Lazada launches Miss Universe voting platform
LAZADA now has an exclusive partnership with the Miss Universe Organization to be the official voting platform in the Philippines for the 69th Miss Universe competition. Fans nationwide will also be able to exclusively tune-in to the preliminary competition through Lazada. From April 8 to May 15, beauty pageant viewers nationwide can vote for their favorite delegate through the Fan Vote function, available exclusively on Lazada. The delegate who receives the most votes through the Fan Vote system on Lazada and Miss Universe’s Voting page, Choicely, will automatically earn a spot in the pageant’s Top 21, bringing her one step closer to the crown Fans are entitled to one Free Vote and can show their support by voting for their favorite delegate(s) multiple times a day during the designated period. Fans can choose to purchase more votes via the Voting Packages offered in the voting page: P48 buys three votes, P243 gets 20 votes, and so on all the way until P4,869 which buys 500. Consumers can cast multiple votes a day through the unlimited purchase of voting packages. Lazada’s Miss Universe Competition voting page is on the App/site: http://lzd.co/lazadaxmissuniverse.
AJ Mitchell releases new single, ‘Stop’
AJ Mitchell has officially released a new single, “Stop,” from his upcoming album, Skyview. The track pairs a thumping bass line and funk guitar. “Stop” continues the journey that was set in the music video of the song “Cameras On” which was released in March. Since emerging in 2018, AJ Mitchell has had over 7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and passed the 1-billion stream mark within three years. “Stop” is available on music streaming platforms. To watch the music video, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmxyXZ_-fn0.
DJ Loonyo releases single ‘Dance Under the Sun’
DJ Loonyo drops his new single, “Dance Under The Sun,” which was inspired by the Micronesian dance trend on TikTok. DJ Loonyo choreographed the full dance routine of “Dance Under The Sun” which can be seen in the official music video. Dance tutorials are also now available on his TikTok account, and winners of the “Dance Under The Sun” TikTok dance challenge will be featured in a fan-powered music video. Written by DJ Loonyo and produced by Solomon Star, “Dance Under the Sun” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and other digital stores worldwide under Universal Records. Watch the official music video directed by Miggy Tanchanco at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clhn48w3OZU.
Shanti Dope’s ‘Amatz’ hit No. 10 on Billboard Charts
AFTER Shanti Dope’s song “Amatz” was featured in Marvel Studios’ series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the single ranked No. 10 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart this week. The Billboard Charts rank songs and albums in the United States and other parts of the globe based on their sales, streams, and airplay. Aside from Shanti Dope’s “Amatz,” the only Filipino single that made it to the Billboard Charts was “Tala” by Sarah Geronimo, which topped out at No. 12 last year. Written by Shanti Dope and Lester “DJ Klumcee” Vaño, “Amatz” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and other digital stores worldwide under Universal Records.
Docu on plastic waste earns the Ani ng Dangal Award
THE NATIONAL Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has recently bestowed the Ani ng Dangal Award to a documentary on plastic waste entitled Alon (Wave). Written and directed by filmmaker and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) School of Design and Arts Faculty member Gabriel Fernandez, Alon won in the Science and Education category at the 2020 London International Film Festival. Produced by DLS-CSB, Alon aims to create awareness on the immense impact of plastic pollution by presenting the contrast between the wonders of the Philippines’ growing surf tourism and its relationship with the looming environmental problem. It features breathtaking views of the six leading surfing communities in the country — Siargao, La Union, Baler, Mati in Davao, Gubat in Sorsogon and Sabang Daguitan in Leyte — where plastic from packaged goods resurface to the ocean shores.
Netflix’s Move to Heaven gets release date
NETFLIX has announced that May 14 is the release date of the Netflix Original Series Move to Heaven. The Korean series follows a young man with Asperger’s syndrome and his guardian who both work as “trauma cleaners,” a group of people clearing out the last possessions of the deceased and uncovering stories that are left behind. The story is based on a nonfiction essay “Things Left Behind” by Kim Sae-byul who is also one of the first trauma cleaners in Korea. Director Kim Sung-ho and writer Yoon Ji-ryun team up to present diverse stories left behind of those who passed away. The series stars Lee Je-hoon, Tang Jun-sang, and Hong Seung-hee. Meanwhile, Netflix has confirmed the production of Original Series The Sound of Magic, based on the popular webtoon Annarasumanara. With Kim Sung-youn directing, The Sound of Magic is a drama about a girl who had to grow up too fast, and a mysterious magician who — although grown-up — wants to remain as a kid. The lead cast for the series has been confirmed with a star-studded lineup headed by Ji Chang-wook, Choi Sung-eun, and Hwang In-youp. The Sound of Magic will be released in over 190 countries on Netflix.
HBO to mark 10th anniversary of Game of Thrones
TO MARK the 10th anniversary of the hit series Game of Thrones’ premiere, HBO has launched “The Iron Anniversary,” a celebration to commemorate the original series, engage its fans, and inform audiences about the next iteration of the franchise, House of the Dragon, which will debut in 2022. The celebration starts with The Game of Thrones Reunion hosted by Conan O’Brien which is now streaming on HBO GO. The two-part panel was filmed during the creation of Season 8, and features appearances by cast members Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Sean Bean, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Mark Addy, and Jason Momoa. Meanwhile, from April 12 to 26, fans can share their best memories of Game of Thrones on Facebook for a chance to win a modern-day “throne” — the Secretlab OMEGA Game of Thrones Collection chair (worth $389) — and other exclusive Game of Thrones merchandise. Visit HBO Asia’s official Facebook page for more information on the contest. All eight seasons of Game of Thrones, along with over 300 extras, interviews and behind-the-scenes, are now streaming on HBO GO.
Animated short film vs cosmetic testing on animals
HOLLYWOOD filmmakers and movie stars have joined forces with Humane Society International (HSI) to produce a stop-motion animated short film, Save Ralph, calling for an end to cosmetic testing on animals around the world. Although banned in 40 countries, the practice is still legal in most of the world, including the Philippines, and is even making a comeback in some regions. Taika Waititi, Ricky Gervais, Zac Efron, Olivia Munn, Pom Klementieff, Tricia Helfer and others have come together to help HSI change that by providing the voices for the Save Ralph film, which aims to shine a light on the suffering animals endure and engage consumers and policy makers in HSI’s mission to ban it. The film is also being launched in Portuguese, Spanish, French and Vietnamese with Rodrigo Santoro, Gad Elmelah, Denis Villeneuve, George Lopez and others voicing the characters in those languages, and Maggie Q providing a video message of support. Find the short film and educational materials on the current status of animal testing and how you can help at hsi.org/Ralph.
