Step into Wanderland -The ultimate sonic playground for the summer

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Get ready for one surreal summer experience as Karpos Multimedia Inc. proudly presents Wanderland, an annual outdoor music and arts festival with sights, sounds and a little something extra.

Slated to rock music-loving Manila on May 18, 2013, this whole-day event is the first of its kind in the Philippines and will be the first major concert at the new Globe Circuit Events Ground in Makati. 

Wanderland makes its scorching debut this summer by bringing together the hottest indie pop and indie rock bands and up-and-comers, both foreign and local, all on one stage. All the rage activities also await revelers, such as performances by live art artists Anjo Bolarda x Martojaks, Secret Fresh and Thursday Room, inflatable slides, bull rides, jousts and a Velcro wall. 

Headlining the music festival is Australian five-piece outfit The Temper Trap, best known for upbeat joyride tracks “Sweet Disposition,” “Fader” and “Need Your Love.” Composed of Dougy Mandagi (vocals), Jonathon Aherne (bass guitar), Toby Dundas (drums), Lorenzo Sillitto (lead guitar), and Joseph Greer (keyboards, guitar), The Temper Trap formed in 2005 and steadily built a solid fanbase while playing at numerous music festivals in Australia, the UK and beyond. In 2009, the band took the mainstream music scene by storm with its critically acclaimed debut album Conditions, whose ethereal carrier single “Sweet Disposition” shot up the European music charts and spawned several remixes, including the popular house version by Axwell & Dirty South. The Temper Trap went on to land two distinctions --- “Best Group” for Conditions and “Most Popular Australian Single” for "Sweet Disposition” --- at the 2010 ARIA Music Awards. That same year, the band broke into the US market, with “Sweet Disposition” gaining heavy radio airplay and figuring prominently in various TV shows (“Skins,” “Greek,” “One Tree Hill”), commercials and films (“500 Days of Summer,” “Eat, Pray, Love”). Conditions also spawned two more soundtrack staples: the infectious ditty “Fader” (“The Vampire Diaries”) and the easy, breezy “Love Lost” (“Pretty Little Liars”). They completed a sell out US tour ahead of a run of summer festivals, including appearances at T in the Park, Wilderness and Truck Festival, and a show at Somerset House that sold out in less than 48 hours. They closed the year supporting Coldplay on their autumn stadium tour of Australia, before heading back to the UK to play Xfm’s Winter Wonderland. 

Joining The Temper Trap are two American alt-rock bands: Neon Trees, who rose to popularity with certified charttoppers “Animal,” “Everybody Talks” and “1983”; and Nada Surf, who’s responsible for the ‘90s coming-of-age track “Popular,” the melancholy “Inside of Love” and its unforgettable rendition of the new wave anthem “If You Leave” from the seminal soundtrack of “The O.C.” The lineup offers more indie-pop goodness in the form of New Zealand-based folk group Avalanche City, Australian pop duo Colour Coding, and the female-fronted indie quintet from Melbourne, Tully on Tully. Homegrown talents Up Dharma Down, Taken By Cars, Pulso, Yolanda Moon, and She’s Only Sixteen round up the cast. 

Wanderland 2013 is presented by Karpos Multimedia Inc., the group behind The Cranberries Live in Manila, We Are The In Crowd, This Century and Set Your Goals, The Maine Live in Manila among others.

Tickets are priced at PhP 4,800 (exclusive of ticket service charge), available at all TicketNet, TicketWorld and SM Tickets outlets.

Gates open at 11AM. 

For more information and updates about the art and music festival, check out Wanderland.ph and the following social media sites:

 Facebook/Wanderlandfest

Twitter/Wanderlandfest

Instagram/Wanderlandfest.

Do not forget to hashtag #WanderlandMusicFest 

Superman “Man of Steel” 2013

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"A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind."

The movie Superman  “Man of Steel” starring Henry Cavill , Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, Russell Crowe, Antje Traue, Ayelet Zurer, Henry Lennix, Christopher Meloni and Laurence Fishburne. This is  directed by Zach Snyder.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes “Man of Steel,” with Henry Cavill (from “Immortals,” TV’s “The Tudors”) in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (of “300,” “Watchmen”).

Synopsis

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes MAN OF STEEL, starring Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”). A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.

The film also stars Amy Adams as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Fishburne as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Diane Lane and Kevin Costner. Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Michael Shannon, and Faora, Zod’s evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Also from Superman’s native Krypton are Lara Lor-Van, Superman’s mother, played by Ayelet Zurer, and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Russell Crowe. Rounding out the cast are Christopher Meloni as U.S. military man Colonel Hardy, Harry Lennix as General Swanwick, Michael Kelly as Steve Lombard, and Richard Schiff as Dr. Emil Hamilton.

The film is set to be released on June 14, 2013, in conventional, 3D and IMAX theaters.

After “Gangnam Style", What could PSY possibly have in store for us next?

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After K-POP music become a global phenomenon due in large part to Korean singer PSY’s massive 2012 dance hit “Gangnam Style,” the whole world—along with many Filipinos—is now eagerly awaiting the release of PSY’s new single this April.

In celebration of the new song release, LINE, a world-leading mobile messenger with social networking services, is set to offer PSY stickers (quirky and colorful emoticons) to its users, adding a little ‘Gangnam’ to their chat messages.

LINE’s PSY stickers consist of 40 diverse items, all of which depict PSY’s humorous expressions and gestures, including his signature horse-riding dance motion. The stickers are priced at USD 1.99 or 100 LINE coins.

“PSY has truly become a global pop icon, and he has especially captured the imagination of Filipinos of all ages,” explained Lee Jin Woo, General Manager of LINE Business Office at LINE PLUS. “We at LINE want to reach out to these fans through these stickers, and create a synergy between PSY’s worldwide fans and LINE’s global users.”

“LINE will always be one step ahead of users’ needs, and we are constantly working to provide a wide variety of services to meet their quickly changing desires through our free app,” he added.

Together with PSY’s sticker release, LINE is adding more K-POP celebrities to its current Official Account list of G-Dragon, KARA, and JYJ. New additions to the line-up will include CNBLUE, FTISLAND, Lee Min-ho, Miss A, Wonder Girls, ZE:A, 2AM and 2PM.

LINE Official Accounts allow fans to add their favorite celebrities on their friends list and follow their messages, pictures and even video and audio clips on a daily basis. Fans can also interact with celebrities in real-time during 'On Air Mode' where the celebrities can read and respond to messages via text.

“LINE works to extend and enhance users’ entertainment experience through celebrity engagement,” Lee Jin Woo explained. “We are committed to meeting and exceeding the expectations of global users for a more fun and unique communication experience.”

PSY’s promotional stickers can be availed at the LINE Sticker Shop. The shop can be accessed by clicking the “More” tab or through the Sticker Keyboard by clicking on the “+” tab. If users receive PSY stickers from their friends during a conversation, clicking on the PSY stickers will take them to the Sticker Shop.

PSY hit the big time as he soared to the top of global charts towards the end of last year. ‘Gangnam Style’ clocked in more than 1 billion views on YouTube, becoming the first and only video so far to achieve those numbers. The video is not only the most viewed, but it is also the most ‘liked’ video in YouTube history. By the end of 2012 the song had already topped the music charts of more than 30 countries.

LINE has continuously introduced entertaining and interactive features like LINE Camera, Official Accounts, and even games that are currently leading the mobile SNS game market. The app is available for free at Apple’s App Store, Google’s Play Store, as well as on Blackberry, PC and other platforms.

For more information about LINE, visit its official website http://line.naver.jp/en/.

JOHN RENDEZ RETURNS TO RAP RECORDING

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Rap artist and composer John Rendez is back to the recording scene. 

Months after he returned to the country in August, 2011, the 42-year old rapper-composer and actor has started to carefully lay out the plans for a comeback to what he loves doing most - doing rap compositions and singing them.

It took him exactly a year to finish the new all-rap album, from conceptualizing the type and quality of its contents, to composing the new rap songs, to deciding on some "updates" to his previous compositions.

Everything fell into place and on October 1 last year, John Rendez, together with Ms. Nora Aunor, his long-time friend and now business manager, has inked a distribution deal with PolyEast Records for the release of the new John Rendez CD album, titled "Metaldog"/"There Can Only Be One".

A follow-up to the self-titled album John did years ago, also bearing the "Metaldog" tag, with its carrier single, "There Can Only Be One" (a new original composition), the album is a decided mix of so-called "high end" rap and what may be regarded as "low end/pang-masa" hip-hop beat.

The experience of doing the whole album was as fulfilling as John has envisioned. 

"It's good to be back to what I love doing most! Couldn't think of any other thing as fulfilling," said John. 

No less than the bosses from PolyEast Records,  Mr. Jesmon Chua and Mr. Chito Ilagan, the album distributor, would attest to the CD rap album's great potential to become a qualified hit.

"It's very positive. It's worth the long wait.  I can now say I'm a professional composer!"  John noted.

PINOY RAP INFULENCE.  Eleven original compositions make up this new rap album by John Rendez, including: There Can Only Be One, No More Musik By The Suckers, Ratt9MM, Metaldog, Kembotan, Everybody Sayaw (relieving John's early years on television, via ABS-CBN's "Ready Set Go!" in the early '90s). Under the Ground, Sowerzitat?, Domination, Coming To A Theater Near You, and a semi-novelty Tagalog rap, Plastik Pala.

"It's really no great surprise, every rap song, very up-to-date music!" said John.

For his second album, John Rendez collaborated with noted music composer, Jonathan Ong, with mixing (mixdowns) by Robert Javier and Tony D.

"We clicked together, so good! Wala akong masabi!" he intoned.  "Jonathan Ong is the best! And Tony D. and Robert Javier, from the Sonic State Studio, in Mandaluyong, very, very good!

"Couldn't be more 'happier'!" the Fil-Am rapper who hails from Angeles City, Pampanga, couldn't contain his happiness.

He said his roots are reflected in the rap songs the album contains.

"These are heavily influenced by my past.  But you know what?  It's also Pinoy rap influence,"  John stated.

PERSONAL STATEMENT.   Like any other artist true to his calling, John expresses a kind of mixed feelings about his comeback as a recording artist, through his new all-rap CD album.

"This is my music," he said.  "This is the quality of my character.
If you want to know what kind of a person I am, listen to my music.”

"This is the statement of the person that I am, at this time; the person that I was, and also the person (to remember me by)," he also said, with words deeply felt.

John hopes that "people try to understand it.  I'm not gonna be something that I'm not; not gonna be something original.”

"I think, maybe, I'm gonna find a balance of my skills, my state of mind, and my 'feel' for what's 'in' nowadays. “

"If you don't like me, it's okay.  You can't please everyone.  I just want my music to be given it's own chance."

John Rendez’ album METALDOG is now available nationwide distributed by PolyEast Records.

Villar Leads Manila Bay Clean-up

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In consonance with the forthcoming Earth Day celebration, Team PNoy senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar yesterday led the clean-up drive at Manila Bay in the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat & Eco-Tourism (LPPCHEA), which was recently included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, an intergovernmental treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

“We have to care and protect our environment. We have to repay Mother Earth for providing us all the necessary materials we need to survive,” stressed Villar.

The clean-up activity at Manila Bay which started 7 am yesterday, Villar said, is their simple way of saying “thank you,” and “demonstrating our love to Mother Earth.” However, she stressed that “caring and loving” our environment should not only be done during the Earth Day celebration.

“Everyday of our lives, we should all strive to protect Mother Earth,’ said Villar who has earned the moniker “Misis HanepBuhay” for giving jobs to Filipinos.

Villar was joined by students and volunteers from various sectors in last Friday’s clean-up activity, which was followed by a tour along the stretch of LPPCHEA aboard a banca around 7:30 a.m. The activity ended with a boodle fight, also led by Villar. The three-term Las Pinas congresswoman said she feels happy with the improvement at the LPPCHEA since there are lesser garbage being collected.

“We can attribute this to our consistent clean-up efforts,” said Villar. The Villar Foundation, where she sits as Managing Director, together with students and other volunteers, also conduct weekly cleanups. “The more partners we work with, the better it will be for the environment,” she said.

The Villar Foundation had earlier inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) represented by radio station DZRH in its Manila Bay Cleanup drive.

“The Villar Foundation and DZRH agree that this is not only a joint cooperative undertaking, but more importantly, it is a major public service activity that would help contribute to the promotion of a livable, healthier and ecological sustainable Manila Bay,” read the MoA.

Villar noted there is more reason to protect the 175-hectare LPPCHEA area after it was listed in Ramsar along with the world-renowned Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (Underground River), both found in the Philippines.

"Ramsar has recognized LPPCHEA’s global importance to biodiversity and the need to give it special protection from various threats,” said Villar, adding that LPPCHEA is the so-called 'last bastion' in Metro Manila.

Based on Proclamation No. 1412, LPPCHEA is a critical habitat because to its global importance to biodiversity. It is a habitat for the survival of threatened, restricted-range and congregatory species.

But despite being a critical habitat, Villar lamented it faces threats of being reclaimed. In opposing the planned reclamation, Villar, a strong environmental advocate, noted that taking care of our environment will save us from disasters and calamities.

She maintains calamities would further burden the already poor Filipinos who are facing various problems due to difficult times.

Disasters like flooding, Villar said, can make one poorer if his properties are destroyed.

To avoid worst scenarios, Villar, who has earned the moniker “Misis Hanep Buhay” for giving jobs to Filipinos, underscored the need to clean our rivers, our creeks and other bodies of water especially Manila Bay.

“We can simply help protect the environment by not throwing our garbage into the sea, the rivers, the creeks. If we resort to indiscriminate throwing of garbages, these wastes will return to us during floodings. The garbages that we throw also caused massive floods,” warned Villar.