What to see at the 2017 MMFF?

Looks like most of you folks came back after your little Christmas party before setting off for the long Christmas weekend to do everything you want to do at your own free time but when Christmas Day kicks in, why not spend Christmas Day watching the films that are part of this year's Metro Manila Film Festival?

Yes, I know, this year's film festival wasn't as exciting as we hoped for but it gives cinemagoers a chance to see some breakthrough films that became part of this film fest. From superheroes, pre-war musicals, horrors, even a father-and-son flick you might be interested with, each film in this year's MMFF is unique in every single way and let's get to know what to watch at the 2017 MMFF.

Siargao - This is the first time director Paul Soriano ventures into romance flick as this film stars Erich Gonzales, Jericho Rosales and Jasmine Curtis-Smith as people caught in a love triangle that contrasts the beautiful surfing destination.

Haunted Forest - Regal Films continues to turn Christmas day into Halloween with another horror film directed by the same person behind Mano Po 7. It stars Jon Lucas from Hashtags, James Blake, Maris Racal and Jane Oineza.

Ang Larawan - Anyone who witnessed this musical masterpiece at a foreign film festival moments ago will be familiar with this absolutely phenomenal film based on a play by the critically-acclaimed Nick Joaquin and it stars Paulo Avelino, Joanna Ampil and Rachel Alejandro. It was set in Intramuros before the Second World War and it's about sisters who took in a border to augment their household’s income after their artist father was no longer able to produce artworks.

All of You - Jennylyn Mercado and Derek Ramsay returns for another rom-com, this time directed by Dan Villegas.

Gandarrapido: The Revenger Squad - Comedian and TV presenter Vice Ganda becomes a superhero in a hilarious superhero flick that stars La Luna Sangre actor Daniel Padilla and former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach in her acting debut.

Ang Panday - Carlo J. Caparas' cult classic that inspired different movies and TV series is back in this fresh new take of a legend and Ang Probinsyano lead actor Coco Martin now dons the iconic role of Flavio as he's on a quest to save the world from demons. This film marks Coco Martin's debut as a director.

Meant to Beh - Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta are reunited in this family flick which marks the movie debut of Eat Bulaga's child presenter Baste.

Deadma Walking - Joross Gamboa and Edgar Allan Guzman star in this gay comedy film with script penned by the Palanca Award-winning Eric Cabahug.

The 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival starts this Christmas Day, December 25, and this is the only time of the week all eight films will show in all cinemas during the duration. Which film will be the best of this year's festival? You decide.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: UN to vote on new North Korea sanctions on Friday

The United Nations Security Council will vote on a new draft resolution on Friday slapping more sanctions against North Korea, in response to the regime's latest ballistic missile launch in late November.

According to reports, the new resolution introduced by the United States will look to ban about 90% of refined petroleum product exports to North Korea by capping it to 500-thousand barrels a year as well as reduce crude oil exports to four million barrels a year.

All North Korea nationals working overseas would also have to be repatriated within twelve months.

The list of banned imports would also be extended to include some food products and minerals, as well as adding 19 individuals and firms to the international blacklist.

The US are said to have been in discussions with China over the draft resolution during the past week, who are thought to have agreed not to use their power to veto.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says it is undeniable that North Korea became a strategic country capable of threatening the United States with nuclear weapons.

According to the state-run media, Kim made his remarks on Thursday during a meeting of the ruling   Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang. Kim added that due to rapid deployment of North Korea's nuclear arms program the country's nuclear weapons was having a great impact on the world's political stage and environment.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (December 22, 2017)

- A second criminal complaint filed against former president Benigno Aquino III and former Health secretary Janette Garin in connection with the P3.5-billion dengue mass vaccination program which they started implementing in April 2016. More than 70 mothers were named as complainants representing their children who received shots of the anti-dengue vaccine with brand name Dengvaxia, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur.

- Arvin Balag of the Aegis Juris Fraternity was released from Senate detention but his criminal charges remains pending for resolution before the Department of Justice. On Thursday night, Balag was released from detention following the Supreme Court en banc's order.

The Malacanang said that an investigation is already underway into the sinking of an interisland ferry in waters off Quezon Province which killed at least five people as search operations continue.

- The United Nations General Assembly voted against US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 128 countries voted for the resolution, 9 against it, and 35 nations abstained. The vote came after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley issued a direct threat, saying that the US will think twice about funding the world body if it voted to condemn Trump's decision.

- Apple is sued for deliberately slowing down customers' old iPhones. The tech giant admitted on Wednesday that it has implemented power management features in older iPhones, to prolong the life of the devices and improve overall performance.

- Thailand bans large displacement motorbikes from riding through wildlife parks.

- Infiniti teases a concept sedan ahead of next month's NAIAS.



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- Jeep unveiled the 2019 minor change for their Cherokee crossover ahead of next month's NAIAS premiere, featuring a new front face and the new 2.0L turbo engine with mild hybrid system as seen in the new Wrangler.



- Acura teases the RDX Prototype ahead of next month's NAIAS.



TTFN!!!

The Grand Tour S2: Bah humbug-atti

The latest episode of this season of Amazon Prime's car program, The Grand Tour, features cars that make viewers drool in jealousy, saying that they really wish they want to drive either of these cars as seen in the show right now.

The Grand Tour S2E03

First off, James May is at Majorca, driving Kia's high-performance premium sports saloon, the Stinger, and then finds out if the car can go faster uphill than skateboarders going downhill, and he did.

Later on, May and Hammond are trying to make lunch break more interesting by turning a certain business park in Dunstable into a racetrack and summoned different office workers during lunch breaks to see which one is the clear winner.

In Celebrity Face Off, survivalist Casey Anderson and Paddington star Hugh Bonneville are on a duel to see who is the fastest celebrity who lives with a bear. Of course, this segment featured a preview clip in the upcoming Paddington 2 film. Anyway, in the lap time part, Hugh did it in 1:22.2 while Casey did it in 1:18.6.

Wrapping up in this episode, Jeremy Clarkson goes on an road trip with Bugatti's latest masterpiece, the Chiron, to a restaurant in Turin, and a return of someone familiar to you since Namibia last year.

THE IDOLM@STER STELLA MASTER 00 ToP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In celebration of the release of the PlayStation4-exclusive THE IDOLM@STER Stella Stage video game, here comes the start of the brand new STELLA MASTER CD range, inspired from the Stella Stage video game, and it begins with a prologue installment featuring two songs as heard in the game.

THE IDOLM@STER
STELLA MASTER 00 ToP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the prologue installment of the inaugural STELLA MASTER CD range and in this installment, the 765 PRO ALLSTARS are performing the theme song of THE IDOLM@STER Stella Stage game, titled ToP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hence too many exclamation points are put in the title of this song, I hope you IDOLM@STER fans enjoy the full version of the Stella Stage theme song and to balance it out, the second song on this album was performed by, wait for it, the newest threat from 961 PRO, Shiika. It's titled Blooming Star and listening to the full version is like getting to know the enemy first before going head on.

Enjoy two new songs as heard in the Stella Stage game and brace yourselves for more in this range over the coming months with the first one featuring the song as heard from the game's first DLC Catalog so watch for it.

TRACK LISTINGS:

1) ToP!!!!!!!!!!!!! (M＠STER VERSION)

2) Blooming Star(M＠STER VERSION)

3) ToP!!!!!!!!!!!!! (M＠STER VERSION)オリジナル・カラオケ

4) Blooming Star(M＠STER VERSION) オリジナル・カラオケ

THE IDOLM@STER MASTER PRIMAL POPPIN' YELLOW

Rev up those stereos because here comes the final installment of the MASTER PRIMAL trilogy where this is more than just throwbacks, judging from the covers themselves, and stirring up nostalgia because the idols from 765 PRODUCTION are showing the fans what they're capable of.

THE IDOLM@STER MASTER PRIMAL
POPPIN' YELLOW

In this final installment of the MASTER PRIMAL CD trilogy, the star idols on this installment are Miki Hoshii (CV: Akiko Hasegawa), Iori Minase (CV: Rie Kugimiya), Yukiho Hagiwara (CV: Azumi Asakura), and Azusa Miura (CV: Chiaki Takahashi), all performing brand new songs for you to like and finish the MASTER PRIMAL playlist once and for all.

There are three new songs on this album starting with the highlights of this album will perform the song titled 虹のデスティネーション while Miki and Iori are performing 始めのDon't worry and Yukiho and Azusa are singing LEMONADE. After you enjoyed listening to these new songs offered on this album, there's a drama part featuring Miki, Iori, Yukiho, and Azusa themselves, on their brand new adventure that will complete your MASTER PRIMAL experience.

Now that the MASTER PRIMAL trilogy's complete, feel free to listen all of the songs from this trilogy from ROCKIN' RED, DANCIN' BLUE, and POPPIN' YELLOW. So, which song from the MASTER PRIMAL trilogy you like the most? Which album? Which drama part? You decide...

THE IDOLM@STER.KR OST One For All

Aired on SBS in South Korea and then globally via Amazon Prime from April to October, THE IDOLM@STER.KR is the K-Drama adaptation to one of Bandai Namco's successful game franchises in history and it centers on the girls who would be known as the Real Girls Project and under the hands of a producer with a darkened past, the life and times of 325 ENTERTAINMENT pre-debut rookies are not all about going for the road to stardom because of the bitter rivalry between different sides to show the rest of the world who deserves to debut.

THE IDOLM@STER.KR OST One For All

Yes, the show is already over a few months ago but there are still those who just can't get enough of the REAL GIRLS PROJECT post-show and because of such fanbase over the TV drama that gave birth to a new girl group that made their mark on the history of THE IDOLM@STER franchise, here comes THE IDOLM@STER.KR OST One For All, which is a collection of songs as heard on the TV series as well as some extras.

This two-disc compilation features all the tracks from the mini-albums from the show's theme song, 꿈을 DREAM, Korean versions of THE IDOLM@STER and THE WORLD IS ALL ONE!!, Red Queen's ACACIA, and more, including a brand new song performed by Joungjoo. Apart from the two discs offered, this set includes a 48-page booklet featuring everything you need to know about the show, the girls, and the songs, two photo cards featuring the RGP, and a photo post card.

It really is a parting gift from the REAL GIRLS PROJECT as a big thank you for supporting THE IDOLM@STER.KR from start to finish and here's hoping for more of the Real Girls Project.

TRACK LISTINGS:

Disc One:

01 꿈을 DREAM
02 SUPER GIRL MAGIC
03 메모리즈
04 ACACIA
05 ONE FOR ALL
06 으르렁
07 두 번째 고백
08 THE IDOLM@STER

Disc Two:

01 LOST IN THE SUMMER
02 WANNA BE YOUR STAR
03 ATTENTION
04 LET'S GET STARTED
05 I MUST GO!
06 THE WORLD IS ALL ONE!!
07 NOT END…BUT AND!!
08 너 때문에