You read that right. ASAP Rocks and Bench will join the Kadayawan Celebration here in Davao City at Abreeza Ayala Mall on August 19, 2011. Stars will descend upon the land of promise to join the festival of festivals as we celebrate the 26th Kadayawan Festival.

ASAP Rocks and Bench will bring the hottest young stars to Davao led by Billy Crawford, Shaina Magdayao, and Sam Concepcion. Other Kapamilya stars joining the festivities are hunk Rafael Rosell, Gab Valenciano, singing sensation Angeline Quinto, Megan Young, child phenom Bugoy Carino, and the hot dance crew of G-Force.

Join the Kapamilya stars as ASAP Rocks and Bench celebrates the Kadayawan Festival on August 19, 2011 at Abreeza Ayala Mall.

Abreeza Ayala Mall is located along JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City. For more updates and information, like their Facebook Page.

Premiering on the Kapamilya network, ABS-CBN, tonight is Reputasyon, another gripping teleserye which features Cristine Reyes.

Cristine Reyes will star with Jason Abalos and her real life boyfriend Rayver Cruz. Playing her mother and father are acclaimed actress Jaclyn Jose and Lito Pimentel.

Playing the antagonist is returning Kapamilya star Aiko Melendez. Also in the cast is award-winning director and actress Laurice Guillen.

Watch as Cristine Reyes tries to survive life’s tragedies and the wrath of Aiko Melendez, every night in Reputasyon only on ABS-CBN.

But the 32 second feature does not do justice to their performance at 11 pm. So I’m sharing here the full video of their auditions which got for them 3 yeses from the judges Kris Aquino, Ai-ai delas Alas, and Freddie Garcia:

The band is composed of young musicians from Davao who specialize in music from the 60s and 70s. They band members are Jason Nuere on vocals, Mark Abella on lead guitar, Carlo Dureza on bass, and Dan Paul Muñoz on drums. Their fifth member Joe Azurin Drilon, a keyboardist, was unable to join the competition due to medical reasons.

Do support the band.

Nokia Music Connection

What follows is a press release material from Nokia.

Here’s great news for aspiring musicians and singers! Now, you can move one step closer to your dream of becoming a recording artist with Nokia’s Music Connection.

Nokia, the world’s number #1 mobile phone brand, together with Myx and Star Records introduces Nokia Music Connection, a music competition that connects unsigned music artists to their dreams by giving them the chance of winning a recording contract and having their very own music video.

Nokia Music Connection is open to unsigned Filipino artists aged 18 to 45, performing as a band with minimum of 2 and a maximum 5 members or as a solo artist of any genre (including those who sing cover songs).

Interested parties must submit a demo reel of their performance by uploading it to www.nokia.com.ph/musicconnection. Length of entry must be maximum 3 minutes, must be in a popularly supported video format (.mpg, .avi, .wmv, .mov), and does not exceed 20MB in size. The performance must be original, not yet used as entry in any other contest, and does not contain any inappropriate content.

Participants may also send a CD of their performance enclosed in an envelope with complete requirements to: ABS-CBN INTERACTIVE Office at 9/F ELJCC Building, Mother Ignacia Avenue corner Eugenio Lopez Drive, Diliman, Quezon City 1103. Deadline of submission is on January 19, 2011.

A total of forty-five (45) participants will be chosen and notified to perform within the months of January to March for evaluation. By batch, they will be assigned to specific areas/bars in the metro where they will perform live, two (2) songs of their choice and will be judged by Star Records, Myx, and Nokia representatives. Also, a part of the participants’ scores will be taken from the audience’s vote via online or mobile.

To vote online, simply log in to www.nokia.com.ph/musicconnection, register and click on the ‘Vote’ button. For mobile voting, key in VOTE (space) NOKIA (space) the designated keyword of the artist your choice and send to 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun Cellular subscribers; and 231 for Smart and Talk N Text subscribers.

Users can vote only one artist per day within the voting period: January 20 – March 19, 2011. And those who voted at least once in the Finals phase (March 3–9, 2011) will be entitled to watch the Grand Finals.

From the area elimination, six (6) finalists will be selected to compete in the Grand Finals. They will battle it out in a grand concert on March 19, 2011, performing one (1) original ‘Nokia’ song composed by Star Records and one (1) performance piece.

The grand prize winner will receive P200,000 in cash, a record deal with Star Records, including production of their own music video.

On the other hand, the 5 runner-ups will each receive P10, 000 in cash and will have their own music video to be produced by Myx. They will also win a Nokia X3 Touch and Type phone.

Don’t miss this chance to be discovered and make your dreams come true. For more information on Nokia Music Connection, visit www.nokia.com.ph/musicconnection.

Sa'yo Lamang Movie Poster

Star Cinema, makers of fine family dramas, brings us another heart-breaking and inspiring family drama by Laurice Guillen, Sa’yo Lamang topbilled by Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino.

Laurice plus Christopher and Lorna already equal heavy drama. But wait, there’s more.

Sa’yo Lamang also showcases the acting mettle of some of the most popular young actors today: Diether Ocampo, Bea Alonzo, Shaina Magdayao, and the Coco Martin.

Also in the cast are Zanjoe Marudo, Enchong Dee, Empress Schuck, Miles Ocampo, and Lauren Young. And credited with special participation are Igi Boy Flores and Dominic Ochoa.

The movie’s theme song is sung by Juris with a video directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.

The movie is written by Ricky Lee with cinematography by Lee Meily.

The movie is a celebration of Star Cinema’s 17th Anniversary, coming to the silver screens on September 1, 2010.

Zanjoe Marudo as Jaime Reyes: “Ipagtatanggol ko ang mga Da Silva.”

Denise Laurel as Emerald Fortalejo: “Ang panganay ng mga Fortalejo.”

Rafael Rosell as Marco da Silva: “Isang Da Silva.”

Cristine Reyes as Jewel Fortalejo: “Mula sa angkan ng mga Fortalejo.”

Ano ang mas mananaig ang lukso ng dugo, o pintig ng yong puso?

The cast of Kristine, photo courtesy of ABS-CBN.com

The war between the Fortalejo and Da Silva clans run deep and is tainted by blood and betrayal.

Cristine and Denise play sisters Jewel and Emerald Fortalejo, respectively. The older Emerald is held captive by Marco (Rafael) who is a member of the rival Da Silva clan. Jewel ventures into the Da Silva territory in search of Emerald. She takes the guise of Jaime’s (Zanjoe) wife. Jaime is also tied to the Da Silva clan.

Cristine Reyes as Jewel Fortalejo

How will the fates of Jewel and Jaime, Jewel and Marco intertwine and how will they remain loyal to their families amidst the growing passions and ties they have with members of the opposing clan?

Other cast members are Lito Legaspi, Angel Jacob, and Eric Fructoso.

This drama will be directed by the Rory B. Quintos.

Chloe (Erich Gonzales) approaches Vera (Angel Aquino) to ask where Manuel (Mark Gil) is.

Chloe: Mom, anong pong nangyayari? NAsan na si Dad?

Vera: What a stupid question! Did your mother drop you on the head when you were young? Can’t you see na nag-aaway kami. Hindi ko alam kung nasan siya. What a stupid question! You’re so insensitive!

Chloe: Mom, I’m really sorry for what I’ve done. Mom,hindi ko po sinasadya. Sorry po talaga?

Vera: Why? What have you done Chloe?

And in the House of Ronaldo, Manuel tries to talk to Victoria (Gretchen Barretto).

Manuel: Pwede ba tayo mag-usap?

Victoria: I’m sorry do you have an appointment meeting with me today?

Manuel: Importante lang.

Victoria: Ano pa bang pwede natin pag-usapan?

Manuel: Marami. Nagpunta ako rito para ayusin ang relasyon natin, anak. Kung hahayan mo ako.

Victoria: What is this about? Is this about your wife? Para tigilan ko na siya? You’re mistaken!

Manuel: Hindi, Ana. Tungkol to sa isang ama na lumalapit sa kanyang anak na humihingi ng kapatawaran.

Victoria: Yeah, right. Ginagawa mo ito para sa asawa mo. Everything is always about your wife.

Manuel: Anna. Anna, please.

Victoria: ‘Wag mo akong tatawaging Anna. Matagal na siyang nilibing kasama ng nanay at kapatid ko.

Manuel: I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Anna. I’m sorry.

Victoria: Sorry? Really sorry? Mapapatawad lang kita kung maibabalik ang buhay ng nanay at kapatid ko. At hihiwalayan mo si vera. But thats impossible, right? Marami pang trabahong naghihintay sa akin.

Chloe is not Vera’s biological daughter. She was adopted after her own child with Manuel was aborted. Prior to this episode, Chloe had secretly invited Victoria to Vera’s “Ultimate Fight” event. This gave Victoria the chance to talk to Alex Jacobs that investing in the Abella Group of Companies is not a worthy investment.

After Victoria does this, she is confronted by Vera and Manuel takes Victoria’s side. Manuel doesn’t go home and refuses to speak to Vera.

He tries to reconcile with Victoria who is his biological daughter. Victoria refuses and insists Manuel should bring back to life his dead wife Stella (Mickey Ferriols) and his other daughter Angela (Bea Alonzo), and that he should separate from Vera.

Victoria doesn’t believe Manuel’s sincerity and thinks that all of Manuel’s actions are motivated by his love for Vera.

Vera finds a picture of Stella, Manuel, and baby Anna in Manuel’s office. This only fuels her anger and insecurity.

Chloe, in an attempt to make up with Vera, sets up a meeting between Manuel and Vera. Vera says that Manuel was the only man who truly loved her and didn’t just use her. Vera will die without Manuel. Vera promises Manuel that she will change. Manuel asks Vera to make amends with Victoria.

The episode ends with Vera and Victoria about to go to the FDGP meeting where a new president will be elected.

Vera: Ahas! Ahas ka talaga! Kahit kelan, ahas ka!

Victoria: At ang ahas galit sa kapwa ahas.

Translation
Vera: Snake! You’re a snake! You have always been a snake!

Victoria: A snake does not like other snakes.

This is a pivotal moment in the series when Manuel Abella (Mark Gil) stands up to Vera and prevents her from hurting Victoria.

Vera is Manuel’s wife. But he is also Victoria’s father.

What will happen next in the fab war between Vera and Victoria?

Anne looks so fresh and natural. Kim errr… looks awkward. Like she doesn’t know what she’s doing and has only memorized the “steps” of the routine. WEIRD!

Sorry Kim Chiu fans.

Kim Chiu during the Bench Uncut Show

Will we see a bolder Kim soon? Hope so!

Photo courtesy of Fritz Tentativa.