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Celebrity Couple Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque calls off wedding as per veteran host Boy Abunda

February 6, 2024

Veteran host Boy Abunda just confirmed that celebrity couple Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque have split up and calls off their wedding. In the opening of the February 6 episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” sharing he was in Hong Kong over the weekend for work reasons when he received two devastating news.

First is the death of ABS-CBN’s Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal, whom Boy quickly paid tribute to. Then he immediately went to the Bea and Dominic’s break-up.

Boy Abunda said “Ako’y nalungkot talaga dahil madalas kami nagkikita ni Bea, nagkukuwentuhan kami sa buhay, sa kanila, their marriage plans, et cetera.” Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque got engaged last July 2023 after Dominic proposed to Bea in Las Casas.

Abunda’s statement verified the accuracy of Ogie Diaz’s report that Bea and Dominic had indeed parted ways, video below.

As of this posting, Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque have not spoken about the details and have not made any changes to their social media accounts in relation to their engagement.

Argyle’s Mid-Credits Scene Reveals Spy Universe in the Works

February 6, 2024

Kingsman fans have a reason to celebrate as a potential crossover between Argylle and Kingsman might not be too far off.

Movie goers who stayed behind will enjoy a Marvel-esque scene bonus. When the credits roll, it’s interrupted by a flashback 20 years ago. Shown in the mid-credits is a young Aubrey Argylle entering what looks like a bar from the Kingsman movie.

Just after the Kingsman reveal, the customer orders a “cosmopolitan with a twist”. While the barkeeper and the young Aubrey exchange codewords, the former hands him a box with a weapon.

In an interview with Yahoo UK, Director Matthew Vaughn stated that he wanted the movies to intersect. Consequentially, the crossover was a possibility as MARV Studios produced the two films.

Theory-crafters are also insisting similarities between Elly Conway’s cat to the pop singer’s Scottish Fold. However, Matthew Vaughn clarified that Elly Conway is not Taylor Swift.

Spoilers ahead: Argylle’s plot revolves around introverted spy novelist Elly Conway, played by Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World).

Foundationally, the story focuses on how Elly survives a deadly game of spies and assassins as she discovers that her stories coincide with real-life events.

Some big names were cast for Argylle – Henry Cavill (Superman, The Witcher), John Cena, Dua Lipa, Samuel Jackson (Avengers), and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), just to name a few.

The director hasn’t overtly stated a shared cinematic universe for the two movies. However, former Kingsman: The Secret Service cast member Sofia Boutella makes an appearance in the film. The actress’ appearance contributes to reinforcing the idea that there is indeed a shared spy universe.

Here’s the official trailer of Argylle;

Your Guide to South Korean’s Simplified Visa Application this 2024

February 5, 2024

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Philippines just released a simplified guide for those who wish to apply for a visa to South Korean. Check the table below for your category and see the required documents.

*Although the tables show the required documents, it’s still necessary to submit other general documents in standard visa applications. Please refer to this table carefully.

For those elected as politicians, refer to this table:

Politician

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Senate
COE (or Certificate of Appointment)
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Congress
Governors
Provincial Board Members
Mayors

For elected government officials, refer to this instead:

Government Officials

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Individuals ranking higher (including) Assistant Secretary of the Executive Branch of the Philippine Government COE MUST HAVE the following details included:

•Affiliated Organization
•Position
•Salary
•Working Period
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police

“If the relevant information is omitted or cannot be verified due to a lack of contact with HR, disadvantages may be given to the applicant” – Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines website.

For professionals with licenses, refer to the table below. Note that not all license holders are eligible for the simplified visa application criteria, only the ones specified below:

PRC License Holders

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required
Physician
•COE (Original)
•Copy of PRC ID/IBP
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certficates
Dentist
CPA
Pharmacist
Veterinarian
Lawyer (including Judge/Prosecutor)

For credit card holders, please refer to the card types below:

Credit Card Holders

Required Documents

Coverage/Extension (Family Members)

Not Required

BDO Gold

•Mastercard Gold Credit Card
•Visa Gold Credit Card
•JCB Gold Credit Card
•UnionPay Gold Credit Card
•Diners Club International
•American Express Cashback Credit Card
•American Express Explorer Credit Card
•COE (Original)
•Copy of Credit Card (must show ALL front details)
•Copy of Credit Card Account Monthly Billing Statements for the last 3 months
•Parents
•Spouse
•Minor Children
•Children over 18 who are studying
•Spouse’s Parents
•ITR
•Bank Statements
•Bank Certificates
BDO Elite

•Mastercard Titanium, Platinum, World Elite Credit Card
•Visa Platinum
•JCB Platinum
•UnionPay Diamond
•Diners Club Premiere
•American Express Platinum
•American Express International Dollar Charge (Platinum, Gold, Green)

Although the Embassy states that financial documents are not required, it will still be up to the applicant if they choose to submit these.

In addition to the documents outlined in the table, applicants and their family members are still required to submit a document to establish their relationship. For children over 18 who are still studying, they are required to provide scholastic documents.

Official Trailer of Netflix’s House of Ninjas

February 4, 2024
Official Trailer of Netflix’s House of Ninjas

Ninjas have fascinated the world with their mysterious and fearsome physical abilities… but what if they were still hiding in modern Japan?

Watch an all-original story about the last ninja family — one that abandoned its identity in the wake of a past mission — facing a crisis that shakes the nation.

The Netflix series “House of Ninjas” starts streaming from Thursday, 15 February, only on Netflix!

An interesting take on Japan’s invisible warriors, specially in this modern day and age!
The series is

  • Cast: Kento Kaku, Yosuke Eguchi, Tae Kimura, Kengo Kora, Aju Makita, Nobuko Miyamoto
  • Based on a Story: Kento Kaku, Yoshiaki Murao, Takafumi Imai
  • Director: Dave Boyle
  • Writer: Dave Boyle, Masahiro Yamaura, Kota Oura, Kanna Kimura
  • Executive Producer: Yoshihiro Sato (Netflix)
  • Producer: Kanbe Akira
  • Production: TOHO Studio

This the premise of the series;

Ninjas were a fixture of milestones in Japanese history, and even now they’re taking on secret missions behind the curtain of Japanese society. Set in modern Japan, this series tells the story of the Tawara family, the last ninja family that had abandoned its roots after a certain incident in the past, who must take on the greatest crisis in Japanese history that threatens to shake the nation to its core.

Justin Brownlee cleared to join Gilas Pilipinas Men for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers

February 3, 2024

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) just announced the FIBA has cleared Justin Brownlee to play for Gilas Pilipinas Men in the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. The basketball governing body also issued Brownlee a Notice of Charge carrying a proposed three (3) month Period of Ineligibility in relation to the anti-doping rule violation that occurred during the 19th Asian Games, which according to SBP retroactive.

Justin Brownlee will be the lone naturalized player for Gilas and will be joining 11 other cager for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers and the upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament this July 2024.

Gilas, for their first two games for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, will face Hong Kong on February 22 at the Tsuen Wan Stadium and Chinese Taipei on February 25 at the PhilSports Arena and tickets for the home game are already available via smtickets.com.

Source: SBP

House of Dragon star Milly Alcock cast as Supergirl in James Gunn’s DCU.

February 3, 2024

It’s official, Milly Alcock star of HBO’s House of Dragon will be Supergirl in James Gunn’s DCU.

The Australia-born Milly Alcock have been acting since 2013 and known for her roles in Foxtel comedy-drama Upright, where she received an AACTA Award nomination. Alcock is also known for her role as the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in the first season of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel spinoff House of the Dragon.

To confirm her casting, James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios on his social media accounts;

Post by @jamesgunn
View on Threads

Post by @jamesgunn
View on Threads

Milly Alcock also confirmed her casting as the new Girl of Steel on her IG account, saying “So excited to be a part of the DC fam – thank you so much to @jamesgunn for trusting me with Kara / Supergirl”

NBA Officially announced the 2024 NBA All-Star Game reserves

February 3, 2024

Seven days after announcing the 2024 NBA All-Star Game Starters, the league unveil the 7 All-Star Game reserves for each conferences.

Eastern Conference reserves

  • Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
  • Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
  • Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
  • Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
  • Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
  • Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Julius Randle, New York Knicks

Western Conference reserves

  • Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
  • Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
  • Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
  • Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Paul George, LA Clippers
  • Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
  • Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Just like with the starters, the 2024 NBA All-Star Game reserves were selected by fans, current NBA players and a media panel. Fans accounted for 50% of the vote, while players and media accounted for 25% each.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announces Tim Cone as Head Coach for Gilas Pilipinas Men

January 29, 2024

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) just announced that Tim Cone will be the as Head Coach for Gilas Pilipinas Men. Together with Tim Cone’s announcement, SBP also announced the 12 players roster for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, set this February 2024. The 12 players are composed of current PBA and UAAP players, as well as those playing in the Japanese B-League as imports.

Coach Tim Cone is one of the winningest coach in the PBA, a 25 times champion with 38 Finals appearances. He is currently the head coach of the most popular team in the PBA, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, a gig that he got in 2015.

“Coach Tim accomplished what has not been done in decades with only a few weeks to prepare and multiple challenges in terms of personnel so we’re excited to see what he can accomplish with a long-term program in place especially if such program is supported by all basketball stakeholders.” said SBP President Al Panlilio.

“Earlier this month, coach Tim presented his plans to local leagues from which players will likely be selected from. This program will be put to test this year and adjustments will be made as necessary,” added SBP Executive Director Erika Dy.

The Philippines is also included in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 2 to 7 in Latvia.

The 12 players roster for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers are;
PBA players

  • Scottie Thompson
  • Chris Newsome
  • Calvin Oftana
  • CJ Perez
  • Jamie Malonzo
  • June Mar Fajardo

Japanese B-League imports

  • Dwight Ramos
  • AJ Edu
  • Carl Tamayo
  • Kai Sotto

UAAP

  • Kevin Quiambao

Justin Brownlee is also listed as a naturalized player but this is still waiting FIBA’s approval.

Watch the Trailer for Despicable Me 4

January 29, 2024
Watch the Trailer for Despicable Me 4

Gru is back with his league of yellow minions and their misadventures in Despicable Me 4. Watch the trailer below.

In this new installment of the Despicable Me franchise, Gru has settled down with Anti-Villain League agent Lucy Wilde. The trailer reveals the fan-favorite minions, and sisters Agnes, Edith, and Margot. The newest addition to the family is Gru’s baby, aptly named Gru Jr.

The family is on the run as new enemies come back for revenge. Voice actors Joey King and Sofia Vergara take on the role of Maxime and Valentina as the antagonists. The duo will pursue the Gru family relentlessly on their quest for payback.

The heinous but comical protagonist will be facing off similarly evil grandmothers and a badger with a penchant for violence, all the while demonstrating to his son the works of a supervillain.

Steve Carell (The Office, The 40-year-Old Virgin) plays the voice actor for Gru, a villain turned family man for three kids. Actress and SNL comedian Kristen Wiig voices Lucy Wilde.

The movie will premiere in theaters on July 3, 2024.

CCN Philippines to shut-down this 31st of January 2024

January 29, 2024

After all the reports, CNN Philippines has confirmed that the network will shutdown its operations on all media platforms this January 31, 2024. The company released their official statement on all their social media accounts as well an official statement published on cnnphilippines.com.

Here’s the full text of CNN Philippines’ official statement;

It is with deep regret that the management of Nine Media Corporation (NMC) announces the discontinuation of its news and production operations on all media platforms, branded as CNN Philippines (CNNPH), effective 31 January 2024. The decision follows significant financial losses sustained over the past years, despite rigorous efforts to adapt and innovate in a rapidly evolving and challenging media landscape.

We are aware of the impact of this closure on our valued employees and talents, we assure all affected staff will be provided with severance packages.

We express our deepest appreciation to our dedicated team for their unwavering commitment over the years that has elevated CNNPH as a trusted source of news and information in the Philippines.

With the conclusion of CNNPH’s operations, we would like to extend our profound gratitude to our partner, CNN Worldwide/Turner Broadcasting Corporation for their support and understanding.

To our loyal viewers, thank you for giving us purpose. We are honored to have served you.

Again, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our employees, partners, and stakeholders. Thank you for the trust.

It’s unclear what will happen to its employees and talents, but it will be a big blow to the country’s “the future of journalism in the Philippines”, as well as the news media landscape.

Suzuki Philippines officially a launches the new Jimny 5-door

January 28, 2024

It’s official! The Jimny 5-door will be available in the Philippines, as Suzuki Philippines officially launch the New Jimny 5-door on January 25, 2024 at The Cove, Okada Manila.

The new Jimny 5-door is basically the 5-door version of the company 3-door Jinmy that we all know and love. The Jimny 5-door will have two variant; GL and the GLX, both have the same specs except that the GL will be sporting a 5-Speed Manual transmission, while the GLX will have 4-Speed Automatic transmission.

This is how Suzuki Philippines describe the new Jimny 5-door;

EXTERIOR

The New Jimny 5-door seamlessly incorporates all the practical and functional design elements of the Jimny. Its sturdy square body not only conveys off-road capability and durability but also contributes to the driver’s situational awareness. The upright A-pillars and flat clamshell bonnet improve visibility through the front windshield, while the dipped lines of the driver and passenger windows extend visibility from the side. The 5-door model boasts chrome accents on the front grille, a distinctive feature that accentuates the grille’s unique 5-slot design. Additionally, features such as the signature round headlamps and 15-inch dark-metallic alloy wheels further enhance the overall robust exterior styling.

INTERIOR

The theme of practicality and functionality extends seamlessly to the interior. Meticulously designed to balance aesthetics and functionality, the sleek black interior avoids unnecessary colors or decorations to minimize distractions, allowing the driver to focus on navigating the vehicle. Horizontal lines on the instrument panel and vertical lines in the meter cluster and center console panels assist the driver in gauging the vehicle’s angle, especially in challenging terrains such as rough or mountainous terrains.

The rear seat has undergone enhancements, featuring thicker seat cushions to provide better seating posture and comfortably accommodate two adults. Positioned directly above the rear passengers, the rear seat lamp ensures improved lighting, while the rear seat power window switches are conveniently located in both the rear doors and the front console box for easy control from both rows.

The extended wheelbase of the 5-door model has resulted in an expanded luggage area. Although the luggage box from the 3-door model has been removed, the lowered floor height and increased depth of the luggage area now offer a spacious 211L of luggage capacity (with the rear seatback raised). Enhancements include a luggage area lamp illuminating the entranceway for user-friendly access, and the removal of the toolbox for simplified loading and unloading of luggage. Similar to the 3-door model, the luggage area in the 5-door model comes equipped with an accessory socket.

SAFETY

Safety is paramount in the New Jimny 5-door GLX variant, featuring SRS front airbags for both the driver and seat passengers, as well as side airbag and curtain airbags for occupants in both the front and rear seats. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a reverse parking camera and sensors to enhance overall safety awareness.

PERFORMANCE

The Jimny 5-door features a powerful 1.5L engine, tuned for off-roading adventures. With a 340 mm longer wheelbase than the 3-door model, it maintains crucial off-roading features— ALLGRIP PRO, a sturdy ladder frame, exceptional approach, breakover, and departure angles, 3-link rigid axle suspension with coil spring and part-time 4WD with low-range transfer gear. Built for authentic off-road ruggedness and agile maneuverability, it serves as the ideal companion for global adventurers and wilderness professionals.

The New Jimny 5-door offers monotone color options for the GL and GLX variants, including Jungle Green, Celestial Blue Pearl Metallic, Arctic White Pearl, and Granite Gray Metallic. The GLX Two-Tone variant, on the other hand, is available in Sizzling Red Metallic – Bluish Black Pearl and Chiffon Ivory Metallic – Bluish Black Pearl.

Price

The New Jimny 5-door is available in all Suzuki Auto Dealerships nationwide with the following SRP:

  • Jimny 5DR GL MT – ₱1,558,000
  • Jimny 5DR GLX AT – ₱1,698,000
  • Jimny 5DR GLX AT – TWO TONE – ₱1,708,000

Here are your 2024 NBA All-Star Game Starters

January 26, 2024

NBA has finally announced this year’s All-Star Game Starters. The TNT crew (Shaq, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson) even had a segment in their show to announce the 10 All Star starters.

Eastern Conference starters

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo*
  • Joel Embiid
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Tyrese Haliburton
  • Damian Lillard

Western Conference starters

  • LeBron James*
  • Kevin Durant
  • Nikola Jokic
  • Luka Doncic
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

* = denotes team captain

Starters for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game were selected by fans, current NBA players and a media panel. Fans accounted for 50% of the vote, while players and media accounted for 25% each.

This year, the league will revert back to the EAST vs West format, which means that title CAPTAIN will just be for formality and each players will team up for their respective conference in the 73rd NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home court of the Indiana Pacers.

Sofia Vergara’s Acting Chops in Netflix’s Griselda

January 26, 2024

Sofa Vergara’s new Netflix Series Griselda follows the story of a Colombian woman who comes to the United States as she leads her double life as the Godmother of Cocaine and a mother to three kids.

Sounds cliche? The big twist is that this series is based on a much darker story. Griselda Blanco did exist, and her family still lives

Griselda Blanco’s journey from Colombia wasn’t easy – she grew up in an extremely abusive household. There are accounts of her by an outdated Britannica. The encyclopedia purportedly showed that she helped in a kidnapping when she was just 11 years old. 

Blanco died on September 3, 2012, when she was gunned down by a motorcycle rider – a method she employed herself onto her enemies.

The big screen has featured the infamous Colombian drug leader before. Catherine-Zeta Jones’ portrayal in the movie Cocaine Godmother (2017) received praise amidst a rushed plot and a few factual inconsistencies.

In the exclusive interview with Sofia Vergara by Entertainment Tonight, the actress spoke about snorting fake cocaine, aside from her unrecognizable transformation.

The Blanco family has filed legal action to stop the release of the series, to which the director responded “lightheartedly”.

USA Basketball announces the 41-members of the 2024 Men’s USA National Team Player Pool

January 25, 2024
USA Basketball announces the 41-members of the 2024 Men’s USA National Team Player Pool

USA Basketball, which is headed by USA Basketball executive director Grant Hill, just announced the 41-man pool for the 2024 Paris Olympics. After falling to Canada in the last FIBA World Cup 2023, which was held in Manila, USA Basketball will be fielding veterans and a newly naturalized American to win a fifth consecutive Olympic gold in Paris this summer.

The players named in the 41-player pool for the 2024 Men’s USA National Team are some of the biggest names in the sports, headlined by LeBron James, last played in the Olympics in 2012, and Stephen Curry, who has never played in the Olympics; and Joel Embiid, a Cameroon national but became a U.S. citizen in 2022.

In a tweet by the USA Basketball, all 41 players selected to the 2024 Men’s National Team Player Pool have a combined 13 Olympians, 22 World Cup participants, 24 Senior National Team gold medals and 18 Junior National Team gold medals, one of the most decorated player pool the USA Basketball have assembled.

Here are the complete list of the 41-player pool:

  1. Bam Adebayo – Miami Heat
  2. Jarrett Allen – Cleveland Cavaliers
  3. Paolo Banchero – Orland Magic
  4. Desmond Bane – Memphis Grizzlies
  5. Scottie Barnes – Toronto Raptors
  6. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
  7. Mikal Bridges – Brooklyn Nets
  8. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics
  9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks
  10. Jimmy Butler – Miami Heat
  11. Alex Caruso – Chicago Bulls
  12. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors
  13. Anthony Davis – Los Angeles Lakers
  14. Kevin Durant – Phoenix Suns
  15. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves
  16. Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
  17. De’Aaron Fox – Sacramento Kings
  18. Paul George – Los Angeles Clippers
  19. Aaron Gordon – Denver Nuggets
  20. Tyrese Haliburton – Indiana Pacers
  21. James Harden – Los Angeles Clippers
  22. Josh Hart – Chicago Bulls
  23. Tyler Herro – Miami Heat
  24. Jrue Holiday – Boston Celtics
  25. Chet Holmgren – Oklahoma Thunders
  26. Brandon Ingram – New Orleans Pelicans
  27. Kyrie Irving – Dallas Mavericks
  28. Jaren Jackson Jr. – Memphis Grizzlies
  29. LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers
  30. Cam Johnson – Brooklyn Nets
  31. Walker Kessler – Utah Jazz
  32. Kawhi Leonard – Los Angeles Clippers
  33. Damian Lillard – Milwaukee Bucks
  34. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers
  35. Chris Paul – Golden State Warriors
  36. Bobby Portis – Milwaukee Bucks
  37. Austin Reaves – Los Angeles Lakers
  38. Duncan Robinson – Miami Heat
  39. Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics
  40. Derrick White – Boston Celtics
  41. Trae Young – Atlanta Hawks

The 41-player pool will then be reduced to 12-member team for the Paris Olympic Games, which will be announced as early as May or during the NBA Playoffs.

Watch the Trailer for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba To the Hashira Training

January 24, 2024

Demon Slayer Season 4 is in the works after a successful Season 3. The trailer is already out for the 1-hour Episode 1 special in preparation for Season 4. The creative team behind the series is UFOTABLE, who are also responsible for the hit anime series such as Fate/Stay Night and God Eater.

We will get to see a development to Tanjiro’s journey after his encounter with the Upper Rank demon Hantengu. The ending of the Swordsmith Village Arc shows shows a major breakthrough with Tanjiro’s sister. Nezuko finally “conquers the sun” after Tanjiro makes a critical decision of killing a fleeing demon.

It’s a cliffhanger for sure, and although an anime adaptation of the manga is still in the works, the next series will focus on Tanjiro’s training with Himejima in Season 4.

The movie will act as a prelude to Season 4, and we might get to see more of Tanjiro’s character development while under the tutelage of the Rock Hashira. There will be even more demon appearances (and ultimately more fights), for which the anime series has received praise – both for its visual and sound design.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba To the Hashira Training will premiere next month worldwide.

Watch the New Trailer for Avatar The Last Airbender

January 24, 2024

Netflix’s new and upcoming series Avatar The Last Airbender will premiere on February 22 this year.

The new Avatar of the four elements will be played by half-French, half-Filipino Canadian actor Gordon Cormier (Lost in Space). Anne with an E actress Kiawentiio Tarbell will be playing Katara, while Ian Ousley plays her brother Sokka. Dallas Liu will be playing Aang’s archnemesis (for the first few seasons, at least), and Elizabeth Yu will act as the power-crazed firebender Azula.

The trailer for the series will differ from the M. Night Shyamalan movie released in 2010, with the main difference being the coverage of the events. The 2010 movie showed select scenes in the first season of the animated series. The highlights of the film were Episodes 19 and 20, The Siege of the North.

This time, however, fans of the much-beloved children’s show will see all important characters and events from Episode 1 until 20 of Book 1:Water.

New Instagram Feature to Urge Teens on Healthy App Usage

January 21, 2024

Instagram’s daily active users reach a whopping 2 billion people a month and it’s no surprise that Meta is rolling out an update to encourage people to use less of the app. While it may seem counterintuitive for the company to reduce app usage, this is part of their effort to make the popular social media platform less detrimental to its users.

In the new update, the Quiet Mode feature will give “nightime nudges” on Instagram Reels or on Direct messages when the app detects that it’s been active for ten minutes late at night. On their most recent blogpost under “Giving Teens and Parents More Ways to Manage Their Time on Our Apps” dated June 27, 2023, the post says:

Update on January 18, 2024 at 3:00AM PT:

Sleep is important, particularly for young people, so we’re launching new nighttime nudges that will show up when teens have spent more than 10 minutes on Instagram in places like Reels or Direct Messages late at night. They’ll remind teens that it’s late, and encourage them to close the app.

Most phones have built-in health and wellness features to reduce screen time and app usage. But this does not guarantee teens are putting their phones down. In a literature review done by Neza Stiglic and Russell M Viner, they found out that higher screen times are associated with obesity and depressive symptoms.

Not just for kids

The company also has made Quiet Mode available to adults. Meta’s approach to focusing on providing better experiences for its younger users also extends to adults. The feature turns on automatically for app users below an age threshold. For adults engaged in activities like driving or working, Quiet Mode shuts off all notifications. It also sends an automated reply in the Direct Messages.

If a person is in Quiet Mode, other users will be able to see it. The feature changes the activity status to let other users know that the person isn’t actively on Instagram. The feature may affect content creators’ ability to engage with their followers. However, users can turn off Quite Mode anytime in the app.

Instagram also packaged another feature with the recent update. Users can filter out certain topics or emojis to ensure a more streamlined app content experience.

In addition to the rollout, Instagram also updated Parental Controls, allowing parents to monitor the app usage of children. This update lets parents access account settings, including privacy settings. Parents will then be notified of any changes or updates that have been made by the user.

Watch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked January 2024 Event with this Official Replay from Samsung

January 20, 2024
Watch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked January 2024 Event with this Official Replay from Samsung

Welcome to the era of mobile AI. Come see how Galaxy AI can empower you. Live on January 17, 2024.

00:00 Galaxy Unpacked
02:48 Opening Keynote: TM ROH
08:38 New way to get things done
21:50 Circle to Search with Google
35:08 New way to create
37:34 The Artful Awakening: The Wonder of Camera Innovation
49:29 New way to play
54:09 Design & Durability
59:50 Sustainability
64:20 New way to manage health
71:31 Closing

Galaxy Unpacked 2024 in a Nutshell

January 20, 2024

The biggest highlight of the event is Galaxy AI. Multitasking has never been easier thanks to Samsung’s collaboration and use of Google’s Gemini on the device.

Feature #1: Live Translation

Several keynote speakers introduced separate features for the phone. The first feature is a live translation option, allowing users of the Galaxy S24 series to instantly understand what their contacts are saying.

The Live Translate feature has long been available with Google Assistant, but it turns out that the Galaxy S24 series will be the first set of devices to take advantage of the feature without phone users having to switch between apps.

These are the supported languages for now:

  • Chinese
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Hindi
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Polish
  • Portuguese
  • Thai
  • Spanish
  • Vietnamese

Feature #2: Photomoji

There are better ways to encapsulate a response to a friend’s weekend getaway suggestion. Emojis, for example. The Photomoji feature on Samsung Galaxy S24 allows creation of stickers and emojis straight from their photos without the need for third-party apps.

Feature #3: Chat Assist

If pictures aren’t your thing, the Galaxy S24 also makes it possible to rewrite your texts to a more appropriate tone. Say you want to communicate with a Gen Z male teen, the Galaxy S24 lets you choose from several text responses.

Feature #4: Transcript Assist

Recording meetings is a hassle since you have to identify different speakers. This hurdle is minimized by Transcript Assist’s ability to provide you with a transcript, all the while detecting who’s speaking at each turn.

Feature #5: Notes Assist

A stylus is pretty to use with any Galaxy device, but it doesn’t exactly make your handwriting any better. That’s why Notes Assist is there to make your handwriting cleaner. Notes Assist also formats the content in whatever way you like. Formatting will become a thing of the past as AI does it for you.

Feature #6: Circle to Search

There’s also a new way to search on the Galaxy S24 series. Circle to Search is Google’s first gesture operated search method, all without having to manually input it onto a search bar. You can simply draw on an existing image, text, or video, and results will be delivered on the same screen of the currently used app.

However, all this sounds intrusive. That’s why Samsung allows users to choose what information is being processed by AI online. 

Feature #7: Camera and Image Post-Processing

In their partnership with Instagram, Samsung Galaxy’s S24 series will be the first device to have HDR enabled by default. With regards to content creation and social media posts, it’s now easier to edit photos with the help of Generative AI. All edited pictures will have a watermark, though.

The camera is packed with more power, and a video demo by Mr. Beast shows the camera’s stunning clarity on a 10x optical zoom. Other features were also shown during the event.

Feature #8: Share with anyone with Quick Share.

If you’re still using Bluetooth to share files, you’re missing out on Samsung’s Quick Share function. The update is it’s compatibility with a multitude of devices so you only have to press one button to share to other phones. Or PC’s. or TV’s.

Feature #9: Pro-visual Engine.

Gaming-wise, the Galaxy S24 series’ NPU can handle the heaviest. The addition of Ray Tracing make the experience more immersive, as told by guest and streamer Pokimane.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series will be available for pre-order starting January 17 until the end of the month. Check out the price list below.

  • Galaxy S23 FE – $599 ($699 in the US)
  • Galaxy S23 – $699
  • Galaxy S24 – $799
  • Galaxy S24+ – $999
  • Galaxy S24 Ultra -$1299

Source: Samsung Newsroom

Tina Fey’s Mean Girls Revenge Party Almost Didn’t Make It to Netflix

January 18, 2024

Tina Fey is back with a new spin on the popular teen comedy movie. This time, Cady Heron, the role formerly held previously by Lindsay Lohan, will be taking on “new” friends and enemies.

In this remake of a musical remake of the film, Angourie Rice (Every Day, Honor Society) will take on Lindsay’s mantle as she goes through the hellscape of high school, aptly represented by a trio of ladies called “The Plastics”.

Fey’s new take on the film is a combination of the Tony nominated Broadway musical and the first film. The comedian-actress who also worked as SNL’s senior writer aims to capture the popularity of the first movie. In a separate interview, she talks about how she approached Paramount and their initial disbelief to her pitch.

Fey further elaborates that the movie isn’t purely comical, and that there will be moments the audience can connect to the characters.

Tina Fey also makes an appearance in the movie. Mean Girls Revenge Party is streaming on Netflix.

Watch Tina Fey’s interview from TODAY below:

Complete list of the 75th Emmy Awards Winners

January 17, 2024

The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards just concluded, with Succession and The Bear dominating the Emmys, each snagging six major wins. The Bear topped the charts with 10 awards overall, including Creative Arts Emmys. While Beef reigned in the Limited Series category with five awards, several other shows shined: Last Week Tonight, Abbott Elementary, Black Bird, Dahmer, The Daily Show, Elton John’s Farewell, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and The White Lotus.

Here are the complete list of winners in this years Emmy;

  1. BEST DRAMA SERIES – “Succession”
  2. BEST COMEDY SERIES – “The Bear”
  3. BEST LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – “Beef”
  4. BEST COMEDY ACTOR – Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

  5. BEST COMEDY ACTRESS – Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”
  6. BEST DRAMA ACTOR – Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
  7. BEST DRAMA ACTRESS – Sarah Snook, “Succession”
  8. BEST ACTOR, BEST LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Steven Yeun, “Beef”
  9. BEST ACTRESS, BEST LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Ali Wong, “Beef”
  10. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA – Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”
  11. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA – Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”
  12. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY – Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”
  13. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY – Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
  14. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Paul Walter Hauser, “Black Bird”
  15. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Niecy Nash-Betts, “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”
  16. BEST DIRECTING, DRAMA – Mark Mylod, “Succession”
  17. BEST DIRECTING, COMEDY – Christopher Storer, “The Bear”

  18. BEST DIRECTING, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Lee Sung Jin, “Beef”
  19. BEST WRITING, DRAMA SERIES – Jesse Armstrong, “Succession”
  20. BEST WRITING, COMEDY – Christopher Storer, “The Bear”
  21. BEST WRITING, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE – Lee Sung Jin, “Beef”
  22. BEST WRITING, VARIETY SERIES – “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
  23. BEST TALK SERIES – “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
  24. BEST SCRIPTED VARIETY SERIES – “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
  25. BEST VARIETY SPECIAL (LIVE) – “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium”
  26. BEST REALITY COMPETITION – “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

Did any of your favorite program won the Emmy? Tell us what you think about the winners and the awards show.

Watch the Official Trailer Spaceman featuring Adam Sandler

January 17, 2024
Watch the Official Trailer Spaceman featuring Adam Sandler

Six months into a solitary research mission to the edge of the solar system, an astronaut, Jakub (Adam Sandler), realizes that the marriage he left behind might not be waiting for him when he returns to Earth. Desperate to fix things with his wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), he is helped by a mysterious creature from the beginning of time he finds hiding in the bowels of his ship. Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano) works with Jakub to make sense of what went wrong before it is too late. Directed by Johan Renck and based on the novel Spaceman of Bohemia, the film also stars Kunal Nayyar, Lena Olin, and Isabella Rossellini.

Spaceman is coming to Netflix on March 1.

Lego Polaroid now on Sale for PHP 5,999.00

January 16, 2024

After leaking and being announced last year, the Lego Polaroid is now available for PHP 5,999.00.

The Lego Polaroid is made up of 516 pieces and includes many of the design features that made the original OneStep Camera so popular among fans, captured in a unique display model with functional features. Also included alongside the camera is a buildable Polaroid Time-Zero Land Film pack and three LEGO Polaroid illustrated ‘photos’.

If you’re a photographer, whether a professional or hobbyist, the Lego Polaroid is a addition to your collection. It is currently available in all Bankee Bricks retail stores in the Philippines and online.

Watch the Chicago Bulls’ Inaugural Ring of Honor Ceremony 2024

January 13, 2024
Watch the Chicago Bulls’ Inaugural Ring of Honor Ceremony 2024

For those who missed the ceremony, here the inaugural class to Chicago Bulls’ Ring of Honor on Friday, January 12th. According to NBA, “The Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor will recognize and celebrate past players, coaches and front office members who made outstanding contributions and helped define the organization throughout its history.”

The inaugural class of Ring of Honor are the following;
Artis Gilmore, Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, Johnny “Red” Kerr, Dick Klein, Jerry Krause, Toni Kukoc, Bob Love, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker, Tex Winter, and the 1995-96 team, which went 72-10 and won the 1996 NBA Championship.

They’re the players, coaches and staff from the 1995-96 team:
Players: Randy Brown, Jud Buechler Jason Caffey, James Edwards, Jack Haley, Ron Harper, Michael Jordan, Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Dickey Simpkins, and Bill Wennington

Coaches: Jim Cleamons, Phil Jackson, John Paxson, Jimmy Rodgers, and Tex Winter

Staff: Ivica Dukan, Clarence Gaines, Jr., Erik Helland, Jerry Krause, John Ligmanowski, Chip Schaefer, Jim Stack, and Al Vermeil

Here’s the Chicago Bulls’ Inaugural Ring of Honor Ceremony 2024;

Warriors win over Bulls behind the Splash Brothers

January 13, 2024

The Golden State Warriors got a much needed win to stop their two game losing streak. The Warriors were carried by the Splash brothers, scoring 57 of their 140 points. Both started slow; Steph Curry was scoreless in the 1st qtr and just 6 points in the entirety of the first half, while Klay Thompson scored just 5 points, he 2 of 8 from the field in the 1st half.

But in the 3rd qtr, Thompson made all of his 5 shot from beyond the arc, helping the Warriors build a 16 point lead early the 2nd held, he ended the game with 30 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Steph Curry on the other hand took over in the 4th, scoring 13 points, 3 from the three-point line and made 9 assists with just one turn over. He finished the game with 27 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists.

Together with the Splash Bros; Saric, Wiggins, Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis played a big part in the game. Saric started the game and scored 12 points, 7 rebs, 6 assists and 2 steals; Wiggins added 17 points, 5 rebs and 8 assists; Kuminga and Jackson-Davis, added 24 points and 13 points, respectively. It was a total team effort for the Warriors.

The Chicago Bulls was lead by Demar DeRozan who scored a team high of 39 points, 7 rebs and 5 assists, while Coby White and Zach Lavine added 25 points a piece.

During the halftime break, Chicago Bulls recognized 13 franchise luminaries as well as the 1995-96 championship team during the inaugural Bulls Ring of Honor class. The Bulls said that will add to the Ring of Honor every two years, with the next class being revealed in 2026.

  • Golden State Warriors will continue their four-game road trip in Milwaukee on Saturday night.
  • Chicago Bulls will face the San Antonio Spurs at on Saturday night.

Netflix adding two One Piece story arcs this January 2024

January 11, 2024

A great news for One Piece fans to start the year, Netflix just announced that they will add two One Piece arc in the streaming platform this January 2024. First is the addition of “One Piece: Marineford” arc then by 13th of January, the “One Piece: Egghead” Arc be available, at least in the Philippines.

One Piece: Marineford arc is one of the two story arc of the 14th season of One Piece, which mainly adapts the 56th to 59th volumes of the material from the One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda. The second arc is called the ”Post-War”, from the 59th to 61st volumes of the manga. 14th season of One Piece have 60 episodes.

The “One Piece: Egghead” Arc on the other hand is the 21st and latest season of the One Piece anime television series, it adapts material from the “Egghead” arc, from the rest of the 105th volume onwards of the manga by Eiichiro Oda. The “One Piece: Egghead” Arc is also known as the Future Island Arc.

Ahsoka Season 2 in Development

January 11, 2024

It’s confirmed, there will be Ahsoka Season 2. This was mentioned in their announcement of “The Mandalorian & Grogu” film.

Considering where Ahsoka season 1 concluded, we can assume that the cast of the 1st season will return to reprise their role; Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano), Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Sabine Wren), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Hera Syndulla), Ivanna Sakhno (Shin Hati), Eman Esfandi (Ezra Bridger), Genevieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma) and Lars Mikkelsen as Grand Admiral Thrawn. We can also expect some cameo by Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader.

The 1st season of Ahsoka is available on Disney+.

The Mandalorian & Grogu Film Announced

January 11, 2024

Here’s something for fans of the Mandalorian & Grogu, since the duo will be shifting from being a series in our TV and mobile devices to the movie theaters. The Mandalorian & Grogu Film will be directed by Jon Favreau, and produced by Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, and Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian & Grogu will go into production in 2024.

via Starwars.com;

“I have loved telling stories set in the rich world that George Lucas created,” said Favreau. “The prospect of bringing the Mandalorian and his apprentice Grogu to the big screen is extremely exciting.”

“Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered into Star Wars two new and beloved characters, and this new story is a perfect fit for the big screen,” added Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm.

Aside from the planned “The Mandalorian & Grogu” film, Lucas films previously announced the development of new film that will follow Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order following the events of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”

All three seasons of “The Mandalorian” can be streamed on Disney Plus.

Source: Starwars.com

Apple Vision Pro to launch this February 2024

January 9, 2024

After 7 months of waiting, Apple has finally launch the Apple Vision Pro, at least in the US, which will be available on Friday, February 2nd, pre-orders for the device will begin Friday, January 19th. The Apple Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 and is Apple’s first new major product category since the Apple Watch in 2015.

The Apple Vision Pro is a compact pair of glasses that lets you navigate, interact, and enjoy content in a spatial way. It features a custom micro-OLED display, a 3D camera, Spatial Audio, and a dual-chip (M2 and new R1 chip) system with advanced technology and design. The device is designed to blend digital content with the physical world, using visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system. It offers an infinite canvas that transforms how you use the apps you love, allowing you to arrange apps anywhere and scale them to the perfect size, making the workspace of your dreams a reality. You can browse the web in Safari, create a to-do list in Notes, chat in Messages, and seamlessly move between them with a glance. The device also has augmented reality capabilities, but can also switch to virtual reality seamlessly by using the dial on the headset.

The Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s first 3D camera. You can capture magical spatial photos and spatial videos in 3D, then relive those cherished moments like never before with immersive Spatial Audio. Your existing library of photos and videos looks incredible at remarkable scale. And panoramas wrap around you — making you feel like you’re standing right where you took them. You can also take spatial videos with iPhone 15 Pro, then view them on Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Vision Pro will be available starting at $3,499 (U.S.) with 256GB of storage. Pre-orders for Apple Vision Pro will begin on Friday, January 19, at 5 a.m. PST, with availability beginning Friday, February 2.
Apple Vision Pro will be available at all U.S. Apple Store locations and the U.S. Apple Store online.

ZEISS Optical Inserts — Readers will be available for $99 (U.S.), and ZEISS Optical Inserts — Prescription will be available for $149 (U.S.).

Apple Vision Pro comes with a Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band — giving users two options for the fit that works best for them. Apple Vision Pro also includes a Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, an Apple Vision Pro Cover for the front of the device, Polishing Cloth, Battery, USB-C Charge Cable, and USB-C Power Adapter.