Monday, December 31, 2018

Rainbow's Sunset

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Senator Ramon Estrella (Eddie Garcia) receives a lifetime achievement award from his high school. He gives a humorous speech thanking his wife Sylvia (Gloria Romero) and long-time friend Alfredo (Tony Mabesa). The inclusion of the latter makes the politician’s children uneasy. Emman (Tirso Cruz III), the eldest, knows that the two have been in a homosexual relationship for the longest time. Georgina (Aiko Melendez) thinks that her father’s decision to come out will hurt her chances in the local political scene. The youngest, Marife (Sunshine Dizon), is the liberal thinker of the three and believes that Philippine society is ready for such tradition-breaking revelations. When Alfredo undergoes operation and is consequently put on bedrest, Ramon moves out of the family home to live with his ill lover. Fighting for their mother as well as the family’s reputation, the three devise ways to break the two apart. Amidst their personal dramas, the family also starts to fall apart, leaving Ramon torn between love and familial duties.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

The Girl in the Orange Dress

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After a night of drunken stupor, Anna Villegas (Jessy Mendiola) wakes up in a hotel room in bed next to a naked man she does not know. Tiptoeing to find her way out, she fails to escape. Being told that she won’t be able to get out of the hotel, she recognizes the guy as Asian superstar Rye del Rosario (Jericho Rosales). Filling her in about what really happened, he informs her that the media has seen him check into that hotel with a mysterious girl in an orange dress, which has resulted in a media frenzy. After breakfast, they hatch different plans to sneak her out of the hotel by borrowing clothes from other guests, but the paparazzi prove to be hungry for a scoop and are always one step ahead. Weighing their options, they chat some more about their lives and realize that they might have something in common after all.

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Roma

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1970, Mexico City. Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) works as a live-in house help in an affluent family with four children in Mexico City’s neighborhood of Roma. Aside from taking care of household chores, she and another maid, also of indigenous origin, are in charge of being the kids’ nannies 24/7 as well. The matriarch, Sofia (Marina de Tavira) is about to separate with her husband Antonio (Fernando Grediaga), whose infidelity she conceals from the children by making up excuses of him attending conferences in Canada. When Cleo is knocked up by her boyfriend Fermín (Jorge Antonio Guerrero), he disappears and makes it clear that he does not want any responsibility for the unborn child. Preoccupied with her situation, she decides to tell her boss about her dilemma, which couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time given the family’s problems as well as brewing political unrest in the streets of the capital.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Waitress (Atlantis Theatrical)

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Small-town waitress and pie baker Jenna (Joanna Ampil) finds out that she is pregnant. What should be a cause for celebration brings about an epiphany that she is not that happy with her life so far. Her husband Earl (George Schulze) is conceited and self-centered and having a child with him is not something she imagined her life would be. Deep inside she has always wanted to pursue her passion for baking. To ensure that she is healthy to carry the baby, she pays the local Ob-Gyn a visit. Dr. Pomatter (Bibo Reyes) is new at the clinic and is immediately smitten with Jenna and her tasty pies. It doesn’t take long until they engage in an extra-marital affair. When she finds out about a big-time pie baking contest, she sees this as an opportunity to leave everything behind and start anew with her soon to be born kid. Can she really escape from her current reality or will she be stuck in an existential crisis forever?

Thursday, November 22, 2018

ML

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Emotionally detached from historical events he is too young to comment on, teenager Carlo (Tony Labrusca) is always at loggerheads with his professor when it comes to Martial Law. Hoping his students would get firsthand insight through the perspective of people who lived during the regime, the professor gives them an assignment to interview someone from that generation. The first candidate that comes to Carlo’s mind is Colonel dela Cruz (Eddie Garcia), the senile ex-METROCOM officer who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease and lives in the same subdivision. His condition leads him to believe that he’s still living in that era, dressing up in his uniform from time to time while loitering the streets of the village. He invites the young man to his home where he offers him some drinks before bludgeoning him on the head and torturing him at the basement.

Saturday, October 20, 2018

First Love

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9060390/
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Finding success in Vancouver after two decades of trying different occupations, risk analyst Nick (Aga Muhlach) decides to liquidate all of his shares at his company so he can leave them to Simon (Edward Barber). Optimist Ali (Bea Alonzo) works at a bookstore where she also sells her own postcards. She wants to be a nature photographer, but her ailment makes her wary of thinking about long-term goals. Even so, she is still hopeful that she will eventually find a compatible heart donor one day. Fate brings them together, leading them to meet and get to know one another better. But in a love story where the risk of losing one another is at an all-time high, would it be wise to bet and invest?

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Lungs (9 Works Theatrical)

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Man (Jake Cuenca) and Woman (Sab Jose) reflect on whether it would be responsible for them to procreate and introduce another human being to the world. She cites publications as well as her PhD papers on how adding another baby to the planet’s booming population would eventually contribute to the world’s dwindling resources. He is puzzled and seems regretful to have asked. As the two exchange points of view regarding interweaving themes such as parenthood, childbirth, as well as timely issues such as climate change, the couple discover things about one another that they won’t necessarily like. Will their similarities triumph for them to end up as proud parents of their own child or will their differences overcome everything they have shared so far and lead to a bad breakup?

Friday, October 12, 2018

Venom

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Bioengineering giant Life Foundation has found extraterrestrial lifeforms called symbiotes and takes them back to Earth. As their spacecraft crash lands in a forest in Borneo, one of the aliens breaks loose and hops from host to host until it makes its way all the way to San Francisco. Investigative journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is assigned to interview the corporation’s CEO Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed). Using his lawyer girlfriend Anne Weying’s (Michelle Williams) access to classified information, he grills the executive and gets fired in the process. She also breaks up with him after getting dismissed from her own job. Caught in a downward spiral, he seeks revenge by breaking into the lab, but gets infected by one of the symbiotes who goes by the name of Venom.

Thursday, October 11, 2018

A Star Is Born (2018)

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Long giving up on her aspirations as a singer/songwriter, Ally (Lady Gaga) works as a waitress in the morning and sidelines as the intermission act in a drag bar after shift. Drunk and high after a big concert, country superstar Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) finds himself in the same venue, watching Ally perform her own rendition of La Vie en Rose. He spots not only a potential love interest, but also a promising talent that can make it big if given the chance. The two spend the night bar hopping and grocery shopping. When he asks her to sing one of her original compositions at his concert, what follows is a whirlwind romance leading to a rapid ascent to superstardom. As one career skyrockets, the other nosedives. Will fame eventually cause their romance’s downfall?

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Exes Baggage

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exes_Baggage
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Pia (Angelica Panganiban) and Nix (Carlo Aquino) meet at a club. She is drunk and pushy. He is shy and socially awkward. After a few more drinks they start openly lambasting one another’s Facebook account. He takes her home so she won’t have to drive and ends up having breakfast at her place. Courtship follows until the two of them finally become a couple. And they lived happily ever after. NOT. To him, she is a rebound romance. To her, he is another chance at love. As they get to know each other and find out secret hang-ups with exes and the like, they realize that they don’t know one another that well after all. Once the honeymoon stage is over, they decide to break up. Two years later, they meet again. Will sparks fly once more or will they finally get the closure that both of them need.

Sunday, October 7, 2018

[WASHINGTON] Budget and Itinerary

https://wikitravel.org/en/Washington_(state)

SATURDAY: 29 September 2018
Asiana (Manila - Seattle - Manila) - 696.00
City Hostel Seattle (2 Nights) - 95.00
McDonalds (Vanilla Cone) - 2.19
Chihuly Garden & Glass (Admission) - 27.30
Mercato Stellina (Carbonara + Coke + Wine) - 42.93
USD863.42

Saturday, October 6, 2018

[NEW YORK] Budget and Itinerary (4)

http://wikitravel.org/en/New_York_City

MONDAY: 1 October 2018
Alaska Airlines (Seattle - New York) - 146.20
Blue Moon Hotel (5 Nights) - 336.98
MTA Card (Reload) - 45.00
Perfect Crime (Broadway) - 39.50
Dunkin Donuts (Croissant + Nesquik) - 6.16
Hershey's Chocolate World (Chocolates) - 46.82
USD620.66

[MANHATTAN] Broadway Barrage Season 3


Perfect Crime is the longest-running show on Broadway, predating The Phantom of the Opera by a few months. The lead actress has been playing the same role for more than three decades now, missing just four performances for personal reasons and holding the Guinness World record for most performances as a character in a play. With tickets selling at just $32 on Todaytix, it is considered as a bargain too. And so, I decided to finally watch it. We’re already on Season 3 of Broadway Barrage. We better do this now.

Friday, October 5, 2018

Once on This Island (Broadway)

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Once on an island in the Antilles there lived four deities: Asaka (Alex Newell), mother of the Earth; Papa Ge (Tamyra Gray), the demon of death; Agwe (T. Oliver Reid), the god of water; and Erzulie (Darlesia Cearcy), the goddess of love. When a terrible storm hits the Caribbean, a little girl is saved from drowning, the sole survivor orphaned by a tragedy and taken in by a caring couple. She grows up as Ti Moune (Courtnee Carter), a peasant girl who gets infatuated with Daniel Beauxhomme (Tyler Hardwicke), a grand homme descended from the colonist French. As their love for each other blossoms, the possibility of them actually ending up together flounders, for the two social classes will never ever mix. Or is it a social norm that the gods can conspire to change?

Thursday, October 4, 2018

The Lifespan of a Fact (Broadway)

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When John D’Agata (Bobby Cannavale) turns in an essay reflecting on the suicide culture in Las Vegas, the Editor (Cherry Jones) of the publication realizes that she is reading what will be her legacy piece before she retires. Not only does the article grasp the emotional depth of the story, but it also captures the zeitgeist. Anxious to publish it in lieu of their backup Congressional Spouses feature, she sets the last steps in the process in motion and assigns the task of fact-checking the story to Jim Fingal (Daniel Radcliffe), a fresh Harvard graduate eager to impress. When the fact-checker goes over-the-top, the writer becomes protective of his work and a clash of ideology ensues, a dispute that the Editor herself must now referee. Along the way they will find out that there is more to journalism than just balancing form and substance.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Frozen (Broadway)

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In the kingdom of Arendelle lived two sisters, the best of friends whose bond will be tested by a gift that everyone considers to be a curse. Elsa (MiMi Ryder) is cyrokinetic and accidentally injures her little sister Anna (Zoe Glick) while playing with ice and snow. The incident causes the siblings to grow apart, not by choice but rather by necessity. When their parents set sail and perish in a shipwreck, the crown is passed to the eldest child. As the new queen, Elsa (Caissie Levy) is forced to open the gates and socialize with everyone again despite her reluctance to do so given her lack of dominion over her powers. Just as the two sisters are on speaking terms again, Anna (Lauren Nicole Chapman) breaks the news of her plan to marry Hans (John Riddle), a foreign prince she just met who is 12th in line to his own kingdom’s throne. The petty argument escalates, provoking a supernatural show of force from the queen. Afraid, she flees to the snowcapped mountains leaving an eternal winter in the wake of her departure.

Anastasia (Broadway)

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As Russia prepares to transition from monarchy to communism, a strong and symbolic break from the past must be established through drastic measures to bring about a new era. This leads to the exile and eventual murder of the last heirs of the Romanov dynasty. Years later, St. Petersburg is now referred to as Leningrad. Poverty is still rampant in the streets. Con artist Dmitry (Zach Adkins) and fake noble Vlad (John Bolton) are on the lookout for yet another Anastasia impersonator to bring to her grandmother, the Dowager Empress (Judy Kaye), to Paris for a hefty reward. Street sweeper Anya (Christy Altomare) does not just fit the bill, she also seems to have had some sort of aristocratic past concealed by temporary amnesia. As they go through the process of leaving Russia in one piece and making it to France, the girl begins to believe that she might actually be Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Mean Girls (Broadway)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mean_Girls_(musical)
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Cady Heron (Erika Henningsen) moves back to America after being home schooled in Kenya for most of her life. Socially awkward, she feels it hard to adjust to high school life in Illinois but easily figures out how the food chain approximates the wild somehow. She is befriended by Janis (Barrett Wilbert Weed) and Damian (Grey Henson), two outcasts who orient her about the clique setup of the school. Everything goes well until she crosses paths with the Plastics. Regina George (Taylor Louderman), in her own words, is a massive deal. Sexy, pretty, and filthy rich, she is the Queen Bee, forever flanked by her loyal drones: confidante extraordinaire Gretchen (Devon Hadsell) and dumb blonde Karen (Kate Rockwell). When the new girl gets entangled with the popular crowd, an unlikely social mix-up takes place, which is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Perfect Crime (Broadway)

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Psychiatrist Margaret Brent (Catherine Russell) is visited by Inspector Ascher (Steve Blanchard) at her home/clinic after the alleged murder of her husband, except that W. Harrison Brent (David Butler), alive and kicking and with a rifle, emerges from the kitchen door just in time to say hello to the detective. About to drop the case, the investigator changes his mind and continues to pry as more dead bodies surface. However, he holds no evidence, yet all the clues point back to the direction of the Brents. As he comes back for return visits, he gets infatuated with his suspect without the assurance whether she is indeed guilty or innocent. The two go on to play a game of cat and mouse coupled with some flirting as Margaret continues to see patients, including serial killer wannabe Lionel McAuley (Patrick Noonan) who dreams of committing the perfect crime.

Sunday, September 30, 2018

[SEATTLE] Of Glassblowing and Hiking

 

Before we go back to Chihuly, let’s get Little Si Trailhead out of the way first, shall we? Hiking is not really my thing, and I did not have the appropriate footwear. To give you an idea, I was wearing elevator leather brogues. My rubber shoes bailed on me last year, okay? I ended up trading my dress shoes for Havaianas. Have you ever hiked up a mountain on Havaianas? I did. It was challenging but obviously way better than hiking while donning a meeting room get-up, no? How was the hike?

Saturday, September 29, 2018

[SEATTLE] Sleepy in Seattle

In line with limited vacation leaves per year and my annual Broadway Barrage tradition, I’ve decided that the best way to go about this one-week annual vacation is to transit on a weekend somewhere in the Pacific Coast before heading towards the Big Apple. For this year, Washington state became the obvious candidate because of the plethora of trans-Pacific flights landing there. Sleepy in Seattle it is, then. The objective is to see and do as much in two days before indulging in Broadway goodness.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

A Simple Favor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Simple_Favor_(film)#Critical_response
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Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) is that annoying mom at school who volunteers for everything and makes you feel like such a bad parent. Being a single mom, she supplements her income by maintaining a vLog about basic mom stuff ranging from recipes to occasional gossip. Emily (Blake Lively) is the exact opposite. Ever stylish and elegance personified, she rarely attends any of her kid’s school events and her idea of a playdate is indulging in martinis at two in the afternoon. The two mothers meet through their children, resulting in an unlikely friendship. One day Emily asks Stephanie a simple favor. She asks her to pick up her kid at school. Three days later, she still hasn’t come back. An investigation follows with her husband Sean (Henry Golding) being considered as the main suspect for her disappearance. As the search for her intensifies, so does Stephanie’s feelings for her grieving husband.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8723904/
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Jaz (Alex Gonzaga) and Migs (Vin Abrenica) first meet in Bataan. She is there to check out the Ruined Bar which is popular for its spoken word gigs. He is there because he is brokenhearted after his fiancée leaves him without an explanation. The two enjoy their time together and engage in a rebound romance. One year later, he leaves her after one call from his ex. Unable to move on, she seeks the help of Dr. Rolex (Candy Pangilinan), a quirky doctor who claims that she can cure heartbreak by literally changing a patient’s heart. The tag line of her clinic, NSKTN KLINIKA, is: “Change your heart. Change your mind. Change your life!” after all. Jaz arrives in a consultation room full of patients who are desperate to get rid of their memories for the sake of moving on. When her turn comes, she hesitates, but eventually decides to have the procedure done once and for all.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

The Nun

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1952, Romania. A convent high atop the hills is haunted by a malevolent entity in the guise of a terrifying nun. The nun is actually a demon which goes by the name of Valak (Bonnie Aarons), a designated president of hell. First summoned by the original owner of the abbey during the middle ages, the unspeakable evil has been kept at bay with the intervention of the Catholic Church, which claims the property for its own. Through perpetual adoration, a round the clock prayer accomplished by the sisters in shifts, the entity grows weaker. However, this endless invocation is interrupted when the bombs of war fall over the country. When one of the nuns commit suicide, she is found by Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), a French-Canadian herder who supplies the abbey with charcuterie. A report is made to the Vatican, which sends the duo of Father Burke (Demián Bachir) and Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) to investigate.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goyo:_Ang_Batang_Heneral
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More commonly known by his nickname Goyo, Gregorio del Pilar (Paulo Avelino) was the youngest Filipino general during the Philippine-American War. After the assassination of Antonio Luna, President Emilio Aguinaldo (Mon Confiado) gives the young general the assignment of rounding up all troops still loyal to the fallen general in an effort to beef up their forces against the Americans. As they move the capital farther north away from Manila, hearts of young girls flutter at the sight of the playboy, his reputation often preceding him. He sets his eyes on pretty Remedios (Gwen Zamora), one of the daughters of a wealthy merchant but their romance is cut short by the arrival of Felicidad (Empress Schuck), the president’s sister and his ex-flame. As the Americans make headway in capturing more and more provinces, what remains of the revolutionary forces seek refuge by hiking the Cordilleras, where Goyo decides to build fortified trenches to delay the advance of the enemy.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Side Show (Atlantis Theatrical)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_Show
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Come, look at the freaks! Welcome to Side Show, a collection of circus acts featuring the likes of the Bearded Lady, Dog Boy, Lizard Man, 3-Legged Man, and many more. But at the heart of the act are the haunting voices of twins Daisy (Gab Pangilinan) and Violet (Kayla Rivera) Hilton. Under the exploitative tutelage of Sir (Wency Cornejo), the conjoined twins have been under his custody since their aunt died, making him the sole legal guardian. When talent scout Terry (Markki Stroem) discovers the vocal prowess of the duo, he is convinced that he has found a runaway hit. After a bit of prodding, he convinces his vocal coach friend Buddy (David Ezra) to train them for a more sophisticated audience in Chicago. Will the tandem be able to withstand the pressures of showbiz given their condition?

Friday, August 31, 2018

Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! (9 Works Theatrical)

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Manila, 1970’s. A group of friends try to live a normal university life despite the declaration of Martial Law. Rick (Mark Bautista) juggles studies, music, and relationship with his girlfriend Anna (Rita Daniela). Sonny (Alfritz Blanche) deals with his girlfriend Jane’s (Marika Sasaki) impending migration to the United States. Playboy Butch (Jobim Javier) courts FilAm Michelle (Sab Jose), who is in a relationship with a campus jock. Future doctor Ray (Jep Go) defends his love for music against his dad’s stern focus on his pre-med ambitions. As personal issues start to meddle with group dynamics, the task of representing the group at a national songwriting contest falls in the hands of Jaime (Jef Flores), Donnie (Jon Abella), and Bobby (Vyen Villanueva), but will success be enough to pave the way to mend the cracks that are now defining their friendship?

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

The Hows of Us

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Primo (Daniel Padilla) and Georgina (Kathryn Bernardo) hit it off at a debate and start dating. He is an aspiring musician with not a lot of gigs. She wants to be a doctor, juggling both work and academics for survival. When the two decide to live-in, sacrifices start being made, with one ending up carrying more of the load than the other. When the going gets tough, one of them eventually lets go. Legally sharing a house that her grand-aunt left both of them after her death, the two cross paths again two years later: him, determined to win her back; her, reluctant to fall for him again. As both parties try to assert dominance over the property, they find past feelings beginning to resurface, but does everyone deserve a second chance?

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Miss Granny

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Granny_(2018_film)
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Fely (Nova Villa) is a doting grandmother who spoils her grandson to bits. Jeboy (James Reid) plays the guitar in a rock band, even though gigs have been few and far between. His mother Angie (Lotlot de Leon) is not as supportive, which causes a rift between her and her mother-in-law. When her illness gets worse due to stress in the house caused by her in-law’s constant nagging, her husband Ramoncito (Nonie Buencamino) is forced to choose between his wife and his mother, ultimately leading to the decision to just temporarily transfer the latter to a caring home that he is managing. Hurt upon hearing the decision, the old lady walks around the neighborhood to unwind and stumbles upon Forever Young, a portrait studio where she decides to have her photo taken on a whim. The photographer promises to make her look fifty years younger. As she exits the premises, she gets the surprise of a lifetime when she finds herself back in her 20-year-old body (Sarah Geronimo).

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians

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NYU Economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) joins boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) on a trip to Singapore. Surprised that they are being ushered to first class, she is in for a rude awakening once they land in the Lion City. The reason for their journey east is to attend his best friend Colin’s (Chris Pang) wedding to Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizono). The “wedding of the century” has an impressive guest list which includes the upper crust of Singaporean society, among them Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh), Nick’s mother. Constantly looked down upon by her unapproving future mother-in-law, Rachel gets support from Peik Lin (Awkwafina), her nouveau riche college friend who grooms her for a better shot at impressing her boyfriend’s crazy rich family. But will she ever be enough?

Friday, August 17, 2018

Madilim Ang Gabi

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Lando (Phillip Salvador) and Sara (Gina Alajar) bicker with their son regarding his ways which causes the latter to leave home. They never see him again. It might as well be a simple case of misunderstanding between a parent and a child, but the couple’s illicit past makes them feel uneasy and suspect that something bad has happened to their kid. She has always been known in the community as a small-time drug pusher. While her husband believes that she has already changed her ways in fear of the dangerous war on drugs waged by the current administration, she just doesn’t know any other sideline to make ends meet. As she worries about the real situation of her son and what could have happened to him, she navigates the underbelly of the city’s drug trade and runs into former friends, former enemies, former victims who have a score to settle with her.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Pinay Beauty

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Annie (Chai Fonacier) is the only person left to join the ranks of her friends who have all made it to Hong Kong Disneyland, where they are paid to portray beautiful princesses. She has auditioned several times but has been rejected over and over again. She believes it has something to do with her skin color and facial features, which is why she makes it her raison d’être to prep herself for cosmetic surgery. Her boyfriend Migs (Edgar Allan Guzman) is ever supportive, and embezzles more than PHP100k from his loan shark boss to fund his girlfriend’s opearation. He is now given an ultimatum, either to return the money or to hook up his boss with Lovely (Maxine Medina), a matinee idol who is caught in a career crossroads of sorts. Given the circumstances, Migs enlists the help of his eager friends to accomplish either task before the deadline.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

We Will Not Die Tonight

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8682894/
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Stuntwoman Kray (Erich Gonzales) is having a hard time making ends meet. She clearly has passion for what she is doing, but her abrasive personality does not often sit well with directors and producers. Enter Ramil (Alex Medina), the ex-boyfriend who is proposing a new illegal gig, presenting it as a one-time big-time gamble that will change their lives for the better. Joining the team are Jonesky (Thou Reyes), Che Che (Max Eigenmann), and Rene Boy (Nico Dans). The four of them meet up with gang leader Bangkil (Paolo Paraiso) who reveals that their new project is not really a part of the drug trade. They now harvest organs from abducted children. As their moral compass kicks in, the friends try to back out from the agreement, but blood is shed and now they literally have to fight their way out of their predicament. Who will survive to see the light of day?

Sunday, August 12, 2018

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 13


Episodio 13: Amapola (Resurrección)
Llega el momento de la fiesta pero antes de nada Virginia visita la tumba de Roberta. Allí las dos mujeres platican sobre todo lo que ha pasado. Roberta le dice a Virginia que ya sabe todo que debe hacer. Virgina le da gracias a Roberta por hacerla comprender varias cosas. Elena quiere heredar la florería pero su mamá tiene otro plan en la mente. Julián le ruega a Diego que vuelva pero ya se va en un avión, impenitente y lleno de rencor por haberse quitado de su dignidad. María José y Bruno van al aeropuerto sin despedirse a la familia mientras que Paulina va a la fiesta. Dirigiéndose al público, la matriarca agradece a todos los que comparten el 50º aniversario de la florería. En vez de anunciar quién hereda la Casa de las Flores, declara la venta del negocio a los Chiquis. De repente llega Ernesto el cual sale de la cárcel gracias a su esposa. Después de tomar la foto familiar, Virginia deja una carta y abandona la casa con su pipa y una maleta. Paulina corre detrás su familia. Julián abraza su bisexualidad.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 12


Episodio 12: Eríssimo (Adversidad)
A pesar de dilemas financieros, ya está en pleno desarollo la preparación para la fiesta de aniversario de la Casa de las Flores. Paulina se encarga de sacar a Ernesto de la cárcel pero se ve muy vencida por lo que está pasando. El banco no quiere aceptar un pago parcial de las deudas de Roberta sino el monto total. Su papá biológico le ofrece ayuda la cual ella acepta después de vacilar un poco. Con los MXN6 milliones que le ha dado y el dinero en la caja fuerte de la otra Casa de las Flores, ya está listo todo, pero se encuentra la caja vacía. Elena descubre que Claudio sigue conociendo mujeres en Tinder y le dice a ella que no quiere estar en una relación actualmente. Julián vuelve a la depa con un perro pero su prometido no está en ningún lado. Además, descubre que él ha llevado toda la ropa. Los hermanos concluyen que Diego les ha robado del dinero en la caja y juntos con su mamá lamenta la familia todas las adversidades que están enfrentando. Paulina visita a Ernesto en la cárcel y le dice que ya sabe todo de su nacimiento.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 11


Episodio 11: Orquídea (Lujuria)
En busca de Elena, Micaela entra la habitación sin tocar y allí la sorprende en flagrante con Claudio. Solo entra para avisarle de la llegada de Dominique el cual canta en español con una banda de Mariachi. Azotada por el sentimiento de culpa, le convence a su novio y a sí misma que ya deban casarse lo antes posible. Así que se casan los dos en una boda íntima que tiene lugar en la mansión. Julián se da un revolcón con Mara, su socia en sus proyectos en línea. Luego, miente a Diego el cual investiga y se entera de la verdad. Ernesto ve la boda por teléfono. Claudio se va después de los votos matrimoniales. Elena y Dominique tienen su primera discusión como hombre y mujer cuando él le dice que se lo ha contado todo Micaela sobre ella y Claudio y que a él no le importa. Elena le dice a su esposo que eso no va a funcionar y lo manda al aeropuerto. Terminan la noche en el cabaret donde Claudio da un strip-tease. Elena le informa de lo que ha pasado y los dos van juntos a un motel. Es su luna de miel, después de todo.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 10


Episodio 10: Tussilago (Preocupación)
Julián se preocupa por la idea de Diego de adoptar tres hijos. Pensando que Virginia es el cerebro del plan de Elena, Carmela le pide disculpas y le muestra un vídeo de su CCTV, lo de Claudio y Elena besando. Un joven muy fresita viene a la florería para amenazarle a Virginia. Dice que en esa colonia no se puede vender drogas sin su permiso. Ella lo ignora hasta que se enteren todos de la desaparición de Bruno y Micaela. Hasta Ernesto alcanza la noticia después de que lo golpee uno de los reclusos él cual afirma que es el hermano del joven que le ha amenazado a Virginia. La verdad es que Bruno ha llevado Micaela al nevado para liberarse del estrés. La familia paga MXN2 millones para evitar violencia y regresan Bruno y Micaela esa noche. El incidente provoca una disputa entre Paulina y María José quien dice que sería mejor llevar a Bruno a España para poder disciplinarlo mejor. No es porque Paulina haya sido una mala madre sino para compensar por su responsabilidad y recuperar tiempo perdido con su hijo.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 9


Episodio 9: Tulipán (Esperanza)
Los hijos de la florería rival vienen a la Casa de las Flores para proponerle a Virginia una oferta generosa. Van a comprar la florería y Virginia se puede quedar para administrarla. Reacia, la familia rechaza la proposición y aporta ideas para que gane más clientes el negocio. Si la vida te da limones, aprende a hacer limonada. Así que Julián se aprovecha de su fama como #lorddamelotodo para alcanzar una nueva clientela, algo que no entiende bien su mamá por no estar familiarizada a la manera de que funcionen las redes sociales. Micaela revuelve el armario de su papá y encuentra su pasaporte. Bruno se ve obligado a decirle la verdad. Con una gran mochila, los dos hacen autostop, tal vez rumbo a la cárcel para ver Ernesto. Virginia invita al Dr. Cohen a su casa para confesar, por fin, a él y a Paulina que es su papá. Elena conspira con Claudio y uno de los strippers para chantajearle a Carmela a través de una seducción. Lo graban todo y la vecina chismosa ya promete finalmente de no entremeterse más en los asuntos de la Mora.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 8


Episodio 8: Bromelia (Resistencia)
Con su nueva estrenada fama, Julián piensa que ya se ha acabado su vida. Diego le asegura que a él le importa más su felicidad como una pareja a punto de casarse. Hasta la cárcel llega el vídeo y también Ernesto ya lo ha visto. Viendo su hijo en tal situación, Virginia se empeña en la venganza. Julián revela que la familia de Lucía es una de los nuevos ricos que están involucrados en el comercio de drogas. Virginia logra una entrevista con una revista popular pero en vez de desvelar la neta sobre su ex-novia, Julián hace público su relación con Diego y su plan de matrimonio. Virginia expresa su apoyo. El vídeo no alcanza la misma fama de la porno de Julián pero se hacen famosos madre e hijo en la comunidad LGBT por ser un buen ejemplo de cómo abordar tal tema en la familia. Virginia consigue su venganza en la peluquería donde le corta a Lucía un mechón de pelo antes de decir en voz alta la verdad sobre su futura ex-nuera delante de sus amigas las cuales no se tardan en diseminar el chisme en las redes sociales.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 7


Episodio 7: Peonía (Vergüenza)
Diego y Julián acaban por acostarse con Willy, o Billy, pero se angustia Diego porque no quiere estar en una relación abierta. Por eso acaba con Julián el cual graba un vídeo de su trío la noche anterior. Lucía ve el vídeo por casualidad y le envía una copia a sí misma chantajeándole a Julián de publicarlo si no le proponga matrimonio a ella. Elena compra más marijuana a vender con la ayuda de Claudio el cual la sigue persiguiendo. Paulina confronta al Dr. Cohen pero él no quiere confirmar si sea su papá o no. Fue la condición de María José a cambio de la solicitud de su ex-esposa que vaya a ver a su familia antigua. Julián pide el consejo de sus padres sobre su dilema. Ernesto le dice que deba perseguir a Diego mientras que Virginia le da el anillo de bisabuela. No obstante siente el sufrimiento de su hijo y se decide a hablar con Diego para que él salve a Julián, en efecto dándoles su bendición. Julián le propone matrimonio a Lucía solo para revocarlo de inmediato para darle el anillo a Diego. Luego, ve toda la familia su vídeo en línea.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 6


Episodio 6: Magnolia (Dignidad)
Ya hace cinco años desde que Paulina vió su marido José María (Paco León) en el closet vestido con una falda y un par de calcetas. Le dice a ella que él es mujer. Ahora al buscarlo en el aeropuerto casi no lo reconoce porque José María ya se ha vuelto a María José. Las dos van a la cárcel donde la insulta su ex-suegro, bastante razón para que se niegue a defenderlo. Julián propone una estrategia nueva para reanimar el cabaret: Strippers. El esfuerzo parece ser en vano cuando no se caen bien con las drag queens. Diego se pelea con él al enterarse de que fue con Lucía al Bar Mitzvah. Al volver a su depa, lo saluda Willie, un joven que Diego ha encontrado en Grindr. Elena descubre que su mamá vende las flores con marijuana lo que explica la avalancha de clientes jovenes en la florería. En vez de condenarla, Elena promete a ayudarla. Paulina convence a María José que sea la abogada de su papá de nuevo después de revelar los resultados del ADN. Se descongelan los bienes familiares pero Ernesto se queda en la cárcel.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 5


Episodio 5: Dalia (Gratitud)
Elena acepta encargarse de un evento, el Bar-Mitzvah del hijo de un cliente importante de la florería, lo que provoca un malentendido entre las dos hermanas porque Paulina piensa que es nomás una manera para que la castigue su mamá. El cliente quiere tener dalias en la fiesta, las cuales están fuera de temporada. Elena le pide ayuda a Claudio y los dos compran las flores en la florería rival. Luego, Paulina sabotea todo aunque de igual manera gana Elena la confianza de su madre además de su meta. Paulina visita a su papá en la cárcel quien le dice que ya no se puede aguantar más estar allí. Toma su foto para editar y mostrarla a Micaela quien cree que él está en Japón. Ya llegan los resultados del ADN y confirman que Paulina es la hija ilegítima. Disgustada, busca Bruno para ya poder irse de la fiesta pero decide de festejar, tal vez para olvidar la verdad de la cual acaba de enterarse. Elena le da a Claudio un arreglo floral para dar gracias por su ayuda. Solos en la florería, los dos acaban por acostarse.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 4


Episodio 4: Petunia (Resentimiento)
Virginia le revela a Delia, la nana de Elena, que sabía todo sobre el caso de Ernesto. Uno de los secretos escritos en la carta que le dejó Roberta fue la confesión que a través de una carta de poder firmada por Ernesto, la difunta pudo aprovecharse de varias hipotecas las cuales totalizan millones de pesos. Delia también guarda otro secreto porque ya había leído la carta de la colgada antes de darsela a Virginia. Confía a Elena lo que leyó, lo de Roberta pidiéndole a Virginia que cuide a su hijita Micaela como Ernesto ha cuidado a uno de sus hijos que realmente no es suyo. Con todos los bienes de la familia congelados, no hay otro remedio que pedir favores de algunos conocidos. El abogado pide millones para defender a Ernesto y los bancos piden más por daños e interés. Por eso Paulina se traga su orgullo y le llama a su ex-marido, el cual dicen que es uno de los mejores abogados en el país entero. Dice que va a venir a México. Luego, Elena les cuenta a sus hermanos lo que Delia le ha revelado a ella.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 3


Episodio 3: Lirio (Libertad)
Paulina y Claudio discuten el tema de la gestión del cabaret ya que Virginia ya le ha relevado de su posición en la otra Casa de las Flores. Después de pasar toda la noche con Diego en su depa, Julián se ve obligado a salir del closet como un requisito para que vivan juntos los dos. Trata de terminar todo con Lucía pero los dos acaban por tener sexo después de un partido de Jai-Alai. Así que, hablando con Elena y Dominique, concluye que tal vez sea bisexual. Organiza una cena con toda la familia para anunciar la verdad a través de una canción como ha sugerido una de las drag queens. No sabe que Elena ya se lo haya avisado a su mamá de antemano pero le cuesta aceptar la neta. Ella sigue fumando su marijuana y luego opta por visitar su amigo médico a quien confía todas sus preocupaciones. Esa noche, en cuanto declare Julián su orientación sexual, toca la policía el timbre para detener a Ernesto. Consola a su hija Elena y le dice a su hijo que siempre sabía lo que es y que lo va a querer do todas formas. Paulina acompaña a su papá a la comisaría.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 2


Episodio 2: Crisantemo (Dolor)
Elena y Julián conocen a su media hermanita Micaela (Alexa de Landa) por primera vez. Su medio hermano Claudio Navarro (Lucas Velásquez) les anuncia la muerte de su mamá a todas las drag queens de la Casa de las Flores, o sea la OTRA Casa de las Flores, un cabaret. Paulina hace todo para que se enterre Roberta sin que se entere nadie en la familia, hasta mentir a su hermana. Aun así, la carta que le dejó Roberta a Virginia ya la recibió la matriarca y de todos modos asiste toda la familia al funeral. Allí se desarollan enfrentamientos entre marido y mujer, entre hermanos, entre madre e hija. Ernesto le dice a su esposa que el cabaret ha sido un negocio lucrativo mientras que Paulina les cuenta a sus hermanos que ese lugar fue lo que los han soportado económicamente, de hecho aún más que la florería. Virginia repudia a su hija Paulina por no decir nada a pesar de saber toda la verdad sobre la segunda familia de su padre. Por el contrario, ella cambia de opinión sobre Micaela, la cual acepta en su casa.

La casa de las flores: Episodio/Episode 1


Episodio 1: Narciso (Mentira)
Ernesto de la Mora (Arturo Ríos) celebra su cumpleaños con una fiesta planeada por su esposa Virginia (Verónica Castro) pero su amante Roberta (Claudette Maillé) ha preparado una sorpresa más escandalosa. La hija mayor, Paulina (Cecilia Suárez), se encarga de la reunión. Elena (Aislinn Derbez), la hermanita, viene de sorpresa con su comprometido afroamericano Dominique (Sawandi Wilson), el cual no les gusta ni a su mamá ni a su papá. El hijo único, Julián (Darío Yazbek Bernal), mantiene relaciones sexuales con su novia Lucía (Sheryl Rubio) y con Diego (Juan Pablo Medina), el asesor financiero de la familia. No pasa mucho tiempo hasta que se descubre el cuerpo de Roberta colgado del techo de la Casa de las Flores, la florería al lado de la mansión la cual ha sido el negocio principal de la familia durante mucho tiempo. Los hijos intentan esconder el cadáver y, en efecto, la verdad de su madre pero a la larga se entera la matriarca la neta y las cosas ya no serán más como antes.

Saturday, August 11, 2018

BuyBust

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The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is conducting a buy bust operation to smoke out big-time drug pusher Biggie Chen (Arjo Atayde). In the middle of this game of Hide and Seek between criminal and police is a squad just following orders. Nina Manigan (Anne Curtis) is still traumatized from a previous mission that saw her team decimated by the enemy. Finding it hard to put her life in someone else’s hands again, she often butts heads with platoon leader Bernie Lacson (Victor Neri), even though the rest of the team prove to be more welcoming. As they are ordered to pursue their assignment all the way to a shady shantytown, they will soon realize that they are but mere pawns in this game of chess between the country’s powers-that-be.

Friday, August 10, 2018

Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon

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Despite not being married, Teresa (Perla Bautista) and Celso (Menggie Cobarrubias) have been living in a blissful union for more than two decades now. Her son Chito (Romnick Sarmienta) visits them from time to time and they share stories about their respective lives over food and coffee. Bene (Dante Rivero), on the other hand, has been living a life of solitude in Pampanga since his wife left him more than twenty years ago. He keeps himself busy with daily trips to the ring where he bets on cockfights. One afternoon, he does not make it home and collapses in the middle of the street. As news of his condition reaches Teresa, she decides to go back to Pampanga after a long while to take care of him. Celso ends up joining her and together the three of them try to make his last remaining days as memorable as possible.

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