Arts & Leisure

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Posted on December 28, 2015 04:55:00 PM

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

The recycled Haunted Mansion

Movie Review
Haunted Mansion
Directed by Jun Lana
Produced by Regal Films

It’s not déjà vu. Haunted Mansion is simply just recycled.

When Regal Films announced that its staple entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival, the perennial horror anthology Shake, Rattle, and Roll (the 15^th of which was shown in 2014) would give way for Haunted Mansion, moviegoers were hopeful that the horror flick directed by Jun Lana would bring something new to the table. But it didn’t. The only fresh things on the screen were the new faces of lead actors Janella Salvador, Marlo Mortel, and Jerome Ponce.

Haunted Mansion is simply the story of a group of high school friends and their adventure at a retreat house which turns out to be haunted. End of story.

If the main objective of any horror movie is to scare, then Haunted Mansion fails -- although it tries. When BusinessWorld watched, there were initially a few screams of shock from the audience, composed mostly of groups of friends (barkadas). But after a while, the audience members could guess what would happened next.

Haunted Mansion epitomizes the frustrations of Filipino writer Bob Ong in his satirical book, Lumayo ka nga sa Akin (Stay Away from Me), which points out how dumb some of traditional Pinoy movie scenes are. It questions, among others, why protagonists never die despite their bullet wounds and being slashed by glass. Not to spoil the fun, but one character in Haunted Mansion seems to have nine lives.

Suffice it to say, the outdated character stereotypes do not help elevate the film’s storyline.

Its lead actress Ms. Salvador (star of TV series Be Careful With My Heart) plays Ella, a goody-two-shoes who has a “third eye” (the ability to see things from the next plane). As in any traditional Pinoy teleserye (soap opera) the protagonist is poor yet beautiful and kind. She has two leading men vying for her attention, Adrian and Jacob, played respectively by newcomers Mr. Mortel and Mr. Ponce. The film builds up the cheesy love triangle before the horror scenes start in the latter part of the two-hour movie.

It cannot be all hearts and horror for there are contravidas (villains) in the movie. Newcomers Ingrid dela Paz, Devon Seron, and Eliza Pineda played the three mean girls (who happen to be cheerleaders). Echoing Mr. Ong’s frustrations, why do bitchy girls in movies always come in groups of three, are pretty, and are cheerleaders?

And because Haunted Mansion follows the traditions of Pinoy horror movies, there are the ever-present characters of the katiwala and mayordoma (the male and female housekeepers), played by Archie Adamos and Vangie Labalan.

But it seems that the Filipino audience is not yet tired of Pinoy horror. Or perhaps, they don’t just have enough good options. According to the most recent reports, Haunted Mansion is among the top four highest grossing films of the festival, together with My Pabebe Love, Beauty and the Bestie, and All You Need is Pag-ibig, in no particular order.

Not to spoil anything, but the movie tries to up the game with a twist in the end, but it’s not enough.

MTRCB Rating: PG

Nilalang: Good trailer trailed off

Arts & Leisure

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Posted on December 28, 2015 04:51:00 PM

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman, Reporter

Good trailer trailed off

Movie Review
Nilalang
Directed by Pedring Lopez

Produced by Haunted Tower Pictures, Inc., welovepost, Parallax Studios, VIVA Films

If a movie entry in this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has the guts to showcase its full trailer long before any other entry does, it must be that ready for a good fight at the box office. But Nilalang, a suspense-thriller starring Cesar Montano, Meg Imperial, and Japanese adult film star Maria Ozawa, is, unfortunately, nothing like its captivating and promising preview.

The good trailer which highlighted the movie’s superior special effects and musical scoring, however, paid off. Nilalang collected five awards at the annual MMFF Gabi ng Parangal, including best cinematography, best editing, best musical score, best sound engineer, and best visual effects. The technical advantage of the independent movie directed by Pedring Lopez was undeniable. But the actual film is a far cry from its good trailer. The verdict: It is bad, baduy (corny), and boring. And we thought it was supposed to be a thriller?

The two-hour movie follows police officers Tony (Montano) and Jane (Imperial) and their quest for a “nilalang” (entity) responsible for a series of murders in Japan and the Philippines.

The plot seemed promising. It could be a local version of the Japanese film and TV series Detective Conan.

Nilalang was the talk of the town when news had it that Maria Ozawa would star in a Filipino movie. For the uninitiated, Ms. Ozawa used to be a prominent porn star in Japan. As expected, Nilalang’s captive audience were men, who, we were very sure, were all just interested in Mr. Montano’s action skills and scenes. When my mother and I watched the movie, the only others in the theater were men.

Moviegoers -- at least the 10 other people I watched with at Robinson’s Manila -- were lured by its trailer into thinking that it might rival epic Japanese movies, including Rurouni Kenshin 3, which was showed earlier this year, which highlight killer ninja moves and realistic prosthetics and makeup. But regrettably, Nilalang is no Rurouni Kenshin orDetective Conan, neither in a concrete and solid story line nor in action scenes.

There were high hopes for Nilalang thanks to its trailers and cast, but unfortunately, it all had to die down come show time. Neither Mr. Montano’s acting skills (he was highly acclaimed in Jose Rizal and Muro Ami) nor Ms. Ozawa’s appeal could save the movie. The musical scoring is its saving grace, but it isn’t enough.

The movie starts with a long and confusing history of Zahagur, a bad spirit residing in the pages of a 17^th century book, whose main mission was to kill beautiful women in order to remain the fairest of them all. Released when the book’s pages were torn, Zahagur goes on a killing spree. Zahagur’s gender is vague, because the voice used was that of a man, yet it kills women to remain the most beautiful, so we could only guess she’s a she. The whole movie revolves around chasing Zahagur before s/he can kill more pretty women. Mr. Montano and Ms. Imperial’s characters end up seeking the help of Japanese club owner Ms. Ozawa, who apparently, is Zahagur’s main target.

Is Nilalang a messed up version of Snow White?

Then, there are the loopholes. Some are forgivable, otheres are not: Why did the bad spirit fly from Japan to the Philippines? Why could Mr. Montano’s character speak fluent Japanese?

While lacking in the heart-stopping scenes which any suspense-thriller genre should have, Nilalang tries to make up for it with steaming makeout sessions -- which are all cringe-worthy by the way.

One of the ingredients of a formulaic action-suspense movie includes heavy and unnecessary kissing scenes between a sexy female character and the male protagonist because, yes, the majority of these movies are men. But, seriously, guys, who has time for a lip lock in the middle of a do-or-die fight? Apparently, Mr. Montano and Ms. Ozawa. According to reports, Mr. Montano’s smooch session lasted for four minutes straight.

But then again, the moviegoers did not shell out P200++ to watch tattoo-covered Maria Ozawa make out with Cesar Montano, nor to see how good its musical scoring was (but we appreciate it). They were there for the story. Seriously, was Nilalang just an adult version of Snow White? Whatever happened to the promise of its good trailer?

MTRCB Rating: R-16

FOCUS

Holidays without ham?

Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Bacon is bad.

And so is ham, beef jerky, and all other kinds of processed meat.

So said a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in late October.

While this isn’t really surprising — after all, it is accepted that any food eaten every day, without moderation, is unhealthy — should this stop us from devouring our favorite bacon, ham, tapa (dried or cured meat), ortocino (Philippine-style bacon)? Can we imagine our dining tables and holiday parties without ham and its succulent honey sauce? Or eventapsilog (tapa, sinangag, itlog — cured meat, fried rice, egg) without thetapa to greet us a good morning?

THE REPORT
Sausages, ham and other processed meats cause bowel cancer, the IARC warned in late October, adding that red meat “probably” does too.

In a review of 800 studies from around the world, it found “sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer,” and supports “recommendations to limit intake of meat,” particularly in processed forms — salted, cured, fermented or smoked. This includes hot dogs, sausages, corned beef, dried meat like beef jerky, canned meat or meat-based sauces.

According to the agency, for every 50 grams of meat eaten on a daily basis, the population-wide risk of developing colon cancer was 18% higher — enlarging the group of people likely to develop bowel cancer in their lifetime from six out of every 100 to seven out of every 100 who eat a three-rasher bacon sandwich every single day, explained statistician David Spiegelhalter of Cambridge University, who was not involved in the study.

The IARC agreed the cancer risk was statistically “small,” but “increases with the amount of meat consumed.”

“It is not yet fully understood” how cancer risk was increased, the agency added — speculating about the potential role of chemicals that form during meat processing or cooking.

According to the WHO, bowel cancer is the third most common type, with some 900,000 new cases every year, and 500,000 deaths.

By the IARC’s own account, meat has “known health benefits” — it is a good source of key nutrients like zinc, protein and vitamin B12, as well as iron, which humans absorb more easily from meat than from plants. And the agency says it does not know what a safe meat quota would be — or even if there is one.

NOTHING CAN STOP US!
“Walang makakapigil sa ’min!” (Nobody can stop us), was the consensus of those whom BusinessWorld asked if the report affected their consumption of bacon, ham, and other processed meats.

“As a person from the middle-class, sometimes we’re left with no choice [but to eat cured meats],” said Fay Virray, a high school teacher in Batangas. “If it’s cheaper, it’s better, as long as we don’t eat it every day and with moderation,” she said.

A kilogram of honey cured bacon costs around P340. Canned ham and corned beef cost at least P30. Ham, the usual star of the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve dinner), can start at around P130. (Retail prices based on those in a market in Trabaho, Manila).

Besides the relatively cheap price, Raffy Antes, a corporate communications assistant from CardBank Philippines, said he loves his bacon because it is easy to cook. Just a quick fry in oil and he has a filling breakfast to get him through the day. “It already comes with a seasoning, prito lang solve na, (Just fry it and you’re good to go),” he said. Although he’s aware of its bad effects, he said he doesn’t really have a choice.

“Just like [instant] noodles, people on the go love their bacon and ham because they are always busy and have no time to cook,” he said.

“And besides, bacon isn’t the only culprit. Don’t blame it on the bacon,” said Anna Dichoso, an employee at an Ortigas area call center. “Almost all the food we eat, whether processed or not, are cancer-causing at some point. You’re eventually gonna die.”

BusinessWorld asked San Miguel PureFoods Co. — whose products include ham, hotdogs, and a wide variety of processed meat — on its reaction on the WHO’s statement, but as of this writing, it hasn’t replied.

But in a published press release, the company said it saw higher earnings in the past nine months, and expected the momentum to be sustained in the coming holidays. According to the report, its 8% growth in revenue was thanks to “better selling prices and increased sales of processed meats, dairy, spreads, and biscuits.”

According to Robinsons Supermarket marketing manager Aja T. Totanes, growth in sales of bacon and ham are up 15% and 26% year-to-date respectively. But the supermarket’s bestseller is the hotdogs.

Asked if they have seen an effect in sales after the health statement, Ms. Totanes said, “None so far, as what we have seen in the positive sales growth trend of bacon.”

FILIPINO CULTURE
Christmastime is the season to be jolly — and fat. It’s part of the culinary culture of the Filipinos to eat plenty and merrily, especially evident during the holidays.

A healthy diet? It seems to take a backseat in December when people’s social lives are filled with reunions and parties. A partygoer is sometimes scorned as being corny or KJ (a killjoy) if he or she chooses the salad amid the sea of lechon (roast pig), ham, pasta, and unlimited cups of rice.

“The problem with Filipinos is they love food rich in carbohydrates. They want tasty and saucy food. But it’s all about retraining your palate. I tell my hypertensive patients to eat food with less salt, and they can do it — it’s just that they’re not used to it,” said Philippine Heart Association president Dr. Alex Junia at a recent forum about healthy eating during the holiday season.

But then again, that’s easier said than done. It takes formidable will power to resist food temptations (the lechon is calling you!), especially when our eating culture includes unlimited servings of rice, bottles of sodas, and a fetish for anything fried.

“It’s hard not to gain some extra pounds during the holidays,” said Monica Antonio, a health enthusiast and an online website editor. “But it doesn’t mean that you have to punish yourself and stay away from, say, bacon or ham. Just simply eat in moderation and always pair it with fruits or other sources of fiber.”

Ms. Antonio never fails to eat bacon every day, but she said she pairs it with wheat bread. Plus, she does regular exercise like cardio and sometimes, boxing. For Christmas, she said her dining table would highlight ham — and a handsome fruit platter.

“Bacon is bad, but it’s so good, right?” said celebrity chef Rosebud Benitez when asked if she could imagine a Filipino dining table without ham or bacon or other processed meats.

“We can’t imagine holidays without ham, but then again, I don’t recommend anything artificial. Choose lean meat and avoid processed meat. I suggest do it yourself. Marinate your own meat,” she said.

For the holidays, she recommends trying roasted vegetable lasagna for a main course instead of a ham. While ordinary lasagna recipes have 550-600 calories per serving, hers only has 220 calories.

But then again, we only live once, and having a little, just a quick bite, of bacon or ham wouldn’t hurt, right? — with a report from AFP

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Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

By Rosebud Benitez

Ingredients:

2 pcs of zucchini
Bell peppers
Mushrooms
Eggplants
Quick melt cheese
Cornstarch
Chicken cubes
2 tbsp canola oil
1 kilo of tomatoes
1 clove garlic
150 grams of onion
2 cups of spaghetti sauce
1 gram of fresh basil
Low fat milk

Procedures:

(The white sauce)
• Heat the low fat milk in a pan along with chicken cubes.
• Stir in the cornstarch and water mixture until it thickens.
• Then season to taste.

(The red sauce)
• Prepare the fresh tomatoes by putting them in boiling salt water until the skin peels off. Then cut them in medium slices.
• Saute onion and garlic in a pan.
• Add the tomatoes and spaghetti sauce.
• Bring to a boil then simmer
• Season to taste and finish with basil leaves.

(The noodles)
• Lay cooked lasagna in a pan then layer the red sauce then the white and top it with vegetables.
• Repeat the layers.
• Top the last layer with cheese then bake in a pre-heated oven in 375 degrees.

Serving size: 15 servings

Arts & Leisure

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Posted on December 16, 2015 05:04:00 PM

How Manila’s traffic ruined what would have been a treat for the taste buds

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TRAFFIC TESTS one’s temper, making one yearn for a vacation. But not only does the Metro Manila traffic push our limits, apparently, it affects how a dish tastes as well.

  

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DISCOVERY Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Coron will share a New Year’s Eve menu highlighted by USDA prime Angus beef rib eye served with bone marrow and ending with “Chocolate, Chocolate, and More Chocolate”. Citrus-cured Norwegian salmon served on a block of pink Himalayan salt is the appetizer.

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On Dec. 10 -- a rather fine Thursday morning -- a few media people were invited to taste test the New Year food offerings of Discovery Shores Boracay and Club Paradise Coron, Palawan, a collaboration between the kitchens of the two hotels. Alas, this writer was an hour late for lunch, thanks to the hellish traffic.

The waiter was quick to serve the appetizer, which had been sitting at the kitchen awaiting my appearance. It was the citrus-cured Norwegian salmon with piquillo pepper soffrito, citrus chive vinaigrette, and compressed melons, served on a block of pink Himalayan salt.

Pretty and dainty, the dish was way too salty, overwhelming the sweetness of the compressed melons and the citrus vinaigrette.

Angelito Bagwan, Discovery Shores Boracay senior sous chef, explained that the appetizer was supposed to be devoured as soon as it was made, or else the fresh fish would absorb the Himalayan salt it was sitting on -- which is exactly what happened that day as the fish waited for my late arrival. On the upside though, he said Himalayan salt has nutritional value because it contains 84 kinds of minerals which are primarily known to lower blood pressure.

Mr. Bagwan assured this writer that at the Boracay resort, guests would get the fresh servings of salmon.

“We thought of making the dish light and fresh to compliment the sunny weather [in Boracay and Palawan]. We’re only capturing the essence of the ocean and translating it on the plate,” said Bruce Kevin Earl Subia, executive chef Club Paradise Palawan, where the dish will also be available. 

He said the art of serving food on a salt block has been around for some time. The Japanese introduced it as an ingenious way of partly cooking fresh seafood like salmon, while carefully avoiding making a fish too salty.

The unfortunate appetizer was followed by a creamy yet light soup: lobster “cappucino” with chicken fat croutons, pimento aioli, and shellfish oil paired with a crunchy Chilean sea bass fritter. According to the chefs, the lobster cream soup is one of their best-sellers.

But the folks at the dining table did not finish their soup in anticipation of the sumptuous main course: USDA prime Angus beef rib eye. The gigantic beef chunks were drizzled with burgundy mustard reduction and swimming on a bed of sweet potato-goat cheese mousse, king oyster mushrooms, and haricot verts. If the beef is not enough, there’s a serving of a roasted bone marrow.

As filling as that was, there’s always room for dessert.

“Chocolate, Chocolate, and More Chocolate” ended the lunch in a sweet note. The aptly named dessert plate was featured innocent-looking white and traditional chocolate pralines, which oozed with cocoa juices and liquor mixes once they cracked open. Crushed salted pine nuts and pistachios perfectly balanced the saccharine flavors. The chocolates are best paired with a cup of tea or coffee.

While in the metro the New Year fireworks draw colors in the sky, in Palawan and Boracay, a different sort of celebration will welcome 2016: a heavenly dinner that’s divine, and, as the chefs promised, definitely not salty! -- Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Love wins at 2015 MMFF

FOCUS

Love wins at the MMFF

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Love is the name of the game at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). This time around, the fantasies — and horror perennial Shake, Rattle, N’ Roll — which have dominated recent iterations of the film festival are taking a backseat. Instead, at the forefront are romantic comedies: My Bebe Love, Walang Forever, and All You Need is Pag-ibig(love).

Starring in romantic comedies at the 2015 Metro Manila Film Fest are (clockwise from top) Ai Ai delas Alas and Vic Sotto and Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (My Bebe Love); Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales (Walang Forever); and Kim Chiu (All You Need is Pag-ibig).

And it seems that love isn’t found only in reel life, but in real life, too.

BEHIND THE SCREEN LOVE
Competing against each other — at least on screen — are directors and sweethearts Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas, with their respective features All You Need is Pag-ibig and Walang Forever. But unlike their previous movie The Breakup Playlist (directed by Mr. Villegas and written by Ms. Jadaone), where the relationship between its characters (played by Sarah Geronimo and Piolo Pascual) deteriorates midway because of their careers, the real-life partners see no “professional competition.” They support each other.

Mr. Villegas (@dan_villegas) and his girlfriend (@tonet_jadaone) have been posting about each other’s movies on their respective social media accounts. (BusinessWorld failed to secure an interview with them as of press time because both were busy shooting their respective festival movies — Ms. Jadaone was in Coron, Palawan, while Mr. Villegas was in Taiwan.)

CYNICAL ABOUT LOVE
After the success of last year’s hit movie English Only Please, which was directed by Mr. Villegas and written by Ms. Jadaone, the director ups the ante with another romantic flick: Walang Forever. It is top-billed by Jericho Rosales and 2014 MMFF best actress Jennylyn Mercado. (JM de Guzman who starred in the hit That Thing Called Tadhana [directed by Ms. Jadaone and produced by Mr. Villegas] was supposed to star with Ms. Mercado, but was later replaced.)

As of press time, the official trailer of Walang Forever has already garnered more than two million views on the film’s Facebook fan page.

Based on the trailer, the love story between Mia (Ms. Mercado), a romantic comedy writer, and Ethan (Mr. Rosales), a software developer, started in high school as the usual love-hate relationship, and develops into a long-distance love affair, with the film asking if there really is “forever” when it comes to love.

The movie also stars award-winning actress Lorna Tolentino, together with Jerald Napoles, Nico Antonio, Pepe Herrera, Kim Molina, and Cai Cortez.

COMPLICATED ON SCREEN AND IN LIFE
Real life can, apparently, be as complicated as a rom-com plot. Ms. Jadaone’s MMFF entry has its share of twisted romantic tales.

Former lovebirds Kris Aquino and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista were supposed to star in Ms. Jadaone’s Star Cinema film. (The original title was Mr. and Mrs. Split, later changed to Pamilyang Love, Love, Love, before finally settling with All You Need is Pag-ibig.) According to reports, Mr. Bautista had to back out from the film in order to prepare for the 2016 national elections (he’s running for his last term as mayor). Prior to that, Ms. Aquino had announced that she would not be part of the film. She changed her mind when the final casting announcement, which said Mr. Bautista was no longer involved, was made.

It’s out with the Mayor and in with hunk Derek Ramsay, who happens to be the lead in English Only Please. He won the Best Actor award at the 2014 MMFF for his work in the film.

All You Need is Pag-ibig, according to Star Cinema, “promises to bring Valentines this Christmas Day.”

The recently uploaded movie official trailer — which has 260,197 views on YouTube so far — starts with an embittered Aquino, who appears to come from a fresh breakup. It deals with tales of love, its many faces and phases: puppy love, sibling love, “pag-ibig na umaasa pero nganga” (hopeless love), budding love, and familial love.

Also in cast are Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, Nova Villa, Ronaldo Valdez, Pokwang, James “Bimby” Yap, and Julia and Talia Concio.

ALDUB NATION
From director-partners and former lovebirds, the 2015 MMFF also happens to highlight the budding on- (and perhaps, off-?) screen love team of “Aldub” (Alden Richards and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza).

(According to Wikipedia, AlDub “is a fictional supercouple that appears in the kalyeserye portion of the ‘Juan for All, All for Juan’ segment of the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!.”)

All the film fest movies, most especially My Bebe Love (thanks to Aldub’s million fans) are expected to make money. In the words of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority executive director Naomi Ilagan, “As usual, inaasahan natin na every year ay mas magaganda at magagaling ang mga lumalahok na pelikula, palaki nang palaki ang gross sales,” (As usual, we are expecting the movies to be better, and the gross sales to grow bigger).

The trailer of My Bebe Love currently has 168,483 views and counting on its official Facebook fan page. It stars two of the industry’s biggest box-office draws: Vic Sotto and Ai Ai delas Alas, along with the Aldub love team and with special participation of Eat Bulaga! cast members like Jose Manalo and Joey de Leon.

Asked what makes his film different from formulaic movies, My Bebe Love’s director Joey Reyes told BusinessWorld in an e-mail interview that “Although it is a romantic comedy [which is] most favored by audiences regardless of season, My Bebe Love offers a reinvention of Vic Sotto over and above his Enteng characterization seen and loved for so many years. [Sotto has played the fantasy film character Enteng Cabisote on television and screen for decades. — Ed.] 

“Moreover, Ai-Ai makes her bid to regain her stature as the true Comedy Queen of the country. And then, of course, there is Aldub, which is more than a love team that feeds fantasies, but rather a social phenomenon that tends to explain so much of how the Filipino feel and think in the here and now all over the world,” he said.

He added that his treatment is a far cry from the fantasy Mr. Sotto is known for, or Ms. delas Alas’ usual comedies. “It looks at love and relationship from two generations,” he said.

“Christmas is for the family — and who can turn away from the charms of romance? Rom-com has ceased to be mere staple fare of holiday season movie going. It has become a national addiction,” said Mr. Reyes.

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MMFF 2015 Movies

While majority of the entries for the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival are romantic comedies, the annual film festival will also offer horror, suspense, and action flicks. The eight entries will be shown nationwide from Dec. 25 until Jan. 7. During this period, no foreign films will be screened.

The festival films are:

Beauty and the Bestie
ABS-CBN Film Production, Inc. and Viva Communications, Inc.
Director: Wenn Deramas
Starring: Vice Ganda and Coco Martin
Genre: Action-Comedy

While searching for the abducted daughter of a Prime Minister, policeman Coco Martin commissions his best friend Beauty (Vice Ganda) to temporarily pretend to be the missing woman while he completes his mission to bring the real one back.

Buy Now, Die Later
Quantum Films
Director: Randolph Longjas
Starring: Rayver Cruz, Jayson Gainza, John Lapus, Janine Gutierrez, and Lotlot de Leon
Genre: Suspense

An anthology of five suspense stories, each representing one of the five senses.

Nilalang (The Entity)
Haunted Towers Pictures, Inc.
Director: Pedring Lopez
Starring: Cesar Montano and Maria Ozawa
Genre: Action

After 14 women are stabbed to death, Japanese authorities realize the women were killed in a manner similar to a case in the Philippines. Brought to Japan to solve the crime, a Filipino policeman (Montano) seeks the help of a club owner (Ozawa).

Haunted Mansion
Regal Entertainment, Inc.
Director: Jun Lana
Starring: Marlo Mortel, Jerome Ponce, and Janella Salvador
Genre: Horror

The film is about a mission to free the restless souls that inhabit a haunted mansion.

Honor Thy Father
Reality Entertainment
Director: Erik Matti
Starring: John Lloyd Cruz and Meryll Soriano
Genre: Action-drama

A swindler couple find their lives threatened after getting involved in a get-rich-quick scheme.

Walang Forever
Quantum Films
Director: Dan Villegas
Starring: Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado
Genre: Romantic comedy

Thanks to recent events in her life, a celebrated writer of romantic-comedy films finds herself unable to believe that love can last. Things come to a head when her ex returns — a cynic unable to believe in lasting love because she broke his heart.

My Bebe Love
Octoarts Films, MZET Productions, APT Ent., Inc.
Director: Jose Javier Reyes
Starring: Vic Sotto, Ai-Ai Delas Alas, Alden Richards, and Maine “Yaya Dub” Mendoza
Genre: Romantic comedy

A nerd under his aunt’s thumb and a rebelious girl seeking her father’s attention, meet, collide, then fall in love.

All You Need is Pag-ibig
ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc.
Director: Antoinette Jadaone
Starring: Kris Aquino, Derek Ramsay, Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Ian Veneracion, and Jodi Sta. Maria
Genre: Romantic comedy

An ensemble film that looks at the different kinds of love.

FOCUS

Would you like to fly?

By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
Videography and photography by Sam Gonzales

Ten minutes is a short time, especially when you’re high on life — as in literally flying in a chopper.

A bird’s eye view of Manila from PhilJet’s helicopter.

While almost everyone flies these days thanks to cheap airfares, not everybody has experienced riding a helicopter around the city — but thanks to GrabTaxi, anyone can now fly high and in style — if they have the money.

The app-based taxi booking service’s newest baby is GrabHeli, a pre-booking helicopter service done in partnership with PhilJets, a charter and helicopter provider.

THAT IS SO FLY
Upon the invitation of PhilJets, BusinessWorld’s videographer and this writer were able to experience a bird’s eye view of the beauty (and ugliness) of Metro Manila without a filter (snap the QR code in this story for the video).

For P3,888 per person, the chopper hovers above Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Pasay cities. With the chopper’s clear, clean, and bigger windows, one gets a good view of the metro.

An unusual view of the Coconut Palace at the CCP Complex.

The tours are available every Friday and Saturday. The best time to take a tour is around four or past five in the afternoon, just before the light starts to dim. It’s the perfect moment to see the sky as it changes colors from blue to the mix of pink, purple, and orange that make up the famed Manila sunset. It’s also the best time to escape the hellish five o’clock traffic jam.  

From above, passengers can see the Metro Manila skyline and its skyscrapers — the cars and trucks below seem like little ants in a hurry (if they are moving at all, that is).

It isn’t scary at all. The pilots are trained and licensed. If you find the engine noise bothersome, wear the headphones. But who thinks about the noise when they are distracted by Manila Bay and its iconic sunset? It was half past five, and the city was aglow — its grime, temporarily veiled by the kaleidoscopic display of nature.

A GrabHeli chopper can accommodate six passengers plus the pilot. The best seats are besides the driver and the windows. But those sandwiched in the middle can also take their photos and videos because, again, the windows are huge.

One of PhilJet’s helicopters.

Along with four other passengers, we were able to see how the city operates from a different angle. Alas, the 10-minute tour was so short it demands a repeat.

AT BETA STAGE
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just fly over the hellish traffic of Metro Manila to get to our destination? Unfortunately, this is just a dream — for now. While GrabHeli is undergoing a three-month trial, it is open to becoming part of the transport system. But there are still issues that need to be resolved, like having more public hangars available in Metro Manila so the chopper ride runs smooth. Currently, there are only four accredited GrabHeli helipads in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Pasay, and the Ortigas area.

“GrabTaxi has been in the Philippines for a few years now and we’re launching GrabHeli as a way to thank the passengers who have always supported us and stood as witnesses to our growth. It has always been our goal to transform the way Filipinos travel and aviation is not an exception,” said PhilJets Group CEO Thierry Tea in a statement.

How to book:
Book via the app, then a GrabCar will pick you up anywhere you are and it will take you to the PhilJet’s hangar in Pasay.

Who can book:
Passengers registered with GrabPay, a cashless payment system, can take the aerial tour of Makati, BGC, and Pasay City.