Metro Manila Film Festival announces the first five official entries for its 50th edition

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The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) announces the first five official entries for its 50th edition in December.  The first five MMFF entries are:

1. And The Breadwinner Is…
by: ABS-CBN Films (Star Cinema) and The IdeaFirst Company

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Cast: Vice Ganda, Eugene Domingo, Maris Racal, Anthony Jennings, Kokoy De Santos, Via Antonio, Jhong Hilario, Gladys Reyes and Ms, Gina Parreño
Writer: Daisy Cayanan, Jumbo Albano, Jun Lana
Director: Jun Robles Lana

2. Green Bones
By GMA Pictures

Genre: Suspense Drama
Cast: Dennis Trillo, Sofia Pablo
Writer: Ricky Lee, Angeli Atienza
Director:Zig Dulay

3. Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital
By Reality MM Studios

Genre: Horror
Cast: Jane de Leon, Enrique Gil, Rob Gomez, Alexa Miro, MJ Lastimosa
Writer: Kerwin Go, Dustin Celestino, Leovic Arceta
Director: Kerwin Go

4. Himala, Isang Musikal

by Kapitol Films and Unitel

Genre: Musical

Cast: Aicelle Santos, Bituin Escalante, David Ezra, Vic Robinson

Writer: Ricky Lee, Pepe Diokno

Director: Pepe Diokno

5. The Kingdom

by APT Entertainment, MZET TV Productions, Mquest Ventures

Genre: Action / Family Drama

Cast: Vic Sotto, Piolo Pascual

Writer: Michelle Ngu-Nario

Director: Michael Tuviera

The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) celebrated the start of its golden jubilee last July 16, 2024, with a grand launch of its 50th edition under the theme 'Sine-Sigla sa Singkwenta'.

This special event highlighted MMFF's significant contributions to the local film and entertainment industry, as well as its role in bolstering the country's creative economy by generating jobs for Filipinos.

First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, a staunch supporter of Philippine arts and culture, graced the occasion with her presence. She praised the MMFF as a beacon of Filipino creativity and talent for five decades, highlighting its significant influence on the nation's artistic spirit.

Leading the ceremonies was MMFF and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

(MMDA) Chair, Atty. Romando Artes. He emphasized the significant support for the film industry, stating, "Nais kong banggitin na simula 2016, ang mga amusement taxes na nai-waive ng mga LGUs para sa MMFF ay 100 porsyento nang inilaan sa ating mga benepisyaryo, tulad ng Movie Workers Welfare Fund (MOWELFUND), Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Motion Picture Anti-Film Piracy Council, Optical Media Board (OMB), at Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) - isang pagkilala sa kanilang napakahalagang kontribusyon sa industriya. Ito ay nagpapakita ng ating suporta sa ating massipag na manggagawa sa pelikula, na nagpapahintulot sa kanila na ipagpatuloy ang kanilang gawain sa larangan ng paggawa ng pelikula."

A commemorative video showcased five decades of MMFF's impact on Philippine cinema, culminating in the reveal of the 50th-anniversary logo. This visual tribute underscored the festival's legacy and its contributions to the film industry. Hosts Jake Ejercito and Isabelle Daza kept the audience engaged as they unveiled a series of monthly activities planned to commemorate this milestone anniversary-

August: Launch of a special MMFF classic posters mural in partnership with i-Academy.

September: 'Sine-Singkwenta', featuring 50 selected Filipino movies shown in theaters for only P50.

October: Regional launch of MMFF50, including the MMFF50 Student Film Caravan at Universidad de Manila in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines

(FDCP). This event will feature a two-day masterclass on directing, acting, cinematography, and scriptwriting for 100 senior high school and college students.

Additionally, there will be a celebrity golf tournament and an MMFF50 Masterclass with international Filipino screenwriters, producers, and animators.

December: The annual MMFF50 parade on December 15, the Movie Premiere week from December 15 to December 20, MMFF Sponsors Night on December 21, and the highly anticipated MMFF50 Gabi ng Parangal on December 27. To commemorate this event, MMFF will present a customized trophy for the Gabi ng Parangal, crafted by renowned Filipino artist Jefre.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna also expressed her support, highlighting MMFF's role in the city's cultural and economic landscape. She noted that the MMFF has been a vital part of Manila's cultural and economic scene, fostering both artistic talent and community spirit. Mayor Lacuna emphasized that the city is proud to support an event that enriches its cultural heritage and provides jobs and inspiration for its people.

One of the celebration's highlights was the reveal of the first five official movie entries for

MMFF50, generating excitement among attendees and setting the stage for a vibrant festival season.

In September 1975, former President Ferdinand Marcos expanded its scope to include the greater Manila area, renaming it the 'Metropolitan Film Festival. Today, the MMFF is an annual event organized by the MMDA and held nationwide, running from Christmas Day through New Year's Day and into the first weekend of January, focusing exclusively on Filipino-produced films.

Monde Nissin and Hapinoy partnership to empower sari-sari stores and Agricultural groups with training and financial grants

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Monde Nissin Corporation has announced a year-long partnership with social enterprise Hapinoy to uplift sari-sari stores through education opportunities and capital grants as part of their Tulong Sulong livelihood program.

L-R Hapinoy president Mark Ruiz, Monde Nissin Corporation Corporate and Government Affairs Head Atty. Olive Misa, and Monde Nissin Corporation Public Affairs Head Marc Alejo represented both companies during the Memorandum of Agreement signing.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Atty. Olive Misa, Monde Nissin Corporate and Government Affairs Head, Monde Nissin Public Affairs Head Marc Alejo, and Hapinoy president Mark Ruiz during a ceremony held last Tuesday, June 11 at the Monde Nissin office in Pasig City.

Called “45@45 Sari-sari Store Enablement Program” in line with Monde Nissin’s 45th anniversary celebration, it aims to uplift sari-sari stores nationwide and expand livelihood opportunities. The two part pilot program will upskill 40 existing sari-sari stores through hands-on training, and also set up sari-sari stores as a sustainable source of income. The ground up stores will be provided to five agricultural cooperatives and community organizations in key areas in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Negros Region, and Davao Region identified by Monde Nissin.

“Sari-sari stores bridge gaps, ensuring that our products are readily available at the neighborhood level. Meanwhile, the agricultural sector plays a crucial role in producing the raw materials that make our products what they are today,” said Misa.

She added that the enablement program falls in line with the company’s long-term advocacy of extending entrepreneurial opportunities and financial support to sari-sari store owners with Hapinoy as their partner organization.

“What is very exciting and unique about [the program] is the integration on the other side, which is helping out five community-based organizations or suppliers as part of [Monde Nissin’s] inclusive chain. This project is something end-to-end,” shared Ruiz.

Representatives from Monde Nissin and Hapinoy were in attendance at the

 MOA Signing in Pasig City

Hapinoy will roll out learning modules on business and financial management called “Hapiswkela” and offer packages that include inventory grants, store merchandise, and marketing materials to beneficiary sari-sari stores. As part of the 45@45 program, Hapinoy will also open the five Ground-Up stores as avenues for new business ventures for selected multi-purpose agricultural cooperatives.

Under the Tulong Sulong campaign, Monde Nissin’s sari-sari store enablement program is a step towards the company’s North Star advocacy of inclusive growth. Monde Nissin plans to launch more programs aimed at its ambition of improving the well-being of people and the planet through sustainable solutions for food security.

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About Monde Nissin

Monde Nissin Corporation is a global food and beverages company headquartered in the Philippines, with a portfolio of iconic and market leading brands across fast-growing categories, including Lucky Me! noodles, SkyFlakes crackers, Fita crackers, Monde baked goods and Quorn meat alternative products. The Company aspires to improve the well-being of people and the planet, and create sustainable solutions for food security. That aspiration is reflected in our commitment to continuously improve our products to make them more delicious, nutritious, and better for the planet. For more information, please visit www.mondenissin.com.

SB19, a five-member boy band from the Philippines, returns on “THE FIRST TAKE” with soul-stirring performance of “MAPA”

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SB19, who recently made headlines by surpassing 100 million views on their official lyric video for “MAPA,” is back to “THE FIRST TAKE” with a new performance of another hit song.

Following their viral hit "GENTO," which they performed during their debut on YouTube channel “THE FIRST TAKE” on July 1st, their second performance video for "MAPA" premiered on July 15th (Monday) at 9:00 pm, Manila time.

For their second performance on THE FIRST TAKE, SB19 will showcase the emotional song "MAPA," a stark contrast to the explosive "GENTO." In this performance, attention should not only be given to their performance but also to the heart-warming lyrics dedicated to their parents and parent figures.

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“We’re excited to share a different version of MAPA to the local and international audience through THE FIRST TAKE,” shares SB19 in a press statement. “We’re honored to showcase Filipino music on a music platform with a reputable track record of elevating the global presence of the artists performing. Mad props to THE FIRST TAKE for giving us a chance to impart a piece of our cultural and music sensibilities in ways that could be challenging but exciting.”

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“THE FIRST TAKE” is a Japanese YouTube channel that invites top singers and artists from all over the world to perform a song recorded in one take. Videos on “The First Take” are filmed in a studio, with shots of the performing artist and a microphone, set to a background that is usually white.

SB19 on the other hand, is the first Southeast Asian group and the first Filipino to be invited in the influential music media outlet. They recently trended on X after the announcement of their return to “THE FIRST TAKE.”

SB19, who held their first concert in Japan at Tokorozawa Sakura Town on April 29th (Monday) and achieved great success, continues to grow their fandom both domestically and internationally. Following their debut performance of "GENTO" on "THE FIRST TAKE" as the first Filipino artists to be featured, the video has surpassed 2 million views. In response, the members released a thank-you video to their global fans, saying, "We were able to come this far thanks to the support of all the A'TIN." This generated even more attention ahead of their return.

Watch their performance of “MAPA” at “THE FIRST TAKE.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-dQ1e84XYU

Watch their performance of “GENTO” at “THE FIRST TAKE.”

https://youtu.be/LnWLpWoAs2A

Check out their gratitude post about their recent performance of “THE FIRST TAKE.”

https://twitter.com/INTSonyMusicJP/status/1810282954444456041

SB19’s performance airs via THE FIRST TAKE’s YouTube channel. 

Watch it here.

HONOR PayDay Sale: Get up to 80% off and 0% Installment Interest via Shopee and Lazada

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Claim your HONOR PayDay Sale vouchers from July 13-July 17!

Checkout and have better payment options sans breaking the bank with HONOR, a leading global technology provider, only on July 15 via Lazada and Shopee for the 0% interest installment voucher. If you haven’t checked out the last double-digit sale, this is the perfect time to have your desired HONOR gadgets.

“We love treating the HONOR fans! It’s high time to buy your well-deserved HONOR gadgets! Stay tuned as we’re nearing the grand launch for HONOR 200, another addition to our roster of quality products,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

The PayDay Sale runs from July 13 to July 17, but the 0% interest installment voucher is redeemable only on July 15. HONOR fans can purchase HONOR X6 for as low as Php 930/month for 3 months, the HONOR X5 Plus for as low as Php 1,363/month for 3 months, and the HONOR X7b for as low as Php 2,463/month for 3 months.

The HONOR 70 remains on sale for as low as Php 16,790 from its original price of Php 26,990 with FREE HONOR JBL Go 3; the HONOR X9a is such a steal from its original price of Php 16,990 down to Php 11,790 with FREE Bluetooth Speaker II. The same freebie applies to HONOR 90 Lite available for only Php 8,790 from its original price of Php 12,990. Lastly, in the premium high-end category, the HONOR Magic5 Pro is worth the hype from its original price of Php 59,990 down to Php 48,990 with FREE JBL Flip 5.

Big news to watch out for is the arrival of the AI Portrait Master HONOR 200 on July 17! Catch it live on Facebook: https://bit.ly/HONOR200SeriesLaunch_PR and get a chance to win your very own HONOR 200! Stay tuned for the full mechanics on HONOR Philippines’ social media platforms: (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), (Instagram.com/honorph/) and : (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.

Top Two Teams Battle It Out at Season 8 of the realme Mobile Legends Cup Grand Final

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Save the date as realme will once again make legends

 on July 20 at the RMC Season 8 Grand Finals

One team will reign supreme after the Grand Finals of the realme Mobile Legends Cup Season 8 (RMC) powered by realme GT 6 on July 20, 2024, at the Glorietta 4 Activity Center in Makati City.

The highly anticipated realme Mobile Legends Cup is the biggest Esports tournament for amateur Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) players. Season 8 started with a bang last May as 135 teams battled it out during the online qualifiers, with an additional 20 teams during the on-ground qualifiers. By June, the top eight teams had advanced to the quarter-finals, with the finest four competing through the semi-finals.

After proving their strength throughout the competition, the stage is set for the ultimate clash between Gamerpact Esports and Minerva Esports at the RMC Season 8 Grand Finals.

The stakes are high, as the grand champion will win P500,000 in cash, with each group member receiving his very own Flagship Killer, the realme GT 6, while the runner-up will take home P200,000 in cash and a realme 12 Pro+ 5G up to each team player. On top of this, the best player throughout the Grand Finals will be awarded as the Finals MVP and will take home exciting prizes worth P100,000.

The players will have firsthand experience with the Flagship Killer’s features throughout the Grand Finals.. To name a few, there is the Geek Power Tuning cooling system designed to optimize the device's performance by dynamically adjusting component power consumption based on user activities and the device's temperature and its Snapdragon® 8s Gen 3 processor, one of the best chipsets engineered for gamers, delivering hyper-realistic graphics through its Adreno 735 GPU.

A day of making legends

During the Grand Finals, the Squad will also get to watch a thrilling all-stars show match featuring the MLBB M5 World Champions and MSC 2024 Grand Finalists, Falcons AP Bren, and professional esports players H2WO, Ch4knu, Benthings, Oheb, and Wise.

Meanwhile, fan favorites OSX, Rockhart, Butters, Brigida, Burrito, and Ingan will cast the grand finals and show match. Additionally, Esports broadcaster Sonah will host the event, along with a special performance by Al James.

Explore booth activations and gaming delights

On top of the action-packed Grand Finals, the Squad is also in for a treat as they can join booth activations and exclusive promos during the event. Fans can purchase any realme smartphone or realme Pad at the RMC booth to get a chance to win realme or TechLife product freebies worth up to P11,990.

The Squad can have next-level fun and play games in the booth such as Be A Puzzle Hero and Your Legendary Guess for a chance to win exclusive RMC prizes.

The RMC Grand Finals Season 8 welcomes the public, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The realme Mobile Legends Cup (RMC) Season 8 is powered by the realme GT 6, and presented by Hybreed Philippines as the official merchandise partner, Gong Cha as the official beverage partner, SteelSeries as the official gaming headphone partner, and Home Credit as the major sponsor.

For more news and all the latest updates on everything RMC, follow realme’s official Facebook page and join its growing online community.