BWAKAW (Cinemalaya 2012 Official Entry)

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Family comes in all shapes and sizes.

"BWAKAW" is the film that enthrall with its emotional truth, high humor and sage assessment of the human condition. Employing frequent outrageous humor, director Jun Robles Lana elegantly captures the quality of everyday life in this backwater while crafting a superior character study of a man who has allowed most of life to pass him by until an emotional jolt emboldens him to go where he's never dared venture before.

A drama-comedy about growing old  and everyone's fear of growing old alone is among the entries in this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival. 

This is a story of Rene (Eddie Garcia) who thinks it is now too late for love, even companionship, and that all there is to look forward to is death. The movie shows evolves the characters driven into circumstances because of his love for Bwakaw, who stays with him and follows him wherever he goes. "Bwakaw" is Filipino slang for greed. 

I was privileged to have watched the Red Carpet Premiere of  2012 Cinemalaya's Best Actor (Eddie Garcia), Audience Choice Award and NETPAC Award, Bwakaw by APT Entertainment. Written and directed by Palanca Literary  Awards Hall of Famer Jun Lana and starring Eddie Garcia as Rene, Armida Siguion-Reyna, Gardo Versoza, Soxie Topacio, Alan Paule, Luz Valdez, Rez Cortez, Beverly Salviejo, Jonathan Neri, May-I Fabros, Soliman Cruz, Roni Bertubin, and Joey Paras. And introducing Princess as Bwakaw . 

Thanks to Flow Galindez  for this memorable movie. Bwakaw is one film I will never forget . While watching this drama-comedy movie,  I remember my dog named "Chance" who always stayed with me everywhere I go around our house. He was my bestfriend and protector. Sadly he got sick and died due to a heat stroke 14 years ago.

“Bwakaw,” Jun Lana’s Cinemalaya entry to its Director’s Showcase category.

BWAKAW theater listing starting tomorrow, September 5:

METRO MANILA:

SM MANILA 

SM STA MESA 

SM FAIRVIEW 

SM NORTH EDSA 

TRINOMA 

GATEWAY 

ROBINSON'S GALLERIA 

SM MEGAMALL 

FESTIVAL MALL

METROPOLIS

GLORIETTA 

POWERPLANT 

SM BACOOR 

SM MALL OF ASIA 

STA LUCIA 

ROBINSON'S Ermita 

ROBINSON'S Metroeast 

SM Marikina 

PROVINCIAL:

SM DASMARINAS 

SM BALIWAG 

SM MARILAO 

SM LIPA 

SM ROSARIO 

WALTERMART

WALTERMART

MEGA

NE PACIFIC

SM TARLAC 

METRO TOWN

WALTERMART

LIANAS

CSI LUCAO

WALTERMART

BQ 

GAISANO

GAISANO

EMALL

CINEFLEX

CSI LA UNION

GAISANO 

KCC GENSAN 

SM GENSAN 

MINDPRO

ROBINSON'S Dasmarinas

ROBINSON'S Imus

ROBINSON'S Pampanga

Keane's New Album "Strangeland"

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Keane will be visiting Manila for a one-night concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on October 2, 2012.

Keane 

Tom Chaplin (lead vocals)

Tim Rice-Oxley (piano)

Richard Hughes (drums) 

Jesse Quin (bass) 

English alternative rock band Keane of my favorite songs  “Somewhere Only We Know” and “Everybody’s Changing” released their 4th studio album Strangeland (in the Philippines under MCA Music) earlier this year. It is their first full-length album since Perfect Symmetry released in 2008.

Strangeland contains 16 tracks complete with lyrics , a thoughtful inclusion to an album that truly highlights the band’s songwriting skills more than its melodies.

They take you on a much richer and simpler ride when it comes to understanding, dealing with and overcoming life’s less glamorous predicaments and traveling towards “stranger lands.”

If this is your first time to encounter Keane, then I suppose you’re in for quite a treat: Strangeland, despite its name, focuses on not-so-strange themes — love, faith, letting go — all of which are "ear-ranged" to sound rather anthemic and empowering than mushy and corny.

The first track “You Are Young” immediately gives you a good glimpse of the album ahead — Tom Chaplin’s large voice singing above the piano and drums, with a message that is written in a way most realistic romantics (like myself) would understand — honest-to-goodness without the fluff.

The track is followed by “Silenced By The Night,” a song for most couples who feel they need a bit of reminding of “how to love the way (they) used to, then.”

As you listen on, you begin to realize that the album maintains a singular sonic arrangement that, while others may find dull, I personally found to be comforting and quite charming. It was loyal to its sound and didn’t have one of those “outtanowhere” type songs that riddle some albums for the sake of simply “throwing something into the mix.”

Again, the album highlights the lyrics and the singing here, even if the piano and synthesizers and its overall pop feel may come off a tad monotonous.

“Sea Fog,” however, is a nice break from the rest of the more upbeat tracks and showcases the dramatic nuances in Chaplin’s voice and, here, you feel that he’s doing more than just singing — he’s professing. 

Keane makes its message very clear, conveyed with subtlety and subdued elegance.

KEANE's newest album is about love, faith and letting go.

“Day Will Come” — the band’s take on the universal theme of “never giving up or giving in,” a good listen for days when you feel like you want to just lock yourself up in your room, lie down on the floor and stare at the ceiling.

Day Will Come

The winter night has wrapped a rag around your eyes

And stolen your sight

Oh you seem so far away

I hope you’ll find your way back someday

I miss you, I miss you

Some days set your world on fire

And some days they sink like stones

That’s when your heart will cry out

Until your body is numb

And the night will try to tempt you

But the day will come

We dream hard, we shoot high

Sometimes our fingers graze the sky

But we can’t hold on

Some days set your world on fire

And some days they sink like stones

That’s when your heart will cry out

Until your body is numb

And the night will try to tempt you

But the day will come

Brother don’t hang your head

Until your distance is run

‘Cause though it seems so far away

You know the day will come

Some days set your world on fire

And some days they sink like stones

That’s when your heart will cry out

Until your body is numb

And the night will try to tempt you

But the day will come

Brother don’t hang your head

Until your distance is run

Because though it seems so far away

You know the day will come

Callalily Releases New Single ‘Pasasalamat’

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Rock band Callalily remains to be one of the country’s foremost acts. After seven fruitful years in the recording industry, the band has all the reason to be thankful.

The band’s gratitude is lovingly expressed in their newest single Pasasalamat, which will be part of their soon-to-be-released first album under Universal Records.

“We have all the reasons to be thankful. Seven years into the business and we are still here. We are grateful. Plus, we are with a new label Universal Records,” says Kean Cipriano.

The band is composed of Kean Cipriano, Tatsi Jamnague, Aaron Ricafrente and Lemuel Belaro.

Pasasalamat is a tribute to their fans, who have selflessly and tirelessly supported the band.

Visit Callalily Facebook and

http://twitter.com/callalilyband

BRANDY ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE, “PUT IT DOWN” FEATURING CHRIS BROWN

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R&B/pop singer songwriter and superstar actress Brandy announces today the release of her official first single "Put It Down" featuring Chris Brown which will be available at all digital providers. Produced by Shondrae “Bangladesh” Crawford and Sean Garrett and co-written by Chris Brown, Shondrae Crawford, and Sean Garrett.

This track is Brandy’s follow up to one of the most talked about reunions of the year, her duet with Monica “It All Belongs To Me.”  Written and produced by Rico Love, “It All Belongs To Me” the much buzzed about track was spotlighted by NPR’s “The Record,”USA Today’s “Pick of the Week” and People Magazine’s “Hot Singles” with massive raves for the single and the Chris Robinson-directed video from the LA Times and Perez Hiltonto name a few.

Brandy Norwood is a superstar actress, R&B/pop singer, songwriter, host, spokesmodel and record producer. She is currently in the studio working on her debut RCA/Chameleon Records album entitled TWO ELEVEN which is scheduled for release this summer.

Crafted by Breyon Prescott, album collaborators include Timbaland (Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, Jay-Z), Bangladesh (Ke$ha, Usher, Nicki Minaj), Mario Winans (Mariah, Puffy, Keyshia Cole ), Danja (Britney Spears, Jamie Foxx, Keri Hilson), Hit Boy (Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kanye West), Noah 40 Shebib (Drake, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne), along with hit making songwriters Sean Garrett (Usher, Beyonce, Britney Spears), Rico Love (Usher, Beyonce, Chris Brown), Ester Dean (Katy Perry, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera), Frank Ocean (Justin Bieber, John Legend, Tyler, the Creator), and Chris Brown, to name a few.

Ranked by the RIAA as one of the best-selling female artists in American music history, Brandy has sold more than 20.5 million albums worldwide, while receiving a plethora of awards, including a Grammy, an American Music Award, two Soul Train Music Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, three Billboard Awards, four MTV Awards, six Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, two Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards and three BMI Awards. She arrived with a self-titled debut album at the age of fifteen and went on to record a series of hit CDs that established her as one of the successful R&B/pop female vocalists to emerge in a generation. 

Brandy is a cast member of BET’s top-rated scripted series “The Game,” receiving rave reviews and will be appearing in Tyler Perry’s upcoming Lionsgate release, “The Marriage Counselor.” 

Watch the music video by Brandy featuring Chris Brown performing “Put It Down"

Brewing Craziness: Tado at MIBF

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Something is brewing at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), the country’s longest-running and biggest book fair.  This year, though, the brew turns a little, well, strange as comedian, actor, radio personality and businessman Tado Jimenez joins the fair as one of MIBF’s featured Bookworms.

Arvin “Tado” Jimenez graduated from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines with a degree in Psychology.  Whilst in the university, he was inspired by his artist-friends to study film at the Mowelfund Institute.

Tado is one of the hosts of reality situational comedy show “Strangebrew” with Angel Rivero which saw the tandem play offbeat characters as they interviewed well-known personalities and ordinary people on the job. The show aired in UNTV Channel 37 and Studio 23. His notable catchphrase on the show was “Rakenrol!”

After Strangebrew wrapped up, he reunited with Rivero and contributor Ramon Bautista for his late night talk show on Hit FM 99.5, “BrewRATS”. The program has since moved to internet radio station DigRadio every Thursday from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Tado also owns a t-shirt line called Limitado which feature striking messages and spoofs printed on the items. He runs this business with his wife.

He is also a published author. His first book “Mga Kasinungalingang Pwedeng Sabihin sa Mga Mangmang” features Tado’s thoughts and anecdotes about life and other hilarious stories. He has followed this up with “Nag-iisa Lang Ako”.

As one of MIBF’s Bookworms, Tado, as well as cartoonist Stanley Chi, renowned tour guide Carlos Celdran, and Youtube celebrity Ramon Bautista will be making a series of online videos for the event aiming to entice people from all walks of life.  There truly is something for everyone at the Manila International Book Fair.

MIBF runs from Sept. 14-18 at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. MIBF is organized by Primetrade Asia, Inc. in partnership with Asian Catholic Communicators, Inc., Book Development Association of the Philippines, Philippine Booksellers Association, Inc., and Publishers Representatives Organization of the Philippines. For details, call 896-0661 or 896-0682, or e-mail bookfair@primetradeasia.com.