It’s a double cinematic treat this month when Star Cinema releases two of last year’s most talked about Cinema One Originals Festival entries – Baka Bukas and 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten.
Baka Bukas, a finalist in the narrative category in last year’s Cinema One Originals Festival and recipient of its coveted Audience Choice Award, marks the feature film directorial debut of Samantha Lee who also received critical acclaim both locally and internationally because of her riveting documentary titled Agos (Waves).
Baka Bukas stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Louise Delos Reyes, two of today’s most promising young actresses. The film offers a fresh take on significant issues that have always been part of the lives of today’s youth – from complicated relationships to career struggles, as well as their whirlwind journey of acceptance from their families, friends, and most especially, themselves.
Jasmine, who also starred in Transit, the official Philippine entry to the 86th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category, bagged the Best Actress award for her role as Alex in. She captivated audiences in her role as a twenty-something lesbian working multiple jobs secretly in love with her best friend.
Louise, on the other hand, captures the complexities of a typical millennial trying her hardest to find, and not lose, her true self in the process of chasing her dreams as Jess.
2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten by Petersen Vargas took home the Best Picture award in last year’s Cinema One Originals Festival. It is the fruition of Vargas’ translation of writer Jason Paul Laxamana’s powerful words into compelling cinematic imagery. As a young director, he currently has four nominations and a win under his belt in different film festivals and award-giving bodies.
Featured in the ensemble cast of 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten are Jameson Blake, Ethan Salvador, and Khalil Ramos. Salvador is a Top 40 finalist in Pinoy Boyband Superstar and a Star Magic artist. Salvador was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award for his role as Magnus Snyder.
Ramos, a Star Magic artist and a Star Music recording artist, received a Best Actor nomination for his role as Felix. A second placer in Pilipinas Got Talent, Khalil’s Star Cinema film credits include A Second Chance and The Achy Breaky Hearts.
Blake, a former Pinoy Big Brother housemate and currently a member of It’s Showtime’s Hashtags boy group, also received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Maxim Snyder in the film.
Both films are hip, fresh, risky, adventurous, and hopeful. Baka Bukas and 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten pose the question to every millennial: how much do you love your best friend? The characters in both movies dare to love their best friends even if it is complicated, even if it means waiting, and ultimately even if it means risking their friendships.
Witness the limitless bounds that true friendship could surpass in these two films that every millennial and movie aficionado should not miss.
Bukas Bukas is now showing in cinemas nationwide , while 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten opens nationwide on March 15.
★★★★★
Kapamilya singer Jona is set to impress listeners with her amazing vocals as she finally releases her first and much-awaited album under Star Music.
After being welcomed into her new home, the power belter has gained new fans and achieved several milestones in her career – interpreting a song from Himig Handog P-pop Love Songs 2016 (“Maghihintay Ako”), recording a song for the 25th anniversary compilation album of MMK (“Because You Loved Me”), staging her first-ever major solo concert as a Kapamilya (Queen of the Night: Jona), and becoming one of the Birit Queens in ASAP.
“My first year with ABS-CBN has been colorful. I’ve done many firsts in my career. And now, finally, I am releasing this album that I’m very proud of. I consider it a dream come true,” said Jona.
Her self-titled album features original love songs that will surely tug at listeners’ heartstrings, such as the album’s carrier single “Ano Nga Ba Tayo?,” “Matibay,” a duet with Asia’s Song Bird Regine Velasquez, “Till the End of Time,” “Ano Bakit Paano,” and “Last Message.”
The album also includes her renditions of TV and movie theme songs such as “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” from Barcelona: A Love Untold, “You” from My Ex and Whys, and “Maghihintay Ako,” the song she interpreted for Himig Handog 2016.
Completing the album’s track list are three bonus tracks “Ano Bakit Paano” (cinematic version), “Till the End of Time” featuring BoyBandPH, and “I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” a duet with Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano.
Jona is produced by Patty Mayoralgo and Jonathan Manalo. It will be available at all leading music stores starting tomorrow and can be downloaded worldwide beginning Saturday.
★★★★★
Glaiza de Castro and Kristoffer Martin signed exclusive contracts anew with the Kapuso Network on Feb. 21.
De Castro said she is very happy with the way GMA is handling her career all these years. “More than 10 years na ako sa GMA and masasabi ko na hindi ako nagkamali talaga ng decision to stick with the Network kasi dito ako nag-grow as an actor and as a person. Sobrang grateful ako kasi hindi lahat nabibigyan ng chance to do roles as diverse tulad ng ginagawa ko. Natutuwa ako na hindi ako nakakulong lang sa isang role. GMA has been giving me the chance to play with my characters.”
She is currently starring in the country’s No. 1 primetime series Encantadia as Sang’gre Pirena. She is very grateful to GMA for entrusting her one of the important roles in the hit telefantasya. “Nakakatuwang isipin na yung Encantadia is running for almost a year now. At itong show na ito ay nagbigay talaga ng maraming breaks sa akin. Ako, as Pirena, ang haba ng tinakbo ng character ko. Ngayon mabait na siya pero after that, napakarami pang aabangan na kahit ako ay nag-aabang din what’s next for me,” the singer-actress said.
Meanwhile, Martin said he is very pleased to renew his contract with the Kapuso Network, “I’ve been with GMA for six years now and I am so happy kasi sila yung nagbigay sa akin ng opportunity na ipakita yung talent ko. Sila yung kasama ko since nag-start ako hanggang sa ngayon. Actually work-wise, wala akong masabi sa kanila kasi lahat ng ibigay nila sa akin na projects, talagang happy ako.”
Martin was last seen in the successful Afternoon Prime series Hahamakin Ang Lahat with his perennial love team Joyce Ching. Aside from acting, the home-grown Kapuso actor also dabbles in singing as well. He performed the theme song “Sa Piling Mo” in the top-rating drama series Alyas Robin Hood.
“Tuwang-tuwa ako talaga. Hindi ko na-imagine na kakagatin ng viewers at marami yung magkakagusto sa kanta. Every time na may mall show ako, eto yung palaging nire-request na kantahin ko.”
★★★★★
Cristine Reyes, Arci Muñoz, Sue Ramirez, and Pokwang will prove they can do anything to entertain viewers in the newest talent-variety program I Can Do That, soon on ABS-CBN.
The four Kapamilya stars are the first celebrity challengers that will complete and perform unique talents they have never done before with only one week of training. In the end, only one will be hailed as the Greatest Entertainer.
Who are the male celebrities joining the girls? What challenges will force them out of their comfort zones?
I Can Do That, developed by Israel’s Armoza Formats, has local versions in 20 countries, including the United States, which named singer Nicole Scherzinger its first Greatest Entertainer.