Celebrated film festival circuit winners, "Yellow Rose", "Quezon's Game" now available on giant streaming platforms

Filipino films riding high on a fast-rising Asian wave of international digital content offerings 

At a time when the U.S. movie industry is still trying to concretize what “moviegoing” really looks in a post-pandemic world, there are signs of hope and cheer for film lovers who are banking on streaming platforms to deliver the goods.  

Variety reported that only 35 percent of North American theaters are open and tickets have been hovering at an all-time low. The Oscars – normally held in February or early March – has been pushed to April 25, 2021 with no guarantee if it will physically take place or just go virtual. But even with these seemingly discouraging forebodings, opportunities always arise.

Start The New Year with Anne Hathaway and Seth Rogen films on HBO GO

New HBO MAX films are slated to be available in the Philippines on HBO GO this January. 

HBO GO starts the year right for romance and comedy movie junkies by featuring the newest films of Hollywood celebrities Academy Award® winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables; The Dark Knight Rises) and Seth Rogen (This Is The End; Superbad) in Locked Down and An American Pickle respectively. 

Locked Down 

Locked Down, from Warner Bros. Pictures and AGC Studios, will premiere exclusively on HBO GO this Thursday, 14 January. 

From director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity; Mr & Mrs Smith), the romantic comedy heist film stars Academy Award® winner Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables; The Dark Knight Rises) and Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave; 2012).

Two-Part HBO Documentary TIGER About Global Icon Tiger Woods Debuts January 11

Tiger, is a two-part HBO documentary illuminating in sweeping scope and vast detail the rise, fall, and epic comeback of global icon Tiger Woods. The series paints an intimate picture of the prodigy whose dedication and obsession with the game of golf not only took his fame and success to new heights, but also down a dark, spiraling road that eventually led to a legendary sports comeback, culminated by his victory at the 2019 Masters. Part I premieres same time as the U.S. on Monday, 11 January at 10am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO, with a same day encore at 10pm on HBO. Part II will premiere on the following Monday at the same time. 

TIGER is driven by never-before-seen footage and revealing interviews with those who know the golfer best, including his former caddy and close friend, Steve Williams; golf legend and six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo; Earl Woods’ friend and biographer, Pete McDaniel; Tiger’s first true love, Dina Parr; as well as Rachel Uchitel, the woman at the center of the sex scandal that forever altered Tiger’s world, breaking her silence with her first-ever sit-down interview about their relationship. 

Songs of hope, love, and social commentary take center stage in ABS-CBN Music’s “Himig 11th Edition”

Filipinos worldwide get to vote for special global award winner

“Himig 11th Edition,” formerly known as Himig Handog, is a worldwide search for the best OPM (Original Pilipino Music) songs. The biggest songwriting competition in the Philippines will have its grand finals in February 2021.

Meanwhile, “Himig 11th Edition” is now on its final leg where overseas Filipinos can vote for their favorite song among the 12 finalists. The song with the most reactions and comments will receive TFC’s Global Choice special award.

In an earlier story, the first six finalists were introduced. Below, readers will get to know the other six finalists.

OF from Europe is the grand prize winner of “TFC Win from Home”

TFC Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) wraps up the year 2020 with the grand draw of the virtual game show, “TFC Win From Home,” which happened last December 19 that was streamed via TFC Middle East and TFC Europe Facebook pages and @tfcx account in Kumu.

A total of Php 750,000 cash prizes were given away, and it was Renato Larena from the United Kingdom who brought home the grand prize of Php 250,000 cash.

Renato is a TFC subscriber since 2006 and is a huge fan of different ABS-CBN shows. “I had my intuition that I will gonna win the Grand Prize ng TFC Win From Home,” he recalled when he saw and joined the virtual game show. He was not able to watch the live grand draw since he was asleep after working on a night shift, so when he watched the recording of the live draw, “I was watching alone in my bed, when I heard my name as grand prize winner, I shout for joy and called my daughter, told her that I won 250,000 pesos from TFC Win From Home--I was so happy!” he shared.

ABS-CBN Europe Foundation CIO sparks hope and spreads love through “Ikaw Ang Liwanag at Ligaya” face mask covers

Sales of the face masks to benefit typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) rehabilitation efforts in the Philippines  

The year 2020 has been challenging for everyone around the globe as different countries face and battle the Covid-19 pandemic, while also dealing with different natural and man-made calamities. Despite this, the spirit of giving lives on as ABS-CBN Europe Foundation CIO sells “Ikaw Ang Liwanag at Ligaya” face mask covers for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) in the Philippines.

At least 67 people were killed, and local authorities estimated about 3.8 million people were severely affected when typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) hit the Philippines on November 11, 2020. To aid the Filipino families affected by the typhoon, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.’s Sagip Kapamilya program distributes the basic needs of the victims, which was made possible through the donations made to the foundation.

ABS-CBN Music’s songwriting competition evolves with “Himig 11th Edition”

One of the 12 song finalists could be the “TFC’s Global Choice” special award recipient, voting is on-going until February 15, 2021

Music is among people’s constant companion, from finding inspiration to expressing what they feel, down to celebrating one’s victories. As the year 2020 wraps up, you may just find the newest anthem of your life of the year it has been with the new batch of finalists of ABS-CBN Music’s “Himig 11th Edition.”

“Himig 11th Edition,” which was formerly known as Himig Handog, is the biggest songwriting competition in the Philippines. What started as a competition for composers of pop and love songs has evolved into a competition that celebrates every music genre that touches on a wide variety of topics that is relatable to everyone.