Johnny Manahan aka Mr. M

"Liway" has garnered prestigious awards during the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Winner of three Awards: 

SPECIAL JURY COMMENDATION

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

SPECIAL JURY CITATION (Kenken Nuyad) 

Glaiza as Kumander Liway 

The setting of the story was set during Martial Law. It is about a young mother who uses storytelling to protect her young son from the painful realities of prison life. Martial Law, like what I was taught during my learning years, happened in the year 1972 during the Marcos regime specifically on September 23 and the proclamation No. 1081 was officially lifted on January 17, 1981. 

The movie is based on director Kip Oebanda's experiences as he was growing up inside the prison camp. where his parents were detained. Aside from Glaiza De Castro who plays Inday/ Kumander Liway, it also features rousing performances like co-GMA Artist Center, Dominic Rocco then there's Kenken Nuyad who portrays Inday's son, Dakip along with actors Soliman Cruz, Joel Saracho, Nico Antonio, Sue Prado, Paolo O'hara, Ebong Joson, Gerry Cornejo, Diana Alferez, Julie Bautista, Pau Benitez, Liway Gabo, She Maala, Renante Bustamante, with Vance Larena, Upeng-Galang Fernandez, and Khalil Ramos in a very special role. The screenplay is written by Kip Oebanda and Zig Dulay, and is produced by VY/AC Productions and Exquisite Aspect Ventures and was distributed by Quantum Films. 

GMA Artist Center stars, Glaiza De Castro and Dominic Roco during their blogcon 

On the other hand, another GMA Artist Center actor Dominic Roco, finds Glaiza, as her favorite co-acting partner and he already told her about it. He also commends Glaiza's acting performance here as her best so far. 

Glaiza with Kenken Nuyad 

Asked about what they have learned about the story of "Liway" and Martial Law, Glaiza answered, "Parang feeling ko hindi ako worthy to discuss about it pero, through Liway, mas nagkaroon ako ng understanding dahil galing s'ya sa totoong istorya, nangyari talaga s'ya nung panahon na 'yun. Isa 'to sa mga factors na alam ko nung panahon na 'yun, pero it doesn't mean na magbabago na talaga completely 'yung understanding ko sa kanya, so far, kung anuman 'yung mapapanood n'yo sa 'Liway,' ayun lang din 'yung alam ko nung panahon na 'yun so wala nang mas hihigit pa dun, wala nang le-less pa dun pero sana lang din 'yung mga taong manonood nito, hindi nila tignan kung ano 'yung polotical view or aspect kasi there's so much more than that. It's not just about Martial Law, let's not talk about that, pwede naman tayong mag-focus dun sa nanay at sa anak n'ya na pinalaki sa prison at ang tina-try ba protektahan sa harm na nangyayari sa paligid nila. Ang nung napanpod ko 'yung pelikula, isa sa mga bagay na na-realize ko, ang understanding ko sa kanya ay love letter s'ya ng anak sa nanay. 

While Dominic answered, " 'Yung 'Liway' to me, isa s'yang eye-opener sa mga haka-haka na sinasabi ng mga tao dati. It was just a confirmation... wow, this really happened... it wasn't what we knew before." 

Now here's the biggest turn out of the movie and I know every moviegoer will be so excited for this one! Check this out!! 

I wasn't able to watch the movie itself when it had its scheduled screenings last August at the CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines) but based from what I have learned and the good things and commendations that I've been hearing about this movie, I guess I am going to set a schedule and watch it since it is now commercially showing in cinemas nationwide! 

See you there!!! 

Thanks for your time Glaiza dear and Congrats!!! 

G.R.I.N.D. cast : Bruno Gabriel, Jazz Ocampo, Ayra Mariano and Benedict Campos

Is it really that difficult to understand the millennials? Been hearing some qualms about the generation gap we are facing today. The Generation Y or the so-called Millennials have seemed to leaped quite big making them the most "hard-to-understand" class in the community today.  

Well, falter not, because the right show has come to the rescue! GMA 7 has also evolved its viewing market, making "G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It's New Day)," put to a late evening time slot which is every Saturday, right after "iWitness." Basically this new more mature kinda' show tackles the life of the millennials. Their back stories, struggles, visions, hang-ups, tantrums, bratty manners, sentiments, how they deal with different relationships, interacting with people around them, how they come up, how they can survive in this world, how they love and dream! 

G.R.I N.D. (Get Ready It's New Day), has a very positive title right? Need not to extract it further, the program wanted to bridge the "unspoken gap" between the X and Y gens. I guess this will help us understand them more and know what they actually want and need. And what is their main purpose in life, and with this we can all make amends and meet in the middle (try harder) to make a brand new and positive beginning because, as the title implies, "G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It's New Day)!" 

Just recently we were able to meet and know more about the show and its cast via the GMA Artist Center's blogcon for the G.R.I.N.D. 

If you want to get to know the cast and their characters, we start with ...

Jazz Ocampo a.k.a. Solanj Martinez in the story 

Solanj is Solangermina Tamara Martinez, the Artsy Millennial, she's from a well-off family, quite bratty, her hair color depends on her mood, an undergraduate daughter who is still indecisive of what she wanted to pursue in her life. Jumping from one course to another as well as her relationships with different types of men. Her failures make her stronger in the outside but once you've get her deeply, she has a soft heart. Her ultimate goal is she wants to be her own person! She wants to be accepted by her family for what she is and what she is not! 

Ayra Mariano a.k.a. Lui

Lui is Luisa Carmela Gonzales, a 23 year old gal. You can tag her ad "The Hopeless Romantic" and "Miss Pangkabuhayan Showcase." A fresh graduate of Communication Arts and an Advertising assistant. Her being naive and eager-beaver has also a back story. Most of her shoutouts in life pertains to questioning why does she has to be the bread-winner, and why does her mother has to rely to the notion that hooking a foreigner is the only way to save them from being poor, thus, she has siblings of different nationalities from their different fathers. One last thing, she's a certified member of NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth) community. Her biggest secret? She has a huge crush on Carlo! 

Bruno Gabriel a.k.a. Carlo Yuson 

Carlo is the risk-taker and ambitious millennial. He has good looks but sometimes moody and bossy. He has a flourishing career as an Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Manager in one of the largest ad agencies in town. His great looks and status in life make him one of the most sought-after eligible bachelors in the country. But wait! There's a catch! He is already taken! 

He come from a poor family before that's why he had worked hard for where he is right now. His biggest secret??? 

Carlo is drawn to older women because his mother had left them that's why he seeks the kind of nurturing, comfort and love from mature women. 

Benedict Campos a.k.a. RK

RK is actually Reynaldo Katakutan Jr. I can say the one character that's so "gay" in many ways! He's outlook in life is so positive despite the fact that he's financially challenged. We can attribute his "good vibes" attitude maybe because he belongs to a happy and complete family whom he feel so much love and very well accepted as what he truly is. A metro gay who is family-oriented and hard-working. He works as a part-time dance instructor, part-time gym instructor/salesman/networking agent/manicurista, masahista and a lot more! 

Jazz Ocampo, Bruno Gabriel and Ayra Mariano during G.R.I.N.D. blogcon (minus Benedict) 

This show has a big potential. It is a platform for enlightenment, entertainment and inspiration. The Millennials, Generation Y, Generation Me, Echo Boomers and Peter Pan Generation can now be well understood through this new tv show. As the show's vision states, "G.R.I.N.D. hopes to inspire this generation to keep them motivated and driven in reaching for their dreams but still value the things that matter more in life like family, education and faith in our creator." 

Exciting G.R.I.N.D. episodes awaits us peeps! So do check it out! 

Please don't fail to visit my 

Youtube Channel if you want to see our interview with the cast. 

Klea Pineda #EighteenK

GMA's Starstruck VI Ultimate Female Survivor Klea Pineda is a girl with full of hopes, passion, enthusiasm, motivation, sincerity and positivity. She possesses the qualities of a potential beauty queen. And now that she's finally eighteen and blooming, she has a lot to tell and show. 

Klea is a cross-resemblance between our very own Ms. Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and another gorgeous actress Arci Muñoz. You ought to see her pre-debut pin-ups she does look like Pia and you can compare her ways and manners of speaking to Arci. 

When asked about if she would like to be identified as Pia Wurtzbach look alike, she answered, "Gusto kong maiba 'yung sarili kong way, sarili kong hitsura, siguro sa na-achieve n'ya gusto ko 'yon, pero 'yung hitsura n'ya, 'yung ginagawa n'ya parang ayoko nang gayahin s'ya. Gusto kong gumawa ng sarili kong idea." 

Her passion and motivation to join anf become a beauty queen, perhaps Ms. Intenational or Ms. Universe someday started when she was sixteen years old. At her young age then, she has a towering height fit for a beauty queen, her peers and classmates had encouraged her to join and then she became even more enthusiastic and inspired when she get to watch Ms. Pia Wurtzbach journey to success. 

Now that she's in full bloom at eighteen, she will be celebrating her debut with a Modern Bohemian theme, on March 25, Saturday at Nobu Hotel/Wave Poolside at the City of Dreams Manila with some of her family, celebrity friends and close friends. "The party will be intimate, I just want my friends and family to be there. With all the people around me giving me unconditional love and support, I'm inspired to focus on my ultimate goal and that is to find happiness in everything that I do," she exclaims. 

The Encantadia stunner and starrer also shared that she's gonna be having three sets of gowns and that there will be some surprise performances by her invited guests and she may or may not perform (it's a surprise!). From her eighteen roses list, she shared, "Mga kasali sa 18 roses mag naka-work ko na guys, sina Jeric Gonzales, Juancho Trivino, sila Roco Nacino, mga Encantadia cast, Pancho Magno, Jak Roberto ayun sila." She doesn't have escort, she admitted. 

You want to know what her birthday wish? "Dito sa industry, di man ako forever na nandito, pero gusto ko may tumatak sa mga tao kung sino si Klea Pineda, tumagal man ako pero hindo forever di'ba? Gusto ko lang makilala nila ko na as Klea Pineda na may name sa industry." 

The queenly debutant was even more excited and thankful to her Kapuso network, she states, "I am so happy that GMA continues to give me different opportunities for my career. As a fresh face in showbiz, I know I have a lot more to learn, and that's what I'm focused on especially now that I'm 18. 

I just wanna wish you a happy happy 18th birthday dear Klea. Here's hoping that you could achieve all your dreams and endeavors in life. We really wanna see you claim the Ms. Universe or Ms. International someday, in God's perfect time. 

If you want to know more details about Klea and her upcoming debut, please click here 

Ken Chan bilang Destiny Rose/ Joey Flores

The "Niño" teenage cast from (L to R): Renz Valerio, Julian Trono, Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix during the blogcon

Julian Marcus Trono as Cocoy

When asked on what do they expect about the viewer's reaction after watching their tv series "Niño," Julian answered, "Ito kasi mas parang new, at the same time, 'yung story na merong special child. ang market ng show is 'yung kids di'ba? And alam din natin na masyado ring matatalino na ang mga bata, di mo alam kung ano ang papanoorin talaga nila, cartoons ba or inspirational. Kasi 'yun ang kalaban mo talaga eh, so i'm clueless pa. We're praying na para sa mga kabataan, mapahatid namin 'yung message ng show."

Miguel Tanfelix as Niño

While on the other hand, Miguel who plays the title role said, "Siguro magugustuhan naman nila kasi inspirational, once masimulan nila, uulit-ulitin nila kasi may aral silang matututunan dito. Tapos relihiyoso pa si Niño, kaya siguro mako-caught sila kasi alam naman natin na ang mga Pilipino mga relihiyoso na tao 'yan. Pagbubutihan namin para ma-hook up din sila sa show."

Bianca Umali plays the role of Angelica

How does the Sto.Niño influence you and your family? Bianca answered, "I'm Catholic. Growing up with my grandmother, halos maya't-maya ko s'ya nakikitang nagro-rosary. And nung nalaman ko na religious nga ung "Niño," sobrang nakaka-inspire s'ya, talagang inobserve ko ang bawa't galaw ng lola ko with people and iba 'yung connection n'ya with the Lord. So sobrang inspired ako na kailangang matutunan kong maging ganun din ka-close din kay Lord not only for the show, but also as a person. So I feel na magagampanan ko nang maayos 'yung role ko, marami akong ma-aaply from real life to my character."

Renz Valerio plays Raphael

And here's what Renz has to say to the question stated, "Ako naman po, Catholic ako, pinalaki po kami ng parents namin na naniniwala sa birhen, sa Sto. Niño, sa mga saints. So feeling ko, masaya po ako na maging representative ng show na pinaniniwalaan mo din at nakaka-relate ka din sa mismong istorya. Sana nga po maka-inspire kami, kasi ako po mismo naniniwala po na nakaka-apekto po ito ng buhay." 

Based from what I've seen and what I've heard from these teeners of the newest drama series "Niño," by GMA network, those are enough proofs that they all deserve to be part of the series, they act as role-models in real life. They've been raised so well by their respective parents/ guardians as well as they've been exceptionally groomed by GMA Artist Center and they appreciate it so much. 

Miguel Tanfelix with his "tukayo" David Remo happily posing during their lastest tv series "Niño" photoshoot (credits to: GMA Network.com)

These are the kind of people who would take part in every Filipino's lives, they can inspire, give positive outlooks, encourage hope and promote courage. The courage to do anything for the sake and goodness of our fellowmen, unselfishly and indiscriminately. 

To experience a life-changing drama, please don't fail to watch the pilot episode of "Niño" tonight, after 24 Oras. 

For more updates and details, please visit GMA Network

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