Julius Babao joins Frontline Pilipinas on TV5
SEASONED news anchor and journalist Julius Babao has formally joined Frontline Pilipinas, a news program on TV5. A broadcast personality for over three decades, mostly with ABS-CBN, Mr. Babao will deliver the day’s top stories with fellow veteran anchor Cheryl Cosim. Mr. Babao will join the daily broadcast of Frontline Pilipinas on Feb. 7. The show airs daily at 5:30 p.m., live on TV5 and via livestream at the News 5 Facebook and YouTube pages.
Dexter Doria tackles fake news
AWARD-WINNING veteran actress Dexter Doria has ventured into vlogging as part of her efforts to tackle fake news and misinformation on social media. For the vlog called Didi Serye, Ms. Doria created the character “Nana Didi,” who worked as a public-school teacher for 43 years before retiring to take care of her grandchildren. Nana Didi decides to create a vlog after seeing the prevalence of misinformation on social media, including posts by her former students regarding topics such as the so-called Tallano gold and the “golden years of Martial Law.” Nana Didi also tackles confirmation bias and tells the public not to believe everything they read online, saying they first need to verify its veracity. Various artists have lauded and expressed support for Nana Didi by sharing her Didi Serye vlogs on their respective social media pages, including actresses Pinky Amador and Rita Avila, Arman Ferrer, Mark Escueta of Rivermaya, and actor Bart Guingona.
The Penthouse Season 3 airs on GMA
GMA Network brings back the top-rating K-drama, The Penthouse, which focuses on the lives of three women in a luxury high-rise apartment. Season 3 of the show will start airing on Feb. 7, 9:35 p.m., on GMA Telebabad. The final season — starring Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, and Eugene — continues to tell the story of wealthy families living in Hera Palace and their children at Cheong-ah Arts School. The final lap of greed, corruption, justice, and redemption is just beginning in Season 3.
Cinema One names first ‘Kusina Kween’
HOME COOK Irene Rose Ortega was hailed as the first “Kusina Kween” as her leveled-up mechado dish emerged as the winning entry in Cinema One’s cooking challenge last Christmas. Ms. Ortega made the dish special by incorporating cheesy white sauce and rice, calling it Cheesy Mechadito Rice Bake. “The Noche Buena Challenge’s” winning recipe is now up on the Cinema One YouTube channel. Meanwhile, Marie Reyes emerged as the first runner-up with her Seafood Paella con Bagnet; Maribeth Saporas won second runner-up with her Christmas EmBundtido Wreath with Orange Marmalade Sauce; and third runner-up was Christine Cruz who gave an English twist to the classic Pinoy dish caldereta with her Chicken Caldereta Shepherd’s Pie. Ms. Ortega took home P50,000 and a Kyowa air fryer oven for her win. Aside from having all their recipes aired on Cinema One on Jan. 30, the three runners up won Kyowa air fryer ovens as their consolation prize. Judges of Cinema One’s Kusina Kween: The Noche Buena Challenge included restaurateur and author chef Tatung Sarthou and recipe developer and food blogger Vanjo Merano of Panlasang Pinoy.
All of Us are Dead makes the Netflix TOP 10 list
AFTER its release on Netflix on Jan. 28, The Korean zombie adventure All of Us Are Dead soared to the Netflix Top 10 list (Non-English TV List) in 91 countries worldwide. Before its release, All of Us Are Dead received great interest from global audiences for the trailer, recording more than 16 million views in English-speaking countries. All of Us Are Dead is a Netflix Series about students trapped at a school overrun by a zombie virus. According to Netflix’s website www.top10.netflix.com, as of Feb. 2, All of Us Are Dead recorded approximately 124.79 million hours viewed within three days of its release and seized 1st place on the Top 10 (Non-English TV) list in 29 countries, and was ranked in the Top 10 in succeeding days in an additional 62 countries, including the USA, Canada, Brazil, Greece, Russia, Spain, and Italy. All of Us Are Dead is streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Globe ties up with Soundcloud
GLOBE is opening the door to a larger and more diverse music library as it ties up with SoundCloud as its first exclusive telco partner in the Philippines. With this partnership, Globe customers can stream music from Soundcloud, the world’s largest catalogue of over 300 million tracks from emerging creators to global superstars. Customers can directly connect to SoundCloud through Globe’s prepaid promo Go+99 with GoLISTEN. For P99, prepaid subscribers can enjoy 8GB of data on SoundCloud and 8GB more on all other music streaming services. Creators can upload and share their audio on the platform. Registered creators without a paid subscription can upload up to 180 minutes of audio to their profile at no cost, while paying subscribers can enjoy 360 minutes of unlimited upload time. Postpaid subscribers and prepaid WiFi customers can have seamless and uninterrupted music sessions on SoundCloud through GPlan and HomeSURF, which have bigger data allocations for the app.
Love the focus for discovery+ February shows
DISCOVERY+ focuses on love this February with everything from a wedding to sexual mishaps. The 12 singles in the Korean reality show Strangers in Love each take their shot at romance as they go through seven rounds of missions in the hopes of finding the one. Meanwhile, home renovation show host Tarek El Moussa and fiancée Heather Rae Young plan for their wedding on Tarek and Heather: The Big I Do. Catch Sex Sent Me to the ER, now available on discovery+, for stories of sexual escapades gone wrong resulting in medical emergencies. Dive into the case of husband and wife Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka in the Ken and Barbie Killers: The Lost Murder Tapes. Anni: The Honeymoon Murder delves into murder of the newlywed bride Anni Dewani in one of South Africa’s most infamous and mysterious crimes.
Noel Cabangon releases new EP
SINGER-songwriter Noel Cabangon has unveiled his latest four-track EP, Para Sa’yo on Spotify. The veteran singer-songwriter offers a collection of original songs that explore warmth and love. Mr. Cabangon rose to popularity with his breakout single “Kanlungan,” along with singles like “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko,” and “Di Na Natuto,” among many others. He has also collaborated with other OPM artists such as Aikee on the song “Pag-Ibig,” Leanne & Naara on “Habangbuhay,” and Moonstar88 on “Paasa.” Listen to Para Sa’yo at https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fonBGBLc7lUoikMqms5Zl?si=TewrP8WoQBiu7AgxPQ5z9w.
Shanti Dope releases new single
RAPPER Shanti Dope collaborated with Pricetagg on his new single, “Amen.” Alongside the single’s launch, Shanti Dope released its official music video, out now on the Universal Records Philippines’ YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/watch?v=–P3tfNwdEY). Directed by Jeremy Lim, the music video sees the two rappers as two Ilustrados from the Spanish colonial period. While performing their verses, they mingle with generals, along with fellow high-profile and educated Filipinos in a 19th century-style banquet. “Amen” is available to stream on all digital streaming platforms.
Garrett Bolden releases new single
BALLADEER Garrett Bolden has released his self-penned single under GMA Music entitled “Pwede Pa Ba?,” which is now available on various digital platforms. The single immediately climbed to the third spot of iTunes PH when it was released on Jan. 28. “Pwede Pa Ba?” is Mr. Bolden’s first attempt to write a Filipino song. The Clash Season 1 alumnus has been tapped to sing the theme songs of various GMA dramas such as Agimat ng Agila, The World Between Us, and Stories from the Heart: Love on Air. “Pwede Na Ba?” is available to stream on Spotify, YouTube Music, iTunes, and other digital platforms worldwide.
The Chainsmokers releases new single
FOLLOWING a two-year break from touring and releasing music, Grammy Award-winning and Billboard Chart topping artist/producer duo The Chainsmokers have returned with a new single, “High.” The song, which was co-written and co-produced by band members Alex and Drew, is the first from their upcoming fourth full-length album. Over the last couple of years, the band took their time to write and record their fourth album, while also focusing on philanthropy and other entrepreneurial endeavors such as their venture fund, Mantis, and their TV/Film production company, Kick The Habit. “High” is available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music.
