Maniolas

Julianne Moore Therese: Despite her winning performance in Still Alice, this is not a winning dress. But Karl Lagerfeld designed it especially for her, and she carries it off with her customary grace. Celine: This Chanel dress cuts her body with awkward lines. AP MANILA, Philippines – In seeming tribute to the most-tittered-about movie of the year, there was a lot of gray on the red carpet, sported by Oscar host Neil Patrick Harris and the likes of Laura Dern and Chrissy Teigen, but bolder colors ruled the Oscar runway, most notably red, white, black, and a surprise entry: green. (Or maybe not so surprising, considering that America’s been in the grip of a bitter winter and they’re probably longing to see signs of spring.) Watching the red carpet was more fun than watching the ceremony itself, which was a politically correct snooze-fest, the highlights of which were John Travolta’s “my bad, let’s put it behind us” moment with Idina Menzel, and NPH coming out (pun not intended) onstage clad in nothing but his tighty whities, putting a whole new spin on doing a “Birdman.” But, even if some of the dresses were not our tempo, “everything is awesome” in Hollywood, Jack Black’s gloom-and-doom song number notwithstanding.

PREMIER lifestyle destination Resorts World Manila (RWM), together with Full House Theater Company and Viva Communications, Inc. (Viva), will bring to life a story that has transcended Philippine entertainment. The blockbuster collaboration is set to produce a theater adaptation of the classic drama Bituing Walang Ningning. The story tells of a singer’s rise up the competitive ranks of show business following her plight through love and the hardships she endured on her way up its steep ladder to success. A story originally told over a serialized comic strip by fictionist Nerissa Cabral, Bituing Walang Ningning was made into a blockbuster movie in 1985 starring Sharon Cuneta, Cherie Gil and Christopher De Leon and was then re-made into a hit television series back in 2006 with Sarah Geronimo, Angelika dela Cruz, and Ryan Agoncillo playing the lead roles. Similar to how the plot of the story unfolded, the doors are open for local aspirants to play the lead role of Dorina Pineda popularized in the movie by Sharon Cuneta and by Sarah Geronimo in the drama’s TV run. Staying true to its advocacy to “Champion the Filipino” by supporting local artists and promoting performing arts, RWM together with Full House Theater Company and Viva, will hold auditions for the lead of “Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical.” The role calls for females with the following criteria: 1) Between 16 to 20 years of age; 2) Exceptional talent for singing and acting and can speak Filipino fluently; and must have 3) Pleasing personality Read More …

Bianca Gonzalez on her married life: “Wonderful, wonderful talaga siya…”

Showbiz is inarguably fascinating. You may be dying of hunger, fatigue and sleeplessness but once the cameras start to roll, you smile or cry and as an actor you offer no excuses. In the entertainment business, longevity is the name of the game. Only the fittest lasts. You have to make the right moves and decisions equipped with talent and stamina because the way to stardom is filled with lethal landmines that can mercilessly kill dreams or delusions. You are famous today but no one knows your name tomorrow. Fame is so ephemeral, it can be toxic and certainly not for the faint of heart. It was not a walk in the park for me when I started in showbiz. I was besieged by an avalanche of challenges — both external and internal. This is the reason why I continue to work hard because I know that I’m just as good as my last interview. But I am deeply grateful when I receive inspiring comments from friends and viewers. And I listen to meaningful criticisms with humility and courage. I recently received text and e-mail messages for The Bottomline episodes featuring Bo Sanchez and the “Filipino Cinderella of Japan” Abby Watabe which I am printing here en toto: Bo Sanchez episode (Dec. 20, 2014) From Fe Arellano: “Hello Boy. Watching Bottomline last night with Bo Sanchez was indeed an inspiring experience. Your style of interview and strategically worded questions leave every viewer a sense of admiration and satisfaction. I will always Read More …

Children play on top of one of the floats during a parade coinciding with the National Horticultural Congress in Quezon City on Sunday. The parade featured floats bedecked with ornamental plants and flowers from participating establishments. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines is restarting efforts to do an accounting of its natural resources through a World Bank-backed program that would help to unlock the potential of the sector for economic growth and address environmental issues – particularly in the mining industry. The Philippines is one of the eight countries that are implementing WAVES, or Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services, World Bank Phil-WAVES task team leader Stefanie Sieber said in a briefing in Pasig City. Other countries implementing the program are Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Madagascar and Rwanda. WAVES is a global partnership that aims to promote sustainable development by ensuring that natural resources are mainstreamed in development planning and national economic accounts. Citing a 2006 World Bank Application that looked at produced capital, intangible capital and natural capital, Sieber said natural capital is the most important for low income countries but is not measured. “[WAVES will] help countries adopt and implement accounts that are relevant for policies,” she said. “You can think of many natural capital accounts we could produce, but the main purpose is really to do something that policy issues are suppressing in individual countries.” Nothing new But compiling a natural capital account (NCA) is nothing new to the Philippines since it Read More …