back into their roles effortlessly. The slight changes are evident – Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) has come to fully accept her role as the head of Downton Abbey despite the absence of her adventurous husband; Edith (Laura Carmichael) is happier and more confident; Tom Branson (Allen Leech) feels most at ease now with the family having found someone of his own through Lucy (Tuppence Middleton); Carson (Jim Carter) is struggling with retirement while Barrow (Robert James-Collier) has come into his own as Downton Abbey’s new butler, and the like – and we just pick up from where we left off in the last film.

^{Photo: Universal Pictures}

At a hundred and twenty-five minutes, ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era” begins like just any other episode of the series but as the story unfolds, it starts to become clear that there seems to be a finality to all of this. The story happens in two parts working simultaneously.

The first story is set in a villa in the south of France, which Lady Violet (Maggie Smith) inherited from an old suitor over 50 years ago who has just passed away. Lady Violet has given the villa to Sybil, Tom’s daughter. Invited by the suitor’s son and wife, the family must uncover the mystery of such an expensive inheritance from a suitor Lady Violet had only met for just a week.

The second story is set in Downton Abbey when a film production wants to use the manor as a set for a movie. While the idea is considered “crass” and too lowly for such a distinguished house, the payment for rent would greatly help to maintain the expensive manor and Lady Mary agrees. The arrival of film stars into the manor turns everything upside-down, including another potential suitor for Lady Mary, who is questioning whether her husband truly loves her or not.

^{Photo: Universal Pictures}

When Downton Abbey first came out in 2010, it was deemed as a study between class divisions – the lives and troubles of the people “upstairs” (the upper class) and those “downstairs” (the lower class) – it was a way to peer into, dissect, and criticize the complex class system of Britain.

As the seasons of the show progressed, it became clear that series creator Julian Fellowes was showing how unnecessary and even backward this idea of such a class system is. There is just as much goodness and nobility in the people downstairs and just as much prejudice and untoward behavior from the people upstairs. I have always felt that Fellowes has been criticizing this class system but he also treats it with such love and reverence.

In ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era,’ he once again brings in more elements that question this system. The “crass movie people” that have come into Downton Abbey juxtaposes the changes in the film industry from silent film to film with sound (the ‘talkies’) with that of the class system; it is a sign that the world is moving forward. On the other hand, the story in the South of France puts into light the question of dynasties when the secret behind the relationship of Lady Violet and her suitor puts Lord Grantham’s (Hugh Bonneville) whole life into question.

^{Photo: Universal Pictures}

While the film (and the whole series) can serve as a study and criticism of this British elitist class system, the way it treats its characters of high rank and status with so much care and love is now a little uncomfortable for me as I am now older and more aware of these systems of inequality. What saves ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ is how wonderfully familiar these characters have become and that at the very center of this movie – and the whole series, for that matter – is the warm and tender heart at its core. There is elegance, grace, dignity, and goodness in all the stories of ‘Downton Abbey.’

In this current world that seems so crazy and messy and chaotic, ‘Downton Abbey’ becomes a breath of fresh air. It is a pleasant watch that brings you back to the days when everything felt more civil, more polite. And for that, I will always treasure this show and its movies.

My Rating:

––

‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ opens in Phillippine cinemas on Wednesday, May 18, released exclusively at selected Ayala Malls Cinemas. Buy your tickets here.

ALSO READ:
Film Facts: Five Things to Know About ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’

May 17, 2022
What to Watch on Netflix PH, HBO GO, & More This Week of May 16 to 22, 2022

Streaming services have really redefined entertainment for everyone, and with more viewers exploring more shows across different platforms, the demand and competition between these streaming sites have resulted in a vast pool of content one can watch from their own TVs and gadgets.

If you’re always on the lookout for the latest releases on Netflix, HBO GO, and other streaming services here in the Philippines, we’ve got you covered! On this list, we round up new movies and series that are heading to your favorite streamers from May 16 to 22, 2022!

Netflix

Vampire in the Garden (Series)

May 16 | Watch it here

After humans lost most of the land they call home to the vampires, a small population of survivors created a walled town where they can live in peace. Can the encounter between a young human girl and the Vampire Queen spark an opportunity for peace between the two races?

Cyber Hell: Exposing an Internet Horror (Film)

May 18 | Watch it here

This documentary from Korea exposes a network of online chatrooms that run rampant with sex crimes.

Love, Death, & Robots Volume 3 (Series)

May 20 | Watch it here

The animated anthology returns to bring us more fascinating and gripping stories that tackle both technology and fantasy.

The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib

May 19 | Watch it here

After being framed and forced to revert back to his old Boss Baby self, Theodore Templeton and Baby Corp employee Tina co-lead a team to increase Baby Love.

HBO GO

The Time Traveler’s Wife (Series)

May 16 | Watch it here

This HBO series tells the love story of Henry de Tamble and Clare Abshire– a romantic relationship made complicated by the fact that Henry could time travel, but the strange phenomenon is out of his control.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoYXtKF_g1Y

ALSO READ
Q&A: HBO’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ Series Cast & Creators Talk About Time Travel, Love, & More

The Boss Baby: Family Business

May 21 | Watch it here

Tim Templeton and his Boss Baby brother Ted are now adults who have drifted apart. They are then forced to team up once more to prevent an evil genius from turning toddlers into monstrous brats.

Apple TV+

Now & Then

May 20 | Watch it here

Six best friends embark on an epic weekend to celebrate their graduation, but the celebration turns into a tragedy that will haunt them 20 years later through a blackmail text.

—
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ALSO READ
35 Pinoy Movies You Can Stream for Free Right Now

May 17, 2022
Film Facts: Five Things to Know About ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’

Good news, Downtonians! Next up on the big screen is ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era,’ opening exclusively at selected Ayala Malls Cinemas. The Philippines is also getting it two days before its U.S. release!

In the new film, the well-loved characters from the popular six-season British drama series ‘Downton Abbey‘ journey to the South of France, where they uncover the mystery of the Dowager Countess’ newly inherited villa.

Before we experience the historical drama of the Crawleys on the big screen once more, we’re giving you some fun facts about this latest installment to the ‘Downton Abbey’ franchise to get you excited to head to the cinemas.

1. ‘A New Era’ is a follow-up to the 2019 feature film, ‘Downton Abbey’

Photo: Universal Pictures

The first film followed the lives of the series’ characters around 18 months from its finale episode. The Crawley household was presented a challenge – a visit from the King and Queen of England. In ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era,’ they are now in the roaring twenties, with everything moving towards modernity. The Dowager Countess, portrayed by Maggie Smith, inherits a new villa located in the south of France. Meanwhile, a filmmaker wants to direct a motion picture in Downton Abbey, receiving mixed reactions from everyone in the household.

2. The film sequel is still penned by ‘Downton Abbey’ award-winning creator Julian Fellowes

Julian Fellows, the scribe behind the upper-crust stories of the British drama, is once again writing the film’s screenplay. If you’re a fan of posh period settings similar to ‘Downton Abbey,’ then Fellows’ other shows like ‘The English Game’ on Netflix and ‘The Gilded Age’ on HBO GO would definitely be your cup of tea.

3. Directing the film sequel is Simon Curtis, who is married to Elizabeth McGovern, who plays Cora Crawley

Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley and Laura Carmichael as Edith Pelham
Photo: Universal Pictures

This isn’t the first time the English director is working with his wife on the big screen. In 2015, Simon Curtis directed Woman in Gold, a biographical drama film starring Helen Mirren, where Elizabeth McGovern played a judge.

4. The main cast of ‘Downton Abbey’ all return for the movie sequel

Penelope Wilton as Isobel Grey, Baroness Merton and Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Photo: Universal Pictures

Some of your favorite characters returning to the big screen are Maggie Smith (Dowager Countess), Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Crawley), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Talbot), Laura Carmichael (Edith Pelham), and Jim Carter (Charles Carson).

5. This is the first time the cast is filming on location in France

Image: www.rocabella.fr

Aside from the filming in Highclere Castle in Berkshire (the ancestral home of Downton), they also filmed ‘A New Era’ on location in the south of France. According to this interview with the film’s location manager, the villa that the Dowager Countess comes into possession of is Rocabella, located in Le Pradet, France. Director Simon Curtis mentions in another interview that there was a big possibility they couldn’t film on location due to the border closures in France during the pandemic, so they prepared a Plan B of locations in the UK for French scenes. It’s a good thing they were able to pull through because just by looking at the Rocabella website, we’re already stunned by its beauty!

ALSO READ:
Good to Be Home: A Review of ‘Downton Abbey’

‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ opens in Phillippine cinemas on Wednesday, May 18, released exclusively at selected Ayala Malls Cinemas. Buy your tickets online here!

May 17, 2022
WATCH: Singer-Songwriter syd hartha on New Single ‘kung nag-aatubili’

Filipino singer-songwriter syd hartha returns to her roots on the stripped-down single “kung nag-aatubili.”

The folk-pop tune will be part of her upcoming 5-track EP to be released on the first quarter of 2022, and her first original material for 2021 after contributing vocals for Tokimeki Records’ city pop-inspired “Carnival” and participating in Coke Studio Season 4.

In an exclusive interview, the 20-year-old artist shares how uploading her music to YouTube kickstarted her career, opens up on what her new single “kung nag-aatubili” means, and shares how important it is for artists to speak up on social issues. Watch the full interview below:

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“kung nag-aatubili” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.

May 13, 2022
Prepare for Takeoff with ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ New Character Posters

Meet the best of the best. Get to know the Top Gun: Maverick crew with the reveal of their individual character posters. See them on the biggest screen possible on Wednesday, May 25 in theaters and IMAX across the Philippines.

Watch the film’s new spot below:

About Top Gun: Maverick

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris.

The film is written by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, based the characters created by Jim Cash & Jack Epps, Jr. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie and David Ellison.

Top Gun: Maverick is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Connect with #TopGun and tag paramountpicsph

May 13, 2022
Try These 6 Exciting Summer Activities from Metro Channel’s ‘Beached’

With the hottest season of the year officially on, you might be one of those who have already planned a beach getaway or outdoor trip to cool down and make up for the past two summers spent cooped up at home.

To add a little more excitement to your long-awaited vacation, we’ve rounded up some must-try activities based on Metro Channel’s travel show, “Beached,” that you can get inspiration from and, hopefully, be able to do with your friends or family.

1. Go ziplining in Biaringan, Romblon

The Biaringan zipline is the only zipline in the Philippines that goes from one island to another. You’ll enjoy this zipline adventure, which has a total length of 1,350 meters to and fro, so it’s surely something to check off your bucket list in case you travel to Romblon. Not to mention the view is marvelous!

2. Swim with whale sharks in Sorsogon

This activity is not for the faint-hearted but if you love the ocean and have always been fascinated with sea creatures, this would be a dream come true for you. This remarkable experience—which even made “Beached” co-host Rachel Peters cry—will also make you appreciate the beauty of marine life even more.

3. Experience skydiving in San Vicente, Palawan

Sure, leaping off a plane thousands of feet above the ground sounds terrifying, but skydiving is definitely something that a lot of people cannot wait to check off their bucket list. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you should surely take cue from Marc and Rachel who described their respective experiences as “so fun” and “absolutely spectacular.” Get ready to shrug off those nerves and sign up for this electrifying activity.

4. Navigate Boracay’s marine life via an underwater scooter

Ever wanted to have a stroll underwater? Then this one is for you! Unlike helmet diving, where one needs to be cautious and stay in one place, underwater scooter or HydroBOB allows someone to go around more comfortably while submerged in the ocean. It might be harder to enjoy for those who are claustrophobic, but the thrilling experience of being up close with marine life will surely convince those who have doubts to try this one out.

5. Try canyoneering in Badian, Cebu

If you are up for some challenging (but worth it!) outdoor adventure, you should definitely take on canyoneering, which involves travelling down creeks or streams within canyons. As seen on an episode of “Beached,” Marc and co-host Maggie Wilson embarked on this fun adventure by climbing, jumping, sliding down, and even swinging as they made their exit in Kawasan Falls—a pristine natural wonder that will surely exceed your expectations.

6. Take a tour of the Piñones mangrove forest in Puerto Rico on eFoil

Local destinations are undoubtedly top-tier, but if you’re setting your sights on international travel this year and have saved up enough for new escapades, why not visit Puerto Rico? Marc and guest co-host Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2018 Krystal Xamairy explore the “Island of Enchantment” on one of the most recent episodes of “Beached.” Among the places they explored was the Piñones mangrove aboard the local invention, eFoil, a self-propelled hydrofoil surfboard that lifts someone off the water using a remote control. This water sport is truly one for the books!

Don’t miss the latest “Beached” episodes on Metro Channel, available on SKYcable channel 52 (SD) and channel 174 (HD), Cignal channel 69, and GSAT channel 70. Episode highlights of “Beached” are available on Metro.Style’s YouTube channel while full episodes can be seen on the Facebook page of Metro.Style.

For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok or visit www.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.

May 13, 2022
Made in Bangkok’s New Seafood Menu Is So Good, Even Meat-Lovers Will Love

Almost a year since its launch, Made in Bangkok has finally released their second set of menu with more flavorful dishes to boot! Now complete with appetizers, salad, and more seafood dishes that are perfect to pair with their coconut plain rice.

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As mentioned, they have focused on the bounties of the sea with the Salmon Curry (P690/single; P1,360/tray) as the highlight. Served with their coconut plain rice, it has perfectly cooked fatty salmon swimming in rich and creamy red curry sauce with cherry tomato. There’s also the Sweet Chili Tiger Prawns (P720) that’s even more perfect after popping it in the air fryer for a few minutes. A serving has four jumbo tiger prawns tossed in fried basil sweet chili.

For something extra refreshing, the Prawn Pomelo Salad (P480) is a must-order. This has freshly poached prawns that are extra plump, served with Davao pomelo on top of fresh greens and fried shallots, served with a sweet and tart lime coconut dressing. We’re definitely starting a petition to bottle this dressing!

A great pica-pica option, or if you’re a rice eater is the Crispy Prawn Cakes (P430) which has finely chopped fresh prawns in tom yum paste and served with cucumber sweet chili and Thai nam phrik sauce. There’s also the Salmon Spring Rolls (P470) that’s an instant favorite. These are crispy fried salmon spring roll with homemade red curry, fresh garlic, and coriander.

Ready to have the THAI-stiest feast? Made in Bangkok is open daily for delivery from 11:30am to 7:00pm. They accept same-day orders with a lead time of 2 hours and accept advance orders via their website.

May 12, 2022