Fun interview with the cast of GMA's Sinungaling Mong Puso





Sinungaling Mong Puso, a TV adaptation of a 1992 film with the same title that starred Vilma Santos, Gabby Concepcion, Aga Muhlach, Alice Dixson and Aiko Melendez, is a series in GMA Kapuso Network that started airing last July. The story revolves around the conflicts faced by two different couples battling for love and attention.

Before the series ended, we had a really fun chit chat with some of the casts including Rhian Ramos, Rafael Rosell, Kiko Estrada, Gee Canlas, and JC Tiuseco



A photo posted by @EDnything (@ednything) on



On it's last week, the cast promised an intense, hardcore, and tragic ending. While the production team did as much to stay true to the movie's ending, they had to tweak it a bit in the series to keep it still TV-friendly and appealing to the audience (but still not for the kids though).


Jolo's loyalty to Roman, Jillian's 'ideal BFF' attitude, Clara's determination to face her challenges and make each mistake a learning experience, Jason's will to fight for his love, and Roman's passion to get what he wants, to name a few, are just some the things the cast loved about their respective characters.




On the contrary, each of the cast has their own way of dealing with issues. Compared to their characters in the series, each one admitted that they would have dealt with their issues differently in real life.





And if given the chance, the cast shared how they would end the series. While some would stick to how it was done, some prefer to still have a happy ending.









What's next for the cast now that the show has concluded? Kiko is busy shooting several movies that came after getting noticed in SMP, Gee is part of GMA's sitcom A1 Ko Sa'yo and also has her own online comedy show called GeeTV, Raf is advocating for herbal medicines and will participate in upcoming veg fests in Eastwood and Lucky Chinatown, while Rhian will continue with her other shows: Taste Buddies with Solenn Heussaff, and Full Throttle with Sam YG.





If you want to watch catch up with the remaining episodes of Sinungaling Mong Puso, the series is available for viewing on HOOQ.


More revelations and kulitan moments in this full video of our interview with the cast of Sinungaling Mong Puso:









Sinungaling Mong Puso,  a TV adaptation of a 1992 film with the same title that starred Vilma Santos, Gabby Concepcion, Aga Muhlac...

#KidsOnHOOQ: Enjoy huge collection of kid-friendly content on HOOQ



In one spHOOQtacular event, kids, all in their cutest and spookiest costumes, gathered for an afternoon of fun games, exciting activities, and, of course, a movie treat from HOOQ.


It is so much fun to watch all the kids enjoying the activities specially prepared for them. Everyone were so participative in the games, laughed at the puppet show, and amazed with the magic stunts brought by HOOQs special guest.












After all the tiring yet fun activities, everyone, including those that are kids-at-heart, enjoyed a movie treat from HOOQ. The kids both screamed and cheered as the main characters of the movie were chased by a haunted house in D.J. Walters' animation film, Monster House.



The 3rd HOOQ Hangouts is all about promoting HOOQ's massive collection of family-friendly titles and animated series. HOOQ inked a new set of partnerships with the biggest names in family entertainment: Nickelodeon, Kids Like Us, Hasbro, Mattel, DHX and MoMedia to bring some of the most popular kids titles into HOOQ's catalog. 

"HOOQ is committed to delivering premium content for everyone in the Filipino family, and this includes entertainment for kids. This is why we are expanding our library to have over 400 hours of kids' content over the next few weeks."

Soon, the younger kids can watch Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Paw Patrol, Littlest Pet Shop, and Mr. Bean on their parents' mobile devices or tablets. Fans of Hi-5 and iCarly will also be able to revisit their favorite episodes on the series.

Multiple seasons of Avatar, the Legend of Aang, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Fairly Odd Parents, Transformers, Spongebob Squarepants, and My Little Pony, are also now being hosted in Asia's largest video on demand service.

"We are well aware that home viewing among young families is largely driven by children, and this addition of this huge chunk of family-friendly content truly makes HOOQ a video service that caters to everyone whether they are looking for Hollywood, local content for themselves, or something fun that the kids can watch. Now, every member of the family can enjoy their own favorites across multiple devices at anytime" - Cruz-Walker





In one spHOOQtacular event, kids, all in their cutest and spookiest costumes, gathered for an afternoon of fun games, exciting activities,...

StarWorld reveals new shows to watch out for




StarWorld threw a huge party last October 11, 2016 at the Valkyrie Nightclub in Bonifacio Global City to reveal their newest programs and initiatives. Hosted by Joey Mead and Tim Yap, together with FOX Network Groups' SVP/General Manager Mr. Jude Turcuato, some of the country's biggest celebrities, press people, and industry partners witnessed Asia's most beloved lifestyle channel's exciting revelations that we all can look forward to. 

A photo posted by @EDnything (@ednything) on

A photo posted by @EDnything (@ednything) on

A photo posted by @EDnything (@ednything) on


Charo Espedido, Director and Head of Marketing and Programming at FOX Networks Group Philippines, said:
“This event serves as a celebration of the successes of StarWorld. With our strong line-up of new programs and new initiatives to connect with our audiences on a digital platform, we are staying true to the claim that we are trendsetters within and outside pay TV. Our goal is to better reach our viewers with great content, and by so doing maintain our market leader status in the Philippines. We feel wonderful about sharing our successes with our industry partners, talents and the press.”

So, whether you love food, travel, music, entertainment, or just any random stuff, StarWorld has definitely something for you to enjoy. Here are some of the new and returning shows that StarWorld has in store for us:

She Said Yes

Witness the magic behind some of the country's most beautiful weddings.







The Voice Season 11

The latest season of The Voice introduces new judges - Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys -  that brings in a refreshing feminine energy.



The Bag Hag Diaries

Follow Ingrid Chua as she brings every bag-a-holic behind the scenes on every fashion week she's been to. Drool over the different stunning bags she's featuring and hear straight from the designers, models, and celebrities she's spotted.














The Fat Kid Inside

Erwan Heussaff, one of the popular food bloggers and chef in the region, will feature some of his adventures and mouth-watering recipes in the newest season of The Fat Kid Inside.





The Girl on TV

The Girl on TV is a pop culture show featuring some of the latest trends, and the most entertaining and relevant content that every adventurous and stylish girl should know.




Taste Travels

Join Cher Tiu as she shares her experiences on her travels and foodventures in StarWorld's newest lifestyle/food show, Taste Travels.




Four Girls & A Bucket List

Four Girls and a Bucket List features four independent women living their lives and discovering cool things as they explore the wonderful islands of Indonesia. The show is hosted by four gorgeous women including Aubrey Miles, Andrea Fonseka, Patricia Gunawan, and Cara McIlroy.

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StarWorld threw a huge party last October 11, 2016 at the Valkyrie Nightclub in Bonifacio Global City to reveal their new...

HOOQ Hangouts Presents Monster House


Halloween is going to get a lot “Sp-HOOQ-ier” this year as HOOQ HANGOUTS treats kids of all ages to the biggest outdoor cinema event this Friday, October 21, 2016 starting at 3:00pm at the Bonifacio Global City Ampitheater.


This month, HOOQ pulls out one animated classic from its giant cauldron of child-friendly titles that captures the mood of the scary season. 




It’s a Halloween night and all the kids are busy preparing their costumes for a night of trick-or-treating, but what if you live in a neighbourhood where the scariest thing are not the ghosts and monsters but the house that eats trespassers.  

Are you ready to enter the MONSTER HOUSE?


Monster House
D.J. Walters has a particularly overactive imagination--even for a 12-year old on Hallow’s Eve. He is convinced that his haggard and crabby neighbor Horace Nebbercracker, who terrorizes all the neighborhood kids, is responsible for Mrs. Nebbercracker's mysterious disappearance. Add to that, any toy that touches Nebbercracker's property, promptly disappears, swallowed up by the cavernous house in which Horace lives. 

D.J. has seen it with his own eyes! But no one believes him, not even his best friend, Chowder. What everyone does not know is D.J. is not imagining things. Everything he's seen is absolutely true and it's about to get much worse than anything D.J could have imagined!




Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 79th Academy Awards, MONSTER HOUSE reunites Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg—since Back to the Future Part III and the first time the legendary Hollywood icons both served as executive producers of a film.





“Halloween is an exciting time to be kid, with all the costumes and the free candy, so for this month, HOOQ Hangouts is bringing the all the treats to them. It’s also a great way to showcase the kind of kid friendly content we have at HOOQ, says Jane Cruz-Walker, Country Manager of HOOQ Philippines.

“And with our new mobile app interface, #KidsOnHOOQ can easily find family-friendly movies such as the full Harry Potter library, Ella Enchanted, Where the Wild Things Are, and Dolphin Tale. And stay tuned during this HOOQ Hangouts we reveal a whole new set of content partners and additions to our kids catalog.”

Kids in costume will receive FREE Halloween treats and get the chance to win special prizes - like Best in Sp-HOOQ-y Costume! 




HOOQ Hangouts in cooperation with Samsung will regularly showcase blockbusters and all-time favorites through several massive LED screens at the Globe Iconic Entertainment Zone, transforming the BGC Amphitheater into a free outdoor cinema venue.  Viewers can use beanbags, blankets and cushions to enjoy the featured shows, participate in on-ground games and entertainment and munch on snacks from partner food concessionaires.  

HOOQ is Asia’s largest video-on-demand service hosting over 10,000 movies and TV shows available for streaming or download.  Globe customers can get free access to HOOQ with selected GoSURF mobile data plans and as well as Broadband Plan 1299 and up.   Visit www.hooq.tv to sign up for a 7-day free trial. 




Halloween is going to get a lot “Sp-HOOQ-ier” this year as HOOQ HANGOUTS treats kids of all ages to the biggest outdoor cinema event th...

Ryza Cenon and Martin del Rosario talks about their QCinema 2016 entry, Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B

Ryza Cenon and Martin del Rosario stars in Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B
Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B is an official entry to this year's QCinema International Film Festival featuring GMA Artist Center's Ryza Cenon and Martin del Rosario. It is a modern retelling of the traditional manananggal story I often see in a movie. 

Ryza plays the role of Jewel, a young woman living alone in the city who later on finds out the truth about her being a mananaggal. Her secret is what kept her aloof and away from the people around her until she met Martin's character, Nico. 

Nico, on the other hand, is a man who feels unloved. The movie showed his caring love for his grandmother (played by Vangie Labalan) and his struggles of winning back his ex-girlfriend. He eventually fell for Jewel who was always there for him during tough times.



In an interview, Ryza revealed that her being manananggal isn't something that she wants but rather an inheritance from her mother that she can't restrain from happening. I loved how her evolution from a fine lady to a manananggal was shown in the movie. The transition was so flawless. Just don't expect to see a winged creature until the end of the film.

On her sex scenes in the movie, Ryza didn't have any hesitations in going all out since she felt the need for it. Actually, she cried all her nervousness out because she doesn't want the production to think twice in doing the scenes. If you've seen the movie, I'm sure you'll agree that the scenes turned out to be professionally done and wasn't just added to tease and tickle the minds of the audience.

Overall, the film is not the typical horror movie I was expecting. It is rather a different love story that's modern and artistically crafted. The cinematography was stunning, the musical scoring was spot on, and the acting and direction was well executed.

Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B was written by Jen Chuaunsu and directed by Prime Cruz.

More secrets about the movie revealed in this video:









Ryza Cenon and Martin del Rosario stars in Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B Ang Manananggal sa Unit 23B is an official entry to this year...

Indulge in the chocolatey goodness of Griffin's chocolate biscuits




Coffee and chocolate is just one of my favorite comfort food combinations. The sweetness of the chocolate perfectly compliments the strong bold taste of black coffee. And in this cold bed weather, I think I have just found yet another item that'll definitely be included in my list of cravings. 

Brought in the country by Universal Robina Corporation, New Zealand's favorite biscuit, Griffin's, is introducing a range of premium chocolate biscuits that the Filipino market will surely love.

Griffins 01







Griffin's comes in four different variants:

TOFFEE DELIGHTS is a rich sweet biscuit topped with creamy caramel coated with either milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Your choice. I prefer the dark chocolate. The bitterness of the dark chocolate balances the sweet combination of biscuit and caramel filling. 

The CHIT CHAT, which is my favorite of all four, is a chocolate biscuit sandwich with chocolate cream filling covered in real milk chocolate.

And the SQUIGGLES, a milk chocolate coated biscuit with honeycomb cream and honeycomb pieces. The crunch in every bite is what sets it apart from the other flavors.

Griffins 02




Griffin's was founded by John Griffin and has been New Zealand's number 1 snack favorite for years now. The company has just expanded its market across Asia has been successfully introduced to Singapore and Hong Kong biscuit lovers. 

Now that they're in the country, every Filipino can indulge and delight in the chocolatey goodness of Griffin's Toffee Delights, Chit Chat, and Squiggles. Griffin's is now available in all leading supermarkets and select Ministop stores nationwide.



Coffee and chocolate is just one of my favorite comfort food combinations. The sweetness of the chocolate perfectly compliments...

Tanghalang Ateneo stages Anna Ziegler's Boy

Who were you, who are you and who will you become? How much of you did you decide for yourself? 

Tanghalang Ateneo, the longest-running theater company of the Loyola schools of the Ateneo de Manila University opens its 38th season: De/Constructing Narratives with Boy, a thought-provoking new play by award-winning American playwright Anna Ziegler. This will go onstage at the Ateneo de Manila’s Black Box Theater (Fine Arts Annex) on October 19-November 12.



The play, which just had its world premiere produced by Keen Company in New York City earlier this year, is translated into Filipino by Guelan Varela-Luarca and directed by Ed Lacson, Jr. Tanghalang Ateneo’s production of this play not only serves as its Philippine premiere but is also its first international staging and the first one produced outside of the original New York City production.

Boy is a story of self-realization and gender identity, a journey to find one’s self amidst doubt and confusion. The play follows the life of Adam Turner who, as a new-born baby, had an unfortunate medical accident resulting in his parents deciding to raise him as a girl upon the advice of a renowned psychologist. As Adam grows older, his confusion about who he is and what he wants to become in life becomes more and more apparent that his parents eventually decide to reveal to him his biological gender. The discovery leads Adam to re-create himself, severing all communication with his psychologist.

Cholo Ledesma as Adam
Cholo Ledesma plays this challenging title role.

Teroy de Guzman as Dr. Barnes
Teroy Guzman plays Dr. Wendell Barnes, Adam’s psychologist. Passionate about his work and ideals, Dr. Barnes has trouble looking past his own intentions to see the tragic consequences of his actions.

Camilly Abaya as Jenny




Camille Abaya plays Jenny, Adam’s love interest. A down-to-earth, single mother, Jenny is confused about Adam’s temperament and his relentless persistence in wanting to pursue a relationship with her.

Mayen Estañero as Trudy
Wenah Nagales as Trudy

Mayen Estañero and Wenah Nagales alternate as Trudy, Adam’s mother. Like all mothers, Trudy has always tried to look out for the best interests of her child but is undone by her desperation to find an immediate solution to a life-altering problem.

Juliene Mendoza as Doug
Juliene Mendoza plays Doug, Adam’s father. Often absent because of work, Doug leaves the responsibility of raising Adam to Dr. Barnes and Trudy, with terrible consequences.

A nominee for the 2016 Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award, Boy was inspired by a real-life psychological case study conducted in the U.S. from the late ‘60s to the early ‘90s. This study, commonly referred to as the case of “Dr. Money And The Boy With No Penis,” is about a botched circumcision that leads to the child’s parents seeking the help of renowned sexologist Dr. John Money who agrees to the counseling of the child in exchange for conducting the study.



Who were you, who are you and who will you become? How much of you did you decide for yourself?  Tanghalang Ateneo, the longest-running the...

Supergirl Season Two is exclusively available on HOOQ starting this October!



In Season One, we've known how Supergirl escaped planet Krypton and came to Earth to look after her cousin, Superman. Raised by her foster parents, Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers, with her foster sister, Alex, she lived a normal life as Kara Danvers until she realized that she could use her powers for a greater cause. As Kara, she worked at CatCo as Cat Grant's assistant whilst secretly protecting the people, battling crimes and villains as Supergirl with the help of her friends, Winn Schott and James Olsen.

In the upcoming Season Two, Supergirl is gonna be back and, this time, it's gonna be more awesome with Superman on her side!

Yup! If you're one of those who've been wanting to see Supergirl in a fight together with Superman, the long wait is over because it is finally happening! In Season Two, Kara leaves the safety of being Cat Grant's assistant and will try her luck as a reporter. As Supergirl, she'll continue to work at DEO and will team up with her cousin, Superman, to battle new villains, as she strives to balance her personal life with her life as a superhero. 

Supergirl (played by Melissa Benoist) with Superman (played by Tyler Hoechlin)
Supergirl Season Two is going to be exclusively available on HOOQ starting this October. 

If you don't have HOOQ yet, you may sign up today for a 7-day free trial on www.HOOQ.tv. Globe subscribers, both mobile and home broadband, can get up to 90 days HOOQ subscription with selected GoSurf plans. You may also subscribe to HOOQ with a monthly subscription fee of P149 charged directly to your Globe bill. To do that, just text HOOQ149 to 8888.









In Season One, we've known how Supergirl escaped planet Krypton and came to Earth to look after her cousin, Superman. Raised by her fo...

Your Voice Is Your Password: Citi introduces Voice Biometrics

Identity theft has been a serious problem especially in the banking industry. We've heard several frustrating stories like unauthorized withdrawals on bank accounts and charges on credit cards. If you have experienced any of these, trust me, I know and understand the hassle and frustration you've gone through in dealing with the issue.

Banks have been working so hard to alleviate such concerns. And starting this October, a groundbreaking authentication process will be rolled out across Asia to improve the security of phone banking.

Citi, the country's largest foreign bank, is introducing Voice Biometrics in the Philippines. Forget about passwords or personal identification numbers. Simply put:

Your Voice Is Now Your Password


With the announcement of this newest innovation, Citi's more than one million clients in the country can already enroll in Voice Biometrics and let their voices be the means for authentication of their phone banking transactions.
"We are proud of our strong track record in innovation, and we are delighted to once again take the lead in introducing a game changer in the banking industry. We are relentlessly focused on making it more convenient for our customers to bank with us. Voice Biometrics will deliver convenience and addition protection for their accounts" said Citi Philippines CEO Aftad Ahmed
The voice biometrics technology makes use of voice prints, which is unique to every individual just like fingerprints, in identifying the client's identity. Even twins and triplets have unique voice prints.

During the launch, Citi did a demo of how the new voice biometrics works. First, a guest was called infront to enroll his voice biometrics for his Citi account. The enrollment process is very easy. The client has to call the Citi hotline, then the agent will send a PIN to the client's phone and have him transferred to the system and he/she has to answer few questions while his voice is being recorded. Watch the video below on how it's done:



With the voice biometrics system, the verification process has significantly reduced from the usual average time of around 45 seconds to just 15 seconds. From the answering of the call to knowing the concern of the client, the voice is already being verified and will immediately inform the agent whether he/she is actually speaking to the account holder or not.

Tessa Prieto-Valdez has already registered her voice print before and, during the event, she tried calling the hotline and check if her voice will be recognized:







Security is and would probably the main concern of account members. What if someone imitates the client's voice? What if the client is sick and his/her voice changed? What if someone recorded the voice of the client? All these and other possible scenarios have been proved tested for years. We've seen a demo of someone pretending to be the account holder. Here's what happened:


To date, voice biometrics authentication has been implemented in Taiwan, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. It will be rolled out throughout the region in 2016 and 2017 to cover all 12 of Citi's consumer banking markets in Asia Pacific that represent more than half of the bank's 19 consumer markets globally. 



Identity theft has been a serious problem especially in the banking industry. We've heard several frustrating stories like unauthorized ...

5 Ways to Love Mondays


Whether you love them or you hate them, Mondays are inevitable. They confirm the end of the weekend and mark the start of the work week for everyone. No one can escape them. Constantly finding ways to pour happy for its customers, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® has partnered with a few rare individuals who love Mondays to provide five surefire ways to see the first day of the work week in a new light. 

Lilianna Manahan

Know your purpose. Industrial designer and founder of design company Studio Magee Lilianna Manahan has gained international recognition for her imaginative art. Achieving success in the creative industry requires long hours of disciplined work, as well as a constant search for artistic inspiration. Manahan meets this challenge every Monday by frequently returning to her purpose. "A fellow designer told me he 'renews his contract' every year with God — his ultimate boss — so that he knows what he is doing is where God wants him. I do the same. Whether I'm on an early morning road trip to check on samples, or concentrating on drawing my home accessories and sipping on tea, work is such a delight and an adventure because I know this what He wants for me!" 



Alex Eduque

Set goals that help others. Founder of MovEd and social entrepreneur Alex Eduque remains true to her purpose by doing work she knows will positively impact the lives of others. "I consider myself blessed to be able to do something for the benefit of the greater good, on a daily basis. I am truly grateful that I'm able to live my life in a meaningful manner, pursuing my passions and forging creative collaborations. No matter how tough the going gets, the fulfillment I gain in what I do is unparalleled. I encourage everyone to find that spark of inspiration in the little things—like your favorite cup of tea to start your day with—that make up your daily grind. This is what will turn your Monday blues around for the better, forever." 



Harvey Tolibao

Be positive. Internationally recognized comic artist Harvey Tolibao started his career drawing on paper napkins. He has come a long way since then, now working with the biggest names in the industry, Marvel and DC Comics.  He attributes his success to meeting Mondays with positivity. “I feel privileged to be able work with the comic greats. I make start my week with optimism and a delicious cup of tea to get my creative juices for fresh ideas. I always aspire to take my artistry to a higher level. Many people don't get excited for Mondays, but not me. As an illustrator, I look forward to Mondays because they signify a fresh start and an opportunity for me to fine-tune my work. ” 






Aly Borromeo

Decide to love what you do. Renowned football player Aly Borromeo always looks forward to Mondays because he loves his grind.  “Football has always been my passion and I am lucky to be able to keep playing for this sport.  I always make sure that I am physically and mentally at my best in all trainings and matches. That is why starting the week strong is a GOAL I always try to win. A cup of tea from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® doesn’t hurt either.”  While excelling at any sport is no easy feat, the decision to love one’s work no matter what challenges arise spells the difference between a successful sportsman and a mediocre one. 





Michelline Syjuco



Find beauty in the ordinary. Multi-media artist, designer and sculptor Michelline Syjuco is constantly searching for beauty, no matter where she is or what she is doing. For her, creativity is a lot about perspective. “I was born into a family of artists, so creativity is in my blood. Making something beautiful out of seemingly ordinary and mundane things is my life's passion. That’s probably why Mondays always excite me. That, and a cup of tea!”








As a brand that constantly seeks to inspire, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® invites its customers to celebrate #MondaysMadeBetter.  By encouraging them to learn from the stories and advice of these 5 extraordinary individuals, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® shows that it is possible to start the work week on a high note and that loving Mondays can truly make a difference in one’s life. 

For more information on Mondays Made Better, LIKE The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® (Philippines) on Facebook and FOLLOW @CBTLPH on Instagram.

Whether you love them or you hate them, Mondays are inevitable. They confirm the end of the weekend and mark the start of the work wee...