ABS-CBN BROADCAST HEAD NAMED AMONG 2013’s “PEOPLE OF THE YEAR”

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“Servicing the Filipino people— that’s what we’re really here for. Our work is tough. There is so much stress, sacrifices, and sleepless nights. But at the end of the day, what keeps us going is the mission to reach out to Pinoys all over the world.” --- Cory Vidanes

ABS-CBN Broadcast Head Cory Vidanes was among the 14 personalities recognized by People Asia magazine in its annual “People of the Year” for her vital role in the achievements of the country’s largest media conglomerate over the past years, particularly her involvement and passionate support for the network’s public service campaigns.

In its 14th anniversary issue, People Asia highlighted how Vidanes can work quietly on the sidelines and achieve greatness without calling much attention to it.

Aside from spearheading campaigns that further increased ABS-CBN’s ratings, Vidanes has been very much involved in the network’s public service projects that include the network’s recent “Tulong Na, Tabang Na, Tayo Na” campaign for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

“I feel that I was put in this place by God because this is my purpose. If I can touch, empower or inspire the Filipino in any way I can, then I will always stay in ABS-CBN,” she added.

Other ABS-CBN personalities included on the list were actor Coco Martin, who was recognized for his contribution to Philippine television and cinema, and Miss World 2013 Megan Young, for being the first Filipina to win the much-coveted title after 62 years and for her embodiment of the pageant’s credo ‘beauty with a purpose.’

In 2010, ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio was also among the “People of the Year” awardees for being the first female president of the country’s leading media corporation.

People Asia began the ‘People of the Year’ awards back in 2004. It aims to recognize world-class Filipinos who have made the country proud with their achievements, advocacies, and notable contributions to the Filipino society.

Hennessy Artistry Manila Halo 2014

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It’s officially back!

The time has finally come again for the culminating night of Hennessy Artistry Manila: Hennessy Artistry Halo 2014.

This will be the fourth the country has seen and it will definitely be its finest.  With every passing year, Hennessy Artistry has continuously proven that no one throws a party like us.  That’s because we’re committed to a global movement for perfect mix ability.  

Headlined by the International DJ Duo: DJ KimKat also known as DJ Kim Lee and Kat Nova, and Australian Pop Star Timomatic. They will be joined by our very own Nicole Asensio, UrbanDub, hip-hop DJ and Drummer Duo Motherbasss and DJ Jessica Milner.

Hennessy Artistry with its call for “The Global Art of Mixing” has one purpose, to bring together various genres of music from well-established talents and upcoming artists. Blending these acts together with vibrant ambience and energy results in a truly memorable experience. This showcases Hennessy’s art of blending in both cognac and music, by combining tradition with innovation. 

This global series has conquered over 40 major cities in the world, from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Taipei, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, to Germany, Poland, Moscow and South Africa; becoming a truly international trendsetter of music and style. 

Skyscanner reveals the Best Time to Book for Filipinos

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Traveling takes a big chunk of the typical Filipino vacation. Families and barkadas make it a point to go out-of-town or out of the country on holidays. With all these free days pre-marked on their calendars, it is important that they strategize so that they can book their flights at the lowest possible prices.

Skyscanner, a leading global travel search site, did a study on the millions of flights purchased by their customers over the past three years to arrive with the best time to book. The study shows that on average, 3-4 weeks in advance is the optimal time to book flights. This suggestion, however, depends on the type of flight you book or the airlines you book with. When traveling with a budget airline, prices are likely to go up as the day of the flight approaches. If traveling on long haul flights or for more than 5 hours, prices are likely to fluctuate as the flight day grows near, and this does not guarantee the best seats.

In the Philippines, we have always loved the idea of discounts and because of this, booking early has always been a trend. Below are the top outbound destinations in the Philippines alongside the number of weeks you need to book in advance for maximum saving:

·       China. If you book 28 weeks in advance, you can save as much as PHP 7 000 per flight which means more money for shopping and buying souvenirs.

·       Malaysia. Because Malaysia is relatively near, it can be a go-to destination for last minute getaways and short vacations, but booking close to your departure date can be quite expensive. Consider booking 31 weeks in advance so you will only have to pay 46% of the actual flight cost.

·       Japan. Book a flight to the land of cherry blossoms 14 weeks in advance and you can save as much as PHP 6300. Like with Thailand, booking four tickets will make way for another friend or relative to tag along in your trip.

·       Thailand. Save as much as PHP 2990 if you book 16 weeks ahead. The discount you will get from booking four tickets is enough to get you another flight for free!

·       Singapore. This country is the most visited by Filipinos in 2013 according to a recent study by Skyscanner. The best time to book flights going to Singapore is 25 weeks in advance. By booking this early, you can save as much as PHP 1600. This is almost 24% less than the average flight cost.

According to the Best Time to Book study, on average, it is best to book 20 weeks in advance regardless of where you want to go. The study also suggests that the cheapest month to travel is in February and it is most expensive in April. This is for the reason that less people travel on February because they are making way for their summer travels which usually happens in April.

Booking flights during these suggested time frames enables you access to loads of discounts and the best seats possible. If you book early, you can save almost 18% less than what you will have to pay for the average ticket price. Moreover, you can skip the stress of looking for available flights at the last minute which are most likely to be overpriced. Booking your flights early will not just give you these perks but it will also help you focus on the other aspects of your vacation such as relaxation and educating yourself, which is ultimately the point of traveling.

Some simple rules to bear in mind to get the best price:

1.     Book smart: Avoiding peak season travel and flying at less popular hours of the day, can really help to lower costs.

2.     Be flexible:  Costs to different destinations can vary significantly depending on the airlines operating that route and the Thai airports offering these flights. If you are planning your next trip but are open to destinations, running a search to ‘everywhere’ can help find the countries that offer the best value flights at any time.

3.     Compare and contrast: Using a travel comparison site like Skyscanner allows you to compare the widest range of airlines and online travel agents, so you’ll be able to see where you can get the best deal.

4.     Track prices Skyscanner’s analysis has found that keeping an eye on the flight prices a few months in advance of travel, is the best way to find a good value flight. Using a flight tracker price alert service, either by email or via the app can help monitor when prices drop on a chosen route.

Skyscanner offers price alerts on all routes to enable flights to be monitored by email. The Skyscanner app offers widgets for Android, Live Tiles for Windows Phone and “watch” functionality for iOS, all of which allow customers to track the latest price changes on a chosen route.

About Skyscanner

·  Skyscanner is a leading global travel search site providing instant online comparisons for millions of flights plus hotels and car hire.

·  Founded in 2003 by three IT professionals, Gareth Williams, Barry Smith and Bonamy Grimes, Skyscanner is the no.1 travel search website in Europe and no.3 worldwide, receiving over 50 million visits per month.

·  Skyscanner’s travel search site is available in 40 countries and in 30 languages.

·  Skyscanner’s highly-rated free mobile apps are available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Windows 8 devices and have been downloaded over 20 million time. Download the app at http://www.skyscanner.com.ph/mobile.html

·  The company employs over 200 staff and has its global headquarters in Edinburgh, with a second Scottish office in Glasgow. Skyscanner also has offices in Singapore and Beijing and plans to open a Miami office in 2013.

·  Follow Skyscanner on Twitter @SkyscannerPH

·  Like Skyscanner on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/SkyscannerPhilippines

·  Visit Skyscanner website at www.skyscanner.com.ph

Primetime TV's "The Legal Wife" tackles the real value of family

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"The Legal Wife” will not just heat up primetime TV with fierce confrontations but with real-life issues as well, according to top caliber directors Rory Quintos and Dado Lumibao.

“We want to make sure that our audience will follow our show not only because of the slapping scenes, but also because, through it, they learn how to deal with the problems of their own families, which they have been afraid to face,” said Direk Rory about the Primetime Bida series topbilled by Angel Locsin, Maja Salvador, JC de Vera, and Jericho Rosales

“Many viewers will be able to connect with the characters of Monica (Angel), Nicole (Maja), Max (JC), and Adrian (Jericho), because their personal battles are true-to-life. ‘Legal Wife’ is about the love and sacrifices that a person is willing to do for the sake of his family,” Direk Dado explained.

Meanwhile, Angel, Maja, JC, and Echo revealed that story of “The Legal Wife” also made them discover a lot about themselves.

“Everyone has already experienced to love and to make mistakes. Because of my character Monica, I realized that I need to be strong in order to face all the trials in my life, especially if my family is affected,” said Angel.

For Echo, the plot of “The Legal Wife” will serve as a huge eye-opener for Filipino families. “Infidelity is such a sensitive topic, but I believe that this is the right time to make everyone understand why this happens, and why people end up in this situation,” he said.

Maja added that while her character in the series is controversial, she believes that many people will be able to relate with Nicole.

“There are many kinds of love, but there is this kind where somebody accepts your whole personality despite of the things that you did in the past,” she shared.

“I appreciate love for my family and for others now more that I used to because of my character Max’s ability to give everything he has got without asking for anything in return,” JC said.

“The Legal Wife” features the story of Monica and Adrian, a married couple whose lives are about to turn around because of a huge mistake. How will Monica and Adrian be able to fulfill the promise of forever when the foundation of their relationship begins is already shattered?

Also part of “The Legal Wife” cast are some of the country’s best drama actors including Joem Bascon, Ahron Villena, Rio Locsin, Mark Gil, Maria Isabel Lopez, Bernard Palanca, and Christopher de Leon.

Also part of “The Legal Wife” cast are some of the country’s best drama actors including Joem Bascon, Ahron Villena, Rio Locsin, Mark Gil, Maria Isabel Lopez, Bernard Palanca, and Christopher de Leon.

Don’t miss the premiere of  ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.“The Legal Wife” on Monday (January 27) in ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

Lifestyle Network : The Philippine's Newest Home for the Oscars

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Watch out for the 86^th Academy Awards, airing live on the Lifestyle Network on March 3, 2014 and on ABS-CBN.

What is considered to be the movie industry’s most prestigious award has found a new home for its annual ceremony’s broadcast on Philippine television, as the 86^th Academy Awards—popularly known as the Oscars—now reaches out to eager viewers via the Lifestyle Network, airing live as it happens.

From its historical introduction in 1929, the Academy Awards has since become known as the organization behind the world of film’s most prestigious honor, coming in the form of the Oscar statuette. This statuette has now reached the status of an internationally admired symbol that stands as proof and recognition of the very highest level of achievement in movies, bearing significance of a caliber entirely its own.

This 2014, the Academy Awards is set to mount its 86^th ceremony at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Chosen to take its audience and viewers alike through the star-studded event will be one of television’s favorite personalities, Ellen DeGeneres, who also previously hosted the event in 2007.

For this year’s Oscars awards, the nominees were recently announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science President Cheryle Boone Isaacs, who was joined by Heart of the Sea star Chris Hemsworth upon the declaration of the upcoming potential winners.

The nominees for the 86^th Academy Awards are as follows:

BEST PICTURE

·      American Hustle

·      Captain Phillips

·      Dallas Buyers Club

·      Gravity

·      Her

·      Nebraska

·      Philomena

·      12 Years a Slave

·      The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST DIRECTOR

·      Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity

·      Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave

·      Alexander Payne, Nebraska

·      David O. Russell, American Hustle

·      Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ACTOR

·      Christian Bale, American Hustle

·      Bruce Dern, Nebraska

·      Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

·      Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

·      Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

BEST ACTRESS

·      Amy Adams, American Hustle

·      Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

·      Sandra Bullock, Gravity

·      Judi Dench, Philomena

·      Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

·      BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

·      David O. Russell and Eric Warren Singer, American Hustle

·      Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine

·      Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack, Dallas Buyers Club

·      Spike Jonze, Her

·      Bob Nelson, Nebraska

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

·      Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight

·      Billy Ray, Captain Philips

·      Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, Philomena

·      John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave

·      Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

·      The Croods

·      Despicable Me 2

·      Ernest & Celestine

·      Frozen

·      The Wind Rises

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

·      "Alone Not Alone," Alone Yet Not Alone

·      "Happy," Despicable Me 2

·      "Let It Go," Frozen

·      "The Moon Song," Her

·      "Ordinary Love," Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

·      BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

·      Philippe Le Sourd, The Grandmaster

·      Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity

·      Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis

·      Phedon Papamichael, Nebraska

·      Roger A. Deakins, Prisoners

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

·      Michael Wilkinson, American Hustle

·      William Chang Suk Ping, The Grandmaster

·      Catherine Martin, The Great Gatsby

·      Michael O'Connor, The Invisible Woman

·      Patricia Norris, 12 Years a Slave

BEST DOCUMENTARY – SHORT SUBJECT

·      CaveDigger

·      Facing Fear

·      Karama Has No Walls

·      The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

·      Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

BEST FILM EDITING

·      Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten, American Hustle

·      Christopher Rouse, Captain Phillips

·      John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa, Dallas Buyers Club

·      Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger, Gravity

·      Joe Walker, 12 Years a Slave

·      BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

·      Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathew, Dallas Buyers Club

·      Stephen Prouty, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

·      Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny, The Lone Ranger

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

·      John Williams, The Book Thief

·      Steven Price, Gravity

·      William Butler and Owen Pallett, Her

·      Alexandre Desplat, Philomena

·      Thomas Newman, Saving Mr. Banks

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

·      Judy Becker (Production Design) and Heather Loeffler (Set Decoration), American Hustle

·      Andy Nicholson (Production Design); Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard (Set Decoration), Gravity

·      Catherine Martin (Production Design) and Beverley Dunn (Set Decoration), The Great Gatsby

·      K.K. Barrett (Production Design) and Gene Serdena (Set Decoration), Her

·      Adam Stockhausen (Production Design) and Alice Baker (Set Decoration), 12 Years a Slave

BEST SHORT FILM – ANIMATED

·      Feral

·      Get a Horse!

·      Mr. Hublot

·      Possessions

·      Room on the Broom

BEST SHORT FILM – LIVE ACTION

·      Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn't Me), Esteban Crespo

·      Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything), Xavier Legrand and Alexandre Gavras

·      Helium, Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson

·      Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?), Selma Vilhunen and Kirsikka Saari

·      The Voorman Problem, Mark Gill and Baldwin Li

BEST SOUND EDITING

·      Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns, All Is Lost

·      Oliver Tarney, Captain Phillips

·      Glenn Freemantle, Gravity

·      Brent Burge, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

·      Wylie Stateman, Lone Survivor

·      BEST SOUND MIXING

·     Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro, Captain Phillips

·      "Gravity" Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro, Gravity

·    Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

·      Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland, Inside Llewyn Davis

·      Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow, Lone Survivor

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

·      Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould, Gravity

·   Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

·      Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick, Iron Man 3

·      Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier, The Lone Ranger

·    Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton, Star Trek Into Darkness

Don’t miss out on the year’s most anticipated night in the international film industry, the 86^th Academy Awards, airing live on the Lifestyle Network on March 3, 2014 and on ABS-CBN.

For schedules and updates, visit and like the Lifestyle Network on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LifestyleNetwork).