The Early Years of Darren Espanto

Who is Darren Espanto?

The 14 year old teenager mostly known as the contestant with distinct powerful pop voice who performed his own version of the OPM classic hits “Ngayon” and “You Are My Song” and was mentored and coached by Sarah Geronimo in The Voice Kids Philippines Season 1. This stint solidified him not only as a familiar name in every Filipino household but also attracting fans all over the country instantly.

At the age of 2, Canadian-born Darren Lyndon Gonzales Espanto discovered his love for singing. His Filipino parents both had the same passion for arts and music.

But prior to his rise and fame due to his appearance in the said competition, what most people little know was he also joined a reality TV show in Canada back in 2012. YTV’s “The Next Star Season 5” paved the way for his career as a singer and performer. He was the youngest finalist to ever grace the competition.

Enjoy award-winning Filipino movies on HOOQ

HOOQ, Asia’s largest video-on-demand service, was the recent exclusive presenter of the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival and its New Wave category. Together with MMFF, they both answered the call of entertainment buffs who enjoy watching their favorite films and TV shows wherever and whenever they want; through streaming and downloading of award-winning and quality locally-produced films. 

Since 2010, the New Wave category has given independent filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work and the chance to have more funding for future film projects.  This year, aside from the animated and short film entries being shown in cinemas, they were also released through the HOOQ app. It was the first time in the history of MMFF that entries were shown simultaneously online and in theaters. 

Vilma Santos' "Everything About Her" Trailer Released!

The Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos is back for another moving and powerful movie under star cinema with "Everything About Her". The movie also stars Angel Locsin and Xian Lim which will be theire first movie pair up.The last movies that had Vilma was way back in 2013 for Ekstra (The Bit Player) for Cinemalaya, and "The Healing" back in 2012.

The movie is scheduled to be released on January 27, 2015. For now here is the trailer...

Dondon Monteverde Releases Statement on "Honor Thy Father" Disqualification

Dondon Monteverde of Reality Entertainment the production house of Erik Matti's Honor Thy Father finally speaks out after he received a letter yesterday about the disqualification of the film due to "non-disclosure" of the participation in the Cinema One Originals Festival.

When the news broke out, Erik Matti was the first to share to the public about the fiasco on facebook and other social media expressed disgust that along with the shrinking cinema screenings of the movie, then comes this disqualification for Best Picture in the MMFF Awards.

After a few hours and with the hashtag #DemandForHonorThyFather trended on twitter. They finally released a full statement via Dondon Monteverde. Below is the statement posted on their facebook page.

Honor Thy Father Barred For Best Picture By MMFF Committee?

In an post by "Honor Thy Father" director Erik Matti, the MMFF Committee advised Reality Entertainment Roland Monteverde that due to "non-disclosure" of the participation of his film at the Cinema One Originals Festival as Opening Film, this would disqualify the film for Best Picture for the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards.

The director has posted dismay about several theaters that are removing the film from their line up to give way to the popular entries this year. Despite great reviews about the film from its earlier screenings, it was raved to be a contender for best film.

However, along with the post of Erik Matti was the letter that shows the disclosure of the film as it was shown in the Cinema One Festival. People took to social media in support of the film with the hashtag #DemandForHonorThyFather. 

Would there be politics behind this?

Vhong, Sweet, Rayver, Alex, Lotlot And Janine Headline The MMFF Horor-Comedy "Buy Now, Die Later"

Laugh hard and scream your hearts out with the ensemble cast of the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Buy Now, Die Later” -- Vhong Navarro, John “Sweet” Lapus, Rayver Cruz, Alex Gonzaga, Janine Gutierrez and Lotlot de Leon.

            

The psychological thriller “BNDL” is a different take on the supernatural as each of the character’s story is weaved around the five senses – sense of sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste.

Each of the lead stars represent a sense: Vhong for sense of sight; Sweet, sense of smell; Rayver, sense of taste; Alex, sense of hearing; and the mother and daughter team of Janine and Lotlot, sense of touch. 

In the story, the characters strike a deal with curio shop owner Santi (TJ Trinidad), who sells eclectic items that grant every customer’s wish at a hefty cost.

Vice, Coco, Jadine spreads love and laughter at the MMFF with Beauty And The Bestie

STAR Cinema continues its tradition of non-stop fun and laughter for the whole family in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) as it collaborates with Viva Films for its MerryGalo-- Wenn V. Deramas’ Beauty And The Bestie starring Vice Ganda and Coco Martin.

With a script written by Mel Del Rosario, Beauty And The Bestie marks the 5th team-up of the phenomenal and unbeatable tandem of Deramas and Vice Ganda in the MMFF, this time with television’s Primetime King Coco Martin.

The film is centered on Erika (Vice Ganda), a gay photographer, and his former best friend, special agent Emman (Coco Martin). Emman offers Erika a secret mission to post as the missing Miss Uzeklovakia in the Miss Uniworld 2015 pageant to prevent the latter’s recluse country from waging a possible world war. As Erika accepts the mission, the former BFFs find themselves entangled in the crazy world of beauty pageants in their action-packed adventure of finding the elusive Miss Uzeklovakia. As they race against time, Erika and Emman find themselves in an awkward situation that forces them to rekindle a peculiar flame in their past.