I once promised myself that I would never open an Instagram account. I was afraid having one would make me want to take photos of myself wherever I go (’yung tipong uubo lang ako, mag-se-selfie na!). I broke that promise last week (tinamaan ako ng inggit!) and, yes, I have been taking lots of selfies since then (with tamang lighting and angle huh!).
Noel Ferrer (Instagram)
Sawikaan Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Wika of Filipinas Institute of Translation, Inc. (FIT) recently chose “selfie” as Salita ng Taon, as submitted and defended by talent manager/writer Noel Ferrer and director/writer Jose Javier Reyes (both of whom I suppose, eh mahilig din sa selfie!)
Based on the duo’s research, selfie was first mentioned in an Australian internet forum in 2002. Noel maintained, however, that long before the word was coined, Filipinos were already doing selfies. “Even before technological advancements allowed us easier access to such, selfies were already part of our culture,” he said.
Joey agrees, believing that the word selfie is something inherent to Pinoys.
“Nowadays, karamihan ng Filipino ang mindset is ‘I am, therefore I selfie.’ We look at ourselves to see what we want to see.”
In show business, the selfie has become part of celebrities’ daily activities (mapa-sikat man, feeling sikat o wala nang pag-asang sumikat pa!).
“Napagkakakitaan kasi ’yan. Some of these celebs get paid to take selfies with a certain product. It is a way for media people to gather more supporters and sponsors. Fans, on the other hand, feel a deeper sense of connection with their idols because of these selfies,” Joey shared (ano kayang bagay na product sa’kin na isama sa selfie?!).
Joey Reyes
Although selfies may represent some unpleasant aspects of our culture – chief among them narcissism and consumerism – the writer-director tandem believes there’s a need to understand, own and recognize this phenomenon so that we, as practitioners, will be able to maximize its potential.
“We want to create awareness about the responsible use of the selfie through fun yet socially-relevant campaigns. Our commitment is to make selfies more useful to our society,” Noel explained (ay, nilagyan ng social relevance ang selfie!).
Noel encourages celebrities to create new words. “Like Kuya Kim Atienza and Atom Araullo, they could make use of catchy words and expressions in relation to weather, environment and disaster management.” (Selfie na lang with Atom, pwede?!)
“Another example. Ryan Agoncillo can start using a term relevant to parenthood, while you, Mr. Fu, can promote deeper meanings for ‘Meganon’ and ‘Push’ or other words and practice your being an academic debater once again,” Noel said (ako talaga?! Push!).
(MR.FU hosts on 106.7 Energy FM, 8 a.m., Monday to Friday and TV5. Twitter and Instagram: @mrfu_mayganon)
DANIEL MATSUNAGA
It wasn’t an easy climb to popularity for Daniel Matsunaga. The Japanese-Brazilian started as a model in the Philippines and even that experience had its own inherent hardships.
But things changed with his emergence as Big Winner on “Pinoy Big Brother All-In.” He has become sought-after in social events and has more job opportunities. The other three in the final Big Four are Vickie Rushton (4th winner), Jane Oineza (3rd), and Maris Racal (2nd).
As Big Winner, Daniel won P1-million cash prize, business franchises, and a brand-new condo unit at Amaia Steps Novaliches, which takes pride in its quality features and amenities, perfectly tailored for a Big Winner like Daniel.
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The Kumadres at RJ Bistro
THE KUMADRES
All-female group Kumadres is out to showcase their musicality to their kababayans after proving themselves to foreign audiences when they were still the MAHA band that toured Asia and the Middle East. Now, as the Kumadres, they will be presented by Bistro RJ at Dusit Thani Hotel on Oct. 4 in a show billed as “October Blast.” Guest performer is 13-year-old Pauline Anne Cueto.
The Kumadres is led by singer-composer Menchie Gonzales, the group’s lead vocalist who already had solo shows in the past. Babes Gumban is the musical director, rhythm guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist. Babes composed six songs in their debut album when they were still the MAHA band.
The other members are Marilou “Tata” San Jose, acts as keyboardist and vocalist; Josephine de Luna Niebres, bass player who also plays a variety of instruments; and Jean Talento, known as the singing drummer.
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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Oct. 2: go to Ma. Theresa “Maite” T. Defensor, Almond N. Aguila, Rose Hilario-Libongco, Emily Joy Legados, Angie Favis, US-based Terry Aldeguer, Edgardo Cepe, Gracebelle Banaria Espiritu, Zeny Yumol-Sato, Chit Guerrero and Atty. Adel Tamano… Oct. 3: Edward V.P. Maceda, actress Rio Locsin, Tessa Mauricio, Lani Aquino, Rina Pineda, Tessie Lim, Mon Fernandez, Beth J Natividad, and Robert Requintina… Happy wedding anniversary to Mario and Virgie Delmonte of Rhode Island, USA…
'Talentadong Pinoy 2014' host Robin Padilla (center) with co-hosts Mariel Rodrigiez and Tuesday Vargas. (Photo by Enie Reyes/InterAksyon)
Following the successful return of “Talentadong Pinoy”, the first and longest running talent show of its kind in the country holds this year’s season 1 finals night where seven equally determined Talentados will battle it out and vie for the P100,000 prize and the privilege to be the first Hall of Famer with a guaranteed slot in the show’s much-anticipated grand finals night in December.
Airing this Saturday, October 4, the “Talentadong Pinoy 2014″ Season 1 Finals Night will feature never-before-seen performances of Lights Production, Mystique, Crew Mechanix, Empoy & Entoy Brothers, Madibeats, Street Voice and Tazmania. Host Robin Padilla will also have a big revelation as he introduces “Robin’s Pick”. How will this affect the fate of all the contestants of “Talentadong Pinoy 2014″?
Meanwhile, joining the Season 1 Finals Night as talents scouts are Derek Ramsey, Gelli de Belen, Richard Gutierrez, Arnell Ignacio, K Brosas and Antoinette Taus. Adding more excitement are world-class performances from World Hiphop dance champion Philippine All-Stars, award-wining intercollegiate cheerleading group UP Pep Squad, and WCOPA champion and “Talentadong Pinoy” first-ever Ultimate Talentado Joshua “Yoyo Tricker” Davis.
Co-hosted by Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla and Tuesday Vargas, the Season 1 finals night of “Talentadong Pinoy 2014″ will air on October 4 at 7PM only on TV5.
Alice Dixson beams during the People Asia's Women of Style and Substance 2014 awards night. (Photo courtesy of Alice Dixson)
For “going beyond being beautiful, and breaking the glass ceiling through their achievements, advocacies and more,” Alice Dixson and 15 others were recently honored by People Asia magazine as this year’s “Women of Style and Substance”.
Aside from the TV5 star, other awardees this year are actress and TV host Toni Gonzaga, Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago, Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa, Binibining Pilipinas International 2014 Bianca Guidotti, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Yvethe Marie Santiago, celebrated volleyball player Alyssa Valdez; model and philanthropist Jenny Rockett; Asian Carmakers Corp. President Maricar Parco; and broadcast journalist Kara David.
During the awards rites held at the Grand Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, the award-winning actress was pleased that she was recognized not just for her career achievements but also for her charity work.
“I’m happy that I received such an acknowledgment from this publication as I always try to do things that are socially relevant. I still support charities and do various fund-raisings, mostly in collaboration with Alagang Kapatid,” Alice told InterAksyon and News5 during the occasion.
Known as one of the few celebrities who think outside the box, Alice was recently lauded for coming up with the novel idea of bidding out copies of her December 2013 cover issue for FHM with proceeds going to victims of typhoon Glenda.
“We were able to raise money that will go to Quezon Province to buy boats. I really wanted to help the school kids and we got a report that what they really need is a source of income. You know, the government only provided about P5,000 per household only if the house was totally demolished. I’d rather that the proceeds of the auction go to few families so they can start rebuilding.”
Alice added that she was hoping to come up with more fund-raising activities that will also help schools that were destroyed by the killer typhoon rebuild so that she could also help in the education aspect in the disaster-stricken areas.
Alice Dixson (center) with fellow honorees Jenny Rockett, Kara David, Alyssa Valdez, Miss International Bea Rose Santiago, Alice Dixson, Toni Gonzaga, Bb Pilpinas International Bianca Guidotti, Bb Pilipinas Supranational Yvethe Santiago and Miss Universe Philippines MJ Lastimosa.
As for her career, Alice said that after her successful forays into fantasy (“Enchanted Garden”), drama (“For Love or Money”, “More Than Words”) and comedy (“Confessions of a Torpe”), she is now further expanding her acting horizons by going into the equally popular horror genre.
Not a few were surprised to see her in a special role in Perci Intalan’s acclaimed thriller “Dementia” where she plays Nora Aunor’s attending physician. Alice is following that up with another scarefest this December as one of the headlining stars of Regal Films’ “Shake, Rattle & Roll XV” to be directed by Cinemalaya-winning filmmaker Jerrold Tarog.
Asked if she was surprised by the renaissance that she’s enjoying at this stage of her career, the 45-year-old actress said it was something she did not really expect.
“Yes, nagulat ako. When I came back in 2011, the projects came and then the demand. It was just like after I won Binibining Pilipinas-International and then I was offered to do that shampoo commercial and then it all just fell into place,” she recalled.
As much as she’s very fortunate in her career, Alice also half-jokingly said that she has been unlucky in love, in reference to her much-publicized divorce last year. Although she admitted that she had been dating a businessman whom she had yet to identify, she said she had no concrete plans of giving marriage another shot.
“I don’t want to say no and I don’t want say yes because I don’t want to eat my words. But who knows?” was all she could say about the current state of her personal relationship.
Turning more serious, Alice noted that while she had already recovered from the painful parting of ways with her ex-husband, she still believes it won’t be easy for her to take the plunge again.
“I think it would be really difficult to find somebody who is going to replace my ex-husband who I’ve known for 15 years and spent my life with for 13. The next person who will take his place has really big shoes to fill. Good luck na lang sa kanya if he can handle the big shoes,” she noted.
Still, she and her current partner were trying to make the best out of their situation and, in her own words, were currently “working on some things together”.
“We’re collaborating. Let’s just put it that way,” she quipped.
Sounds like a plan.
Jimmy Kimmel (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — If you’re about to Google Jimmy Kimmel, beware.
Computer security company McAfee says the late night TV talk show host is the most dangerous celebrity to search for online.
The company said Tuesday that a search for Kimmel carries a 19 percent chance of landing on a website that has tested positive for spyware, viruses or malware. The company has used its own site ratings to make the determination for the past eight years.
Other celebrities McAfee deems dangerous this year include Ciara, Flo Rida, Bruce Springsteen, Chelsea Handler and Christina Aguilera.
Kimmel said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Tuesday that he can’t believe a kid who played the clarinet and carried a briefcase to junior high school grew up to be the most dangerous celebrity of 2014.
LOS ANGELES | The classic videogame Tetris, in which players slot a cascade of tumbling blocks together, is being turned into a science-fiction movie, the project’s developers said Tuesday.
Tetris has been a mainstay of computer gaming since it was created 30 years ago, but the shape-slotting puzzle may not seem like an obvious subject for a big-screen adaptation.
Threshold Entertainment said in a statement that it was partnering with The Tetris Company to develop the film.
“Everyone knows that Tetris is one of the best known, most beloved brands in the world,” Threshold chairman Larry Kasanoff said.
“What everyone doesn’t know yet is this epic scifi story that we’re going to tell. That’s what’s really exciting.”
Threshold has already scored some game-to-movie successes, notably two “Mortal Kombat” films.
Henk Rogers, the managing director of The Tetris Company, said the game feeds our “innate desire to create order out of chaos.”
“You’ll soon find out, there’s much more to Tetris than simply clearing lines,” he said.
Tetris has been downloaded more than 425 million times as a paid-for app on mobile devices, and is played more than a billion times online annually, according to the statement.
Liam Neeson is back for a new "Taken" movie. On Wednesday, 20th Century Fox released the poster and global teaser trailer for “Taken 3.”
There is more to Yam Concepcion than just acting. On Wednesday, the "Pure Love" star showed off her talent in playing drums, when she participated on the game show "The Singing Bee."
