Welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with an auspicious celebration at Diamond Hotel Philippines, where vibrant traditions, festive flavors, and joyful gatherings come together to usher in luck, prosperity, and new beginnings.
Gather with family and friends over a specially prepared Chinese Lunar New Year Lunch and Dinner Buffet at Corniche on February 16 and 17, featuring authentic Cantonese specialties by Chinese Chef Yang Yong. Priced at Php 3,988 net per person, the lavish spread includes festive favorites such as Salmon Yu Sheng, Teochew-style roast suckling pig, and a selection of symbolic dishes believed to attract abundance and good fortune for the year ahead.
Adding to the celebratory spirit, guests can witness the vibrant Lion and Dragon Dance at the hotel lobby on February 17 at 11 a.m.—a lively tradition said to invite prosperity and positive energy.
For those marking the occasion at home, Diamond Hotel also presents exclusive Chinese New Year takeaway selections, from a hearty set menu to Gilded Citrus desserts, all perfect for sharing. Orders may be placed online at onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com until February 17.
For reservations call (63 2) 8528-3000 or email restaurant_rsvn@diamondhotel.com. Guests may also purchase vouchers at onlineshopping.diamondhotel.com. Prior reservations are encouraged. Offers are not valid in conjunction with other promotions.
Diamond Hotel Philippines is located at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila. For inquiries, please call (63 2) 8528-3000 or email guestservices@diamondhotel.com. For more information on Diamond Hotel Philippines, please visit www.diamondhotel.com. For hotel updates and special offerings, follow the hotel on Facebook at Diamond Hotel Philippines, and Instagram at DiamondHotelPh.
There’s something about the dynamic between director Irene Emma Villamor and actress Anne Curtis. Their tandem in Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story showcased how Villamor understands all of Curtis’ strengths and fully utilizes them, highlighting the full range of her acting talents while maximizing her magnetic screen presence. Along with Dingdong Dantes, the three made Sid & Aya: Not a Love Story a wonderful cinematic experience that proved mainstream movies can be both surprising and intellectually as well as emotionally engaging.
So swapping Dantes for the ever-reliable Jericho Rosales, The Loved One ups the ante, with Villamor presenting us with another romantic drama that pushes the boundaries of mainstream cinema, opting for restraint and introspection. Villamor, Curtis, and Rosales deliver a powerhouse film that explores how a partnership can shift over time and how memory is always a subjective experience.
The Loved One tells the story of Ellie (Curtis) and Eric (Rosales). It begins with Eric waiting for Ellie to arrive at a restaurant – filmed in black and white – where tension simmers from their text message exchange. Something has clearly happened between them.
While waiting, Eric begins to reminisce, and all these scenes are shown in color: the beginnings of their relationship all the way through ten years until this point, from their first dates to moving in together, to each protagonist’s highs and lows in life. Through his recollections, we witness their past until Ellie arrives and we see what those ten years have come to mean.
Villamor first posits that one person in any relationship is “the lover,” the one who loves more, while the other is “the loved one,” or the person who receives more of the love in that partnership. In the hodgepodge of memories that Eric brings up, all from various parts of their relationship, we see the less privileged Eric juggling work and his relationship with Ellie, while also providing for his family and we bear witness to his struggles and effort that he has put into his life. What’s wonderful about Villamor’s film is that its politics is toned down, though very clear in every scene. Ellie, coming from a more privileged background, lives in a huge house, practically a mansion, and all her magnificent wardrobe are either designer or custom-made clothing.
The restaurants they dine in are all fancy, and while the film never preaches about their rich-girl, poor-guy dynamic, it’s there for us to see. Eric never really brings it up, but it is something we notice, adding another layer to the effort he has taken to push their relationship for ten years.
But memory is subjective, and near the midpoint, Villamor does an incredible trick where Curtis’ Ellie looks directly at the camera and we begin seeing events from her point-of-view. Scenes are revisited, but through her perspective, and what we get is a full picture of a relationship that began earnestly and with the purest intentions. Yet, as life got in the way and the couple grew and changed, something was left behind.
Curtis and Rosales are in excellent form here. They deliver the carefully scripted lines so effortlessly that they make it sound casual and spontaneous. These are lived-in performances, and they communicate with their whole being that as Villamor directs the entire film to never lean into over-dramatics, the inner worlds of both characters are there for us to see.
While Rosales embodies the typical Pinoy man with big aspirations and dreams (which he does effortlessly), Curtis has the unenviable task of playing the far more complex Ellie. She’s a rich girl, but there’s an entire world inside of her and Curtis fully understood the assignment. Even when portraying Ellie in Eric’s recollection of events, the real Ellie is present, unseen by Eric but visible to the audience. When she takes over the narrative, we see it full stop. It’s such a detailed and nuanced performance that this might be the best Anne Curtis performance I’ve ever seen. I’m such a fan.
This film takes the personal and the specific and opens it up to the realm of the universal. The little fights they have, the joys they find in each other, the little things that make a relationship – both the good and the bad – are there for us to see. I’m very moved by this film, and it might be one of my favourites in Villamor’s impressive filmography.
My Rating: 5 Stars
Experience love, memory, and all the little moments in between with The Loved One. Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales shine in Irene Emma Villamor’s deeply moving romantic drama, now showing in cinemas. Don’t miss it.
I’ve never read the novel by Emily Bronte, but I have seen my fair share of BBC adaptations of Wuthering Heights. But after reading through all the sentiments on social media about Emerald Fennell’s new film adaptation of the 1847 novel, and considering what I know of Fennell from her films Promising Young Woman and Saltburn I kind of curbed my expectations. Even the idea that the soundtrack would include new songs from pop singer-songwriter Charlie XCX told me a lot I walked into the film.
Fennell had stated that she is merely doing her own version of the story, and in this take, it is the story of two children, Cathy and Heathcliff, who become close friends when Cathy’s drunken father, a somewhat disgraced lord, adopted Heathcliff as a ward. In the decrepit home of Wuthering Heights, the two grow up finding solace in each other, with Heathcliff promising to protect Cathy and Cathy promising to never leave his side. They grow up with deep affection for each other, but their circumstances would not find their marriage favourably. Cathy’s father is perpetually broke from gambling and drinking, and her only real prospect is to marry rich. Heathcliff, merely a ward of questionable origins, has no chance of marrying someone like Cathy.
As their love for each other grows from familial affection into something romantic coinciding with their sexual awakenings, something even more primal than that, their love and friendship constantly push them toward hurting each other. When life at Wuthering Heights becomes dire, Cathy chooses to marry their wealthy neighbour, Edgar Linton.
Heathcliff takes a horse and leaves before he discovers the truth about Cathy’s feelings for him. Years later, Cathy is living in wealth and privilege and is with child when Heathcliff returns. He has become wealthy, having purchased Wuthering Heights. The passion they still. harbor for one another ultimately destroys them and everyone around them.
If anything, Fennel has a striking visual style and creates some very powerful imagery throughout the film. The way she captured sensuality in Saltburn finds its way here as well. She plays with the film’s sound design so that the heavy breaths characters take almost evokes a sexuality, even when the imagery suggests the opposite – take note of the opening scene. It’s as if she’s deliberately creating a link between sex and violence.
She also uses elaborate set pieces that look like intentionally constructed, emphasizing to show off the movie’s artifice. Everything is hyper-real as if signaling to us that this is adaptation is not to be taken too seriously.
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, as Cathy and Heathcliff have an undeniable chemistry. However, while Elordi’s has proven his range in Priscilla, his performance here feels somewhat one-note, it’s a shame that his full range isn’t utilized here, and it’s Robbie who takes center stage. She’s a wildfire, a tempest and she does not play for our sympathy. Instead, she portrays Cathy as a spoiled woman unable to control her innermost desires.
The perfect foil for her is Hong Chau as Nelly, Cathy’s companion. Caught in the crossfire of Cathy and Heathcliff’s destructive love, Nelly becomes the grounding force, attempting to impose a sense of order on her childhood friend. Yet even she takes things to an extreme, having a hand in the separation of the two. Chau is brilliant. While her work is less explosive than Robbie’s, as a more dignified character, she has to hold her emotions close, revealing what she really feels through subtle gestures and looks. Despite Nelly’s flaws, she becomes the only character I could truly grasp and connect with.
Despite Robbie and Chau’s performances and Fennell’s powerful visual style, I am made to feel uncomfortable with how the film positions the love story as a tragic romance when they are so toxic to each other and to everyone around them.
Their destructive choices and the film centers this as the driving force of the narrative. The music swirls when they find themselves intertwined. At some point, I did feel that there is a commentary here against the class system that puts Cathy’s future in the hands of a wealthy husband and not with the person she truly loves, who has no prospects. It could be a message that Fennell is going for if she didn’t seem to put so much emphasis on how wonderful it is to be rich during this era of civilization. Robbie has a plethora of costume changes, each one more grand, more stylish than the last. If the film is attempting to make any commentaries against social class inequality, it falters by enjoying the moments of privileges Cathy gains from marrying a man for convenience rather than love.
The film focuses more on the passion and illicit affair between Cathy and Heathcliff than on the damage they inflict on those around them, which makes it feel as though Fennell is more fascinated and interested by the subject matter than by its consequences. This is what makes the film so hard to stomach despite its gorgeous visual elements.
My Rating: 2 Stars
Love. Obsession. Destruction. Experience the stormy passion of Cathy and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights on the big screen. Catch Emerald Fennell’s daring adaptation in theaters now, and don’t miss the drama, the visuals, and the unforgettable performances of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
This Valentine’s season, love doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful. Sometimes, it’s as simple as sharing a sandwich and coffee — and a smile.
Known for its iconic donuts and feel-good coffee moments, Randy’s is now serving its newest and most affordable combo ever: 1 sandwich + 1 coffee starting at just P195. Guests can enjoy any sandwich of their choice paired with Brewed Coffee topped with RFoam — Randy’s signature foam that has quickly become a must-try favorite. Smooth, creamy, and perfectly balanced, RFoam elevates every sip into a signature Randy’s experience.
Among the sandwich lineup is the crowd-favorite Soft Bun Bacon Mushroom Melt — a warm, savory combination of crispy bacon, rich mushrooms, and melted cheese nestled in Randy’s signature soft bun. It’s the kind of combination that feels comforting and satisfying — just like your favorite person.
Mix, Match & Upgrade Your Coffee
Want it iced? Guests can also mix and match their sandwich with any iced coffee for a minimal additional P60 — making it easy to customize your perfect combo while still keeping it affordable.
From early mornings to late-night cravings, this newest combo shows that premium taste doesn’t have to come at a premium price.
Visit Randy’s at:
Uptown (Address: Uptown 36th Street cor 9th Avenue, Uptown The Fort 1634 Taguig City, Contact: 0917 144 9667; Store Hours: 24 Hours; Email: randysuptown@bistro.com.ph)
Shangri-La Plaza (Address: 6th Floor Main Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Wack-Wack, Greenhills, Contact: 0917 144 9960, Store Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Email: randysshangrila@bistro.com.ph)
Randy’s One Ayala (Address: Food C-102 G/F One Ayala, Ayala Avenue, San Lorenzo, Makati City NCR, Contact: 0956 785 9326, Store Hours: Monday – Friday: 24 Hours; Saturday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Email: randysoneayala@bistro.com.ph)
Randy’s Evia (Address: GFL-59A1 Evia Lifestyle Center, Villar City, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City NCR, Contact: 0907 478 7833, Store Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Friday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Email: randys.evia@bistro.com.ph)
Okada Manila (Address: Unit C-1B2, Coral Wing UG/F Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Tambo, Parañaque City NCR; Contact: 0917 145 0251; Store Hours: 24 Hours; Email: randysokada@bistro.com.ph)
Vermosa (Address: Ground Floor NF-1 Bldg. D, Ayala Malls Vermosa, Daang Hari Road, Pasong Buaya 2, Imus City, Cavite; Contact: 0926 695 6818; Store Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Email: randys.vermosa@bistro.com.ph)
Robinsons Magnolia (Address: Robinsons Magnolia Main Entrance; Contact: 0991 025 9122; Store Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Email: randysmagnolia@bistro.com.ph)
Potato Corner is entering Valentine’s weekend with a promo that puts value front and center. From February 13 to 16, the favorite flavored fries brand is offering a Buy One, Free One deal, giving customers more fries at no extra cost.
Designed for sharing—or simply enjoying more for yourself—the limited-time offer includes:
• Buy Mega Fries, get a FREE Large Fries
• Buy Giga or Tera Fries, get a FREE Jumbo Fries
As consumers look for sulit options amid Valentine’s season deals, Potato Corner delivers exactly that through generous portions and its signature flavored fries. The promo fits seamlessly into everyday moments—from barkada hangouts and family snack breaks to quick office runs—making Valentine’s weekend more accessible and less complicated.
Known for value-driven promotions tied to key brand moments like National Fries Day, Potato Corner’s Valentine’s weekend offer is a timely seasonal treat that stays true to what fans love most: bold flavors, big servings, and sulit deals.
As more brands roll out Valentine’s offers, Potato Corner stands out by keeping things simple: more fries, same price, no strings attached. It’s a straightforward way to turn a regular snack stop into a rewarding experience.
The Buy One, Free One promo runs from February 13 to 16 at all Potato Corner outlets nationwide.
Under the blazing California sun, a silent war is unfolding.
In Crime 101, an elusive jewel thief prepares for the score of a lifetime. A seasoned insurance broker finds her career hanging by a thread. And a relentless detective inches closer to uncovering the mastermind behind a string of high-profile heists along the Southern California coast.
Directed, written, and produced by Bart Layton, and based on Don Winslow’s acclaimed novella, Crime 101 is a tense, character-driven thriller powered by an exceptional cast: Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Mark Ruffalo. The film opens in Philippine cinemas on February 18.
Casting the Perfect Trio
Pulling off a story this layered required more than big names — it demanded transformative performances.
Producer Eric Fellner, co-chair of Working Title Films, emphasized that while the cast boasts undeniable star power, it’s their craft that truly elevates the film.
“You can talk about them being a great cast in terms of their names, but they’re also phenomenal actors,” Fellner says. “Every single one of them brings their character into the world beautifully.”
The result is a gripping ensemble where every glance, every pause, and every decision carries weight.
Watch the Trailer here:
Chris Hemsworth as Davis: Precision and Paranoia
Chris Hemsworth leads the charge as Davis, a meticulous jewel thief whose carefully constructed criminal empire has left him isolated and guarded. Focused on executing one final high-stakes job, Davis operates with icy control — but beneath the surface, cracks begin to show.
To build authenticity, Layton and producer Dimitri Doganis conducted interviews with real jewel thieves and the law enforcement officers who pursued them.
“For us, that isn’t unusual. That is absolutely the standard place that one starts building a story. Real people, real experiences,” Doganis says. “Then you make sure that what you are doing really feels like it’s anchored in truth. I think that’s what we were always struggling for, even with something which is entirely invented. It has to plug into broader truths about who we are and how we live and what we want if it’s going to stay with people. Both jewel thieves and the policemen who chased them were really important sources to get certain details.”
Grounded in real-world insight, Davis emerges not just as a criminal mastermind, but as a man wrestling with the consequences of his own ambition.
Halle Berry as Sharon Coombs: A Career on the Brink
Standing at the emotional core of the film is Sharon Coombs, portrayed by Academy Award winner Halle Berry. A longtime insurance broker whose elite clients are directly impacted by the jewel thefts, Coombs finds herself confronting both professional frustration and personal reckoning.
At a pivotal crossroads, she questions the value placed on women at midlife — especially in high-pressure industries.
“One of the reasons I was really attracted to this movie when Bart first talked to me was because I think it’s very poignant,” Berry says. “It speaks to who we are as women today, and women in midlife, and how we are often discarded and we are devalued. I’ve been on a tear to bring our second acts to the forefront, because so many of us have struggled in the workplace.”
Berry brings depth and vulnerability to Coombs, transforming her into more than collateral damage in a criminal saga. She becomes a force in her own right.
Off-camera, the experience proved equally meaningful.
“This is one of the best movie making experiences I’ve ever had, and that’s a lot to say when you’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Berry says. “But between Chris, Bart and Mark, I have never felt more cared for, more respected, more listened to, and more supported.”
Mark Ruffalo as Detective “Lou” Lubesnik: Justice at All Costs
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Detective “Lou” Lubesnik, played by Mark Ruffalo — a lawman driven by duty and an unshakable need to solve the case.
Obsessed with connecting the dots behind the jewel heists, Lubesnik edges closer to Davis with every new lead. Ruffalo worked closely with Layton to ensure the character’s moral dilemmas felt layered and real.
“I was really excited about this when it came along,” Ruffalo says. “My talks with Bart were great. There was a lot of back and forth about the character and just how to punch out some of those moral themes to make the suspense better.”
Interestingly, Hemsworth points out that Davis and Lubesnik share unexpected similarities.
“We see Mark Ruffalo as someone who has never really been given his due or been taken seriously, as he deserves,” Hemsworth says. “There’s a slight self-sabotaging nature about the way the character operates. He’s kind of at that point in his life where he’s asking the question: is this as good as it gets? Have I run my course now or is there more to be had?”
Two men on different sides of the law — both questioning their legacy, both chasing something just out of reach.
Suspense Anchored in Truth
What sets Crime 101 apart is its commitment to realism. Drawing from firsthand accounts of jewel thieves and investigators, the film crafts a suspenseful narrative that feels unsettlingly plausible.
As tensions rise and alliances shift, each character must confront hard truths about ambition, relevance, and consequence.
Sleek yet emotionally charged, Crime 101 delivers a powerful cinematic experience where every move matters — and every choice has a cost.
Life today often feels fast-paced and always on. Between long workdays, heavy traffic, back-to-back meetings or classes, and constant notifications, many people find themselves moving through the day on autopilot. In response, more Filipinos—across different ages and lifestyles—are choosing to romanticize everyday life, finding small ways to feel present, ease the daily rush, and enjoy ordinary moments amid the chaos.
foodpanda invites everyone to Make Life Delicious by finding small joys in their own way. For some, it’s taking time to enjoy a hearty meal after a long commute, whether eaten alone at home or shared with family around the table. For others, it’s choosing exactly what they’re craving—from comfort food to lighter bites—or leaning into simple rituals like unhurried mornings, dressing up even for short errands, taking long walks, or putting the phone down while eating.
To make these moments easier to enjoy, customers can get ₱100 off selected restaurants using the promo code SARAP, with varying minimum spends. By combining convenience and affordability, foodpanda helps remove the extra stress of planning meals and makes it easier to enjoy small rewards, whether it’s ordering dinner after a tiring day at work, sending food home to family, or sharing a spontaneous meal with friends.
At its core, Make Life Delicious is a reminder that joy doesn’t always come from big celebrations or special occasions. More often, it’s found in the everyday: in how we eat, pause between responsibilities, and find comfort on busy days. In a world that rarely slows down, making space for these experiences can make daily life feel more fulfilling.
Hell’s Kitchen is heating up—Marvel Television has officially dropped the pulse-racing trailer and stunning key art for the second season of Daredevil: Born Again. Set to premiere on March 24 exclusively on Disney+, the upcoming eight-episode arc promises gritty action, moral complexity, and the return of some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most beloved street-level heroes.
If the trailer is anything to go by, Born Again is about to take fans on a ferocious journey through the heart—and soul—of a city at war.
Familiar Faces, Fierce Comebacks
Leading the cast is Charlie Cox, once again stepping into the shadows as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer torn between justice and vengeance. His nemesis? None other than Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, now serving as New York City’s iron-fisted mayor.
But they’re not the only ones returning. The season brings back key players from past Daredevil and Marvel series:
Deborah Ann Woll as tenacious journalist Karen Page
Ayelet Zurer as the enigmatic Vanessa Fisk
Wilson Bethel as the deadly Bullseye
Margarita Levieva as Matt’s complicated love interest, Heather Glenn
And here’s the kicker: Krysten Ritter makes her long-awaited return as the no-nonsense private eye Jessica Jones, while Matthew Lillard makes his Marvel debut as the shadowy and mysterious Mr. Charles.
A City Crushed Under Power
In Season 2, Wilson Fisk has gone from criminal kingpin to political powerhouse, leveraging his new role as mayor to hunt down public enemy number one—Daredevil.
But Matt Murdock isn’t ready to surrender.
Operating in the margins of a crumbling city, Matt gathers allies, risks everything, and battles his own inner demons in a desperate attempt to bring Fisk’s empire to its knees. It’s not just about vengeance anymore. It’s about survival—and salvation.
Resistance, Redemption, Rebirth
As chaos engulfs Hell’s Kitchen, the series sets the stage for an emotionally charged war that tests loyalty, blurs lines between good and evil, and forces its hero to reckon with his darkest truths.
With showrunners Dario Scardapane, Chris Ord, and Matt Corman steering this comeback, Daredevil: Born Again blends visceral action with sharp storytelling and raw human drama—exactly what fans have been waiting for.
The irresistible allure of bespoke menus beckons at City of Dreams Manila’s signature restaurants, which are presenting Heart’s Day-inspired culinary offerings this Valentine’s weekend.
Crystal Dragon
The integrated resort’s restaurant specializing in Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties entices couples with a five-course menu at P5,500++ per person, available for lunch and dinner on February 13 and 14. Enjoyed in a refined setting, the menu for minimum two persons, starts with: Deep-fried Crispy Stuffed Scallop with prawn mousse and golden creamy pumpkin sauce, and Poached Fish Maw in Spicy Pickled Tomato Broth with cod fish; followed by Wok-fried Tiger Prawns in creamy butter lemon sauce and Pan-seared A5 Wagyu Steak in Chef’s special sauce; and Wok-fried Aromatic Gravy and Crispy Dried Scallop. For a sweet ending, diners will be served a Chilled Osmanthus Sweetened Pear Soup with bird ‘s nest together with a Black Fairy Swan Puff.
Crystal Dragon is open from 12 noon to 11 pm daily.
Nobu Manila
Equally worthy of a celebration is a six-course Valentine’s Omakase at the Manila outpost of the globally renowned restaurant brand founded by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Located at Nobu Hotel Manila, the restaurant’s romantic dinner menu, available on February 13 and 14, is priced at P6,888 net per person. The first course of Sushi Tortilla – a trio of tuna truffle with microgreens, Salmon Spicy Mayo with negi (Japanese long green onion) and tempura crunch, and Lapu-lapu Tiradito – whets the appetite before the mouthwatering second and third courses of assorted sushi, (Bluefin with Wasabi Salsa, Unagi, Ika Yuzu Kosho, and Tamago),served together with Kani Bisuku, a blue crab bisque with sesame seeds, sesame oil, and chives. The palate builds up with Yuzu Dashi Cream Red Snapper with sweet corn salsa, yuzu dashi cream sauce, and coconut kabocha puree; followed by the tempting Sesame-crusted Japanese Wagyu Beef with goma (sesame) crust, beetroot puree, roasted heirloom carrot, and ponzu butter sauce. The Strawberry Yuzu dessert, a medley of strawberry mousse, strawberry compote, jelly, mixed berry sorbet, and yuzu black sesame tuille provides a sweet conclusion to the meal.
Haliya
An amorous dining experience awaits couples at City of Dreams Manila’s modern Filipino restaurant, which presents a special menu that captures the flavors of the season of love. Available for lunch and dinner on February 14, the menu takes guests on a gastronomic journey that commences with an amuse bouche of Lobster Tartare and Caviar Oscetra preceding the five-course menu consisting of: Lover’s Gravlax, an irresistible dish of Beetroot-cured Salmon with citrus segments, red dragon fruit, pearl onion, and spiced coconut vinaigrette; the Red Bell Pepper Krema with beetroot tortellini, basil, cherry tomato, and herb sourdough croutons, which takes the dining experience a notch higher, along with The Scallops, a tempting course of pan-seared scallops, celeriac noodles, and porcini powder; and Chicken and Morel, a combination of chicken farce, bacon-mushroom duxelles, foie gras, morel, Iberico ham jerky, and herb jus. To sweeten the occasion, Haliya’s Valentine’s menu includes unlimited helpings of an array of confections at the dessert station, as well as a choice of two love season-inspired cocktails.
Haliya is open from 12 noon to 11 pm on Valentine’s Day, and its special menu is priced at P9,500 net for two persons.
Café Society
Café Society spoils guests with its array of thoughtfully packaged sweet indulgences to celebrate love this season. Available from February 9 to 15, is a deliciously charming lineup of handcrafted chocolates, decadent cakes, pastries, and other confections that are perfect for gifting to loved ones. Not to be missed are:the Heart-shaped Blueberry Cheesecake, Valentine Assorted Macarons, My Choux Valentine Cake, and Peach Mango Silvanas Cake. For the artisanal chocolates, the Rose-kissed Bear, Love on Wheels, and Heartfelt Surprise are choices that are sure to make the heart flutter, especially if these confections are paired with flowers that are also available at the Café – be it with a long-stem rose, a bouquet of three, six, or 12 roses, if not a full spring bouquet
Café Society is open from 10 am to 9 pm, and on Tuesdays from 8 am. For reservations and information, call (63 2) 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com, or visit https://www.cityofdreamsmanila.com/en/whats-on/concert-series. Explore more of City of Dreams Manila’s promotional offers, rewards, or instantly check Melco Club points with the new Melco Club App, available for free download on iOS and Android.
Disney+ has unveiled the official trailer for FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” a highly anticipated limited series that revisits one of the most captivating romances of the 20th century. Premiering February 13 at 10:00 AM with its first three episodes, the nine-episode event will continue with new installments released weekly.
Serving as the inaugural chapter of Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story” anthology, the series is inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. With sweeping emotion and intimate storytelling, it promises to reintroduce audiences to a relationship that once held the nation spellbound.
America’s Golden Couple
For many, John F. Kennedy Jr. was the embodiment of legacy and charm. Portrayed by Paul Anthony Kelly, he grew up before the public eye—transforming from a young boy marked by tragedy into one of America’s most admired bachelors.
Carolyn Bessette, played by Sarah Pidgeon, was no less compelling. Independent and effortlessly stylish, she climbed the ranks at Calvin Klein, eventually becoming a trusted executive and confidante of the brand’s founder. Her quiet confidence and distinct sense of fashion made her a cultural force long before she became a household name.
When their paths crossed, the connection was immediate—charged, magnetic, undeniable.
Love in the Age of Headlines
Yet, with admiration came scrutiny.
As their whirlwind courtship evolved into marriage, John and Carolyn found themselves at the center of relentless media attention. Cameras flashed. Rumors swirled. Privacy became a luxury they could no longer afford.
The series explores this tension with nuance, charting the emotional highs and devastating lows of a couple navigating devotion beneath the harsh glare of fame. Their love was real and deeply felt—but sustaining it under constant public fascination proved extraordinarily challenging.
Tender yet tragic, the narrative captures how private moments became public spectacle.
A Distinguished Ensemble Cast
Bringing depth to the story is a remarkable ensemble cast, including:
Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy
Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy Onassis
Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein
Leila George as Kelly Klein
Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette
Constance Zimmer as Ann Marie Messina
Each performance adds dimension to a story layered with family legacy, ambition, and the emotional cost of visibility.
From Vision to Screen
Created by Connor Hines, the series is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Connor Hines, Eric Kovtun, Nissa Diederich, Scott Robertson, Monica Levinson, Kim Rosenstock, D.V. DeVincentis, and Tanase Popa. Max Winkler executive produces and directs the pilot episode, establishing the series’ evocative tone.
Produced by 20th Television, the project blends prestige storytelling with historical resonance—offering viewers both spectacle and sensitivity.
A Story That Still Resonates
Decades later, the fascination endures. Their minimalist style, their guarded public appearances, their undeniable chemistry—John and Carolyn remain symbols of modern American mythology.
With “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette,” FX and Disney+ invite audiences to look beyond the headlines and rediscover the people behind them. Emotional, elegant, and unforgettable, the series reexamines a romance that shaped pop culture and continues to spark conversation today.
The first three episodes premiere February 13 at 10:00 AM on Disney+, with new episodes streaming weekly.
Love may be timeless—but some stories echo louder than others.
