Selling of Illegal IPTV Boxes On the Rise; ABS-CBN Files Civil Lawsuits Against Two Pirates Following Criminal Arrest in Los Angeles

It’s not just the COVID-19 epidemic that is hitting the headlines lately; there is also a nationwide epidemic of illegal selling of IPTV boxes in the U.S.

According to Broadband TV News, TV piracy has become big business since the advent of illegal streaming IPTV platforms, which make it easy to distribute, market and sell illegal subscriptions to thousands of channels.

Filipino entertainment and media company ABS-CBN recently filed two civil complaints in U.S. Federal Courts against two individuals in a piracy network spanning across U.S. state lines, seeking damages in the millions for allegedly pirating ABS-CBN’s copyrighted content via illegal IPTV boxes.

One lawsuit was filed in the Federal Court, Southern District of Texas against Alberto Ace Mayol Alfaro.  The second lawsuit was filed in the Federal Court, Central District of California against Romula Araneta “Jon” Castillo.

In addition, Castillo was arrested on February 7, 2020 by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) after an undercover sting operation for his alleged violations of California Penal Code 593(d). Undercover officers purchased five boxes from Castillo, and confirmed one was streaming illegal content live on the scene.

This arrest and accompanying civil lawsuits mark the first actions this year by ABS-CBN in a coming wave against the nationwide epidemic of IPTV box sellers.

ABS-CBN conducted a months-long investigation into the scheme perpetrated by Castillo and his cousin, Alfaro, including undercover purchases from the targets. The lawsuits allege that Castillo and Alfaro engaged in this multi-state scheme to sell these pirated set top boxes to the unsuspecting public.

The lawsuits further allege that Castillo and Alfaro’s pirated set top boxes enabled buyers to access ABS-CBN’s live programming without paying the appropriate fees for such products, causing irreparable harm and damages to ABS-CBN.

ABS-CBN Global Anti-Piracy Head Elisha Lawrence said: “We are thankful for the cooperation of the LA Police Dept. in investigating and arresting Castillo, a kingpin in this pirate box scheme.  Defrauding the public by selling these fake boxes is a scam operation and preying on innocent people.  We are very happy to have the cooperation of the police to enforce against these pirates.”

To avoid being a victim of piracy and malware, stay away from pirate websites and illegitimate sales of unauthorized IPTV boxes. View ABS-CBN content on the official website, TFC.tv.

ABS-CBN Global/TFC, El Pueblo Park Association Present “Sangkap: a Filipino Food History Experience”

First-of-a-kind foodie event this Saturday, February 29, to celebrate Philippine cuisine at the birthplace of Los Angeles

This Saturday, February 29, from 11am-5pm, the Philippines will represent at the El Pueblo Historical Monument – the birthplace of Los Angeles – with a first-of-its-kind event via SANGKAP Filipino Food History.

SANGKAP (which means “ingredient” in Tagalog) presents and celebrates the confluence of Spanish, Mexican, Chinese and other historic and cultural influences in a gastronomic experience of Filipino ingenuity.  The main offering of the event are food tastings from four prominent figures in the LA food scene: Discovery Channel’s “Prison Food” host Chef Johneric Concordia, Downtown LA’s rising star Chef Isa Fabro, restaurateur Gregory Berber of La Luz de Dia, a landmark restaurant that just celebrated 60 years on Olvera Street, and multi-awarded chef and owner of MAX and The Oinkster Andre Guerrero.

PADI's Barkada Bar Tour To Feature Gloc-9, Shanti Dope, And Asintada Artists

Mas bonggang party ang patuloy na hatid sa lahat ng pinakamalaki at number 1 Restaurant & Bar Chain, ang Padi’s!

Ang Padi’s Point, na mas kilala sa tawag na “Padi’s”, ay walang-duda na nagunguna pa rin bilang leader at party place sa bansa, with 26 operational branches Luzon-wide. 

Kilala ang Padi’s bilang paboritong gimikan ng barkada. Known to its nightly entertainment of live bands, Best DJ’s na maghahatid ng mga in na dance music at popular hits. Dinadayo rin ang Padi’s sa mga pagkain at drinks na ginawa para sa barkada—sharing such as the Party of Six, Barkada Feast and the signature 3-Liter Padi’s Cocktail Towers! 

Filipino American film “Death of Nintendo” to make its world premiere at Berlinale 2020

ABS-CBN’s Black Sheep Films production offering will compete in the Kplus Generation programme of the festival

Just two days ago, the German capital started getting caught up in almost 10 days of film high as the 70th Berlin International Film Festival or Berlinale unfolded.  The world’s largest international film festival draws over half a million attendees, including film professionals from over 130 countries.  It showcases 300 films across many categories. As the festival celebrated its glittering start in the Berlinale Palast, it is worth noting that a standout little gem from the Philippines can be found in the deluge of films that is sweeping the festival: it’s called Death of Nintendo.  

TFC airs weekly Sunday Mass online amidst health concerns across Asia

TFC continues it service to the Filipinos overseas in the light of recent indefinite suspensions of Catholic masses in Hong Kong and Singapore in the efforts to reduce the spread of CoViD-19. From February 16, TFC Online as well as the social media pages of TFC Asia, TFC Australia and TFC New Zealand have simultaneously aired the Sunday Mass for the faithful across Asia Pacific.

Religion in the Philippines is predominantly Christian with 81% of the population being Catholic. According to the 2019 data of the Philippines Statistics Authority, there are over 2.3 million overseas Filipino workers with 6.3% based in Hong Kong, 5.7% in Taiwan, 4.9% in Singapore and 2.4 in Malaysia. Another 2.1% of overseas Filipino workers are based in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

The numbers reflect the viewership of the February 16 broadcast as majority came from Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Sheryl Bermudez, TFC’s Marketing Manager for Asia, shares her team’s efforts in solidarity with the overseas Filipinos who wish to still practice their faith at a time of great caution. “We Filipinos in general are spiritual people and going to Sunday Mass plays a big part in our lives. The livestream of Sunday Mass in TFC's Facebook pages is for our fellow Filipinos in countries most especially in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore where CoVID-19 alarm is high. The people are warned not to go to crowded places and most recently, governments have cancelled events including religious gatherings. With the Sunday Mass livestream, there is a platform for them to still be part of a prayer community,” she says.

Streaming na sa iWant ngayong Pebrero 26 - Dalawang Julia Maghaharap Hangga't Isa Lang Ang Matira Sa "I AM U"

Sunod-sunod na kamalasan at pagkamatay ang haharapin ni Julia Barretto matapos niyang papasukin sa buhay niya ang isang babaeng kamukhang kamukha niya sa "I AM U," ang bagong iWant original series na mapapanood sa iWant simula Pebrero 26 (Miyerkules).

Sa "I AM U," tampok ang magkatulad sa itsura ngunit magkasalungat sa kinalakihan na sina

Elise, na lumaki sa layaw, at Rose, na walang wala sa buhay.

Magtatagpo ang landas ng dalawa nang iligtas ni Rose ang buhay ni Elise. Dahil sa pagtanaw niya ng utang na loob, ituturing ni Elise na kambal si Rose, at papapasukin ito sa marangya niyang pamumuhay--kasama na ang kanyang mga damit, bahay, pamilya, at

mga kaibigan.

Leading U.S. Presidential Candidates Talk About Press Freedom Amid ABS-CBN Shutdown Threats

Democratic presidential candidates (LEFT) Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and two-term South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg being interviewed by Bev Llorente of BA. Both candidates expressed support for ABS-CBN and the value of press freedom.

TFC has long been the news source of Filipinos in North America, delivering updates about the Philippines to the U.S. political arena.

The channel has been a witness to the many elections in the U.S. including this year’s presidential elections.

This is why two of the leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination raised alarm over the potential shutdown of ABS-CBN Corporation, the biggest media network in the Philippines and the parent company of TFC.