An audition two years ago got Kyle Velino his big break in a time of uncertainty, and one fateful project in the form of the Philippines’ first BL series “Gameboys” has touched the lives of millions of people around the world with stories of real, three-dimensional characters. In an interview with Rank, he shared with us how heeding to life’s unexpected calls made his anti-hero role come to life.
Anybody else feeling the need to go out a lot more now, even if we know fully well that the virus is still out there, and we still probably shouldn’t? Do you also have two voices fighting in your head: one that pushes you out the door and tells you you need a change of scenery to be sane, and one that shackles you in the bed in fear of the “outside world”?
Virtual concerts have become a huge source of entertainment not just for Filipinos in the new normal, and through these, Smart continues to bring subscribers closer to their favorite artists and performers, fueling their passion for music, just like Dua Lipa’s latest exclusive online concert, “Studio 2054”.
What is a queen without loyal subjects? And in the case of these trailblazing drag performers, without fans and supporters giving them standing ovations? According to these local royalty, to be a queen is to be armed and ready to take over the New Normal world wearing life’s fabulous colors.
According to our dear friend the dictionary, “reactive” depicts the natural reaction of people and organizations to respond to a stimulus after a deed has been done, while “proactive” refers to making decisions that would either solve or prevent damages before it even happens.
How can a nation go from excitedly shopping for the hottest deals in the morning, to being submerged to one of the worst tropical cyclones of the year in a span of 24 hours? As they say—”Only in the Philippines.”
Streaming giant Netflix has just released an announcement officially renewing one of its most popular series, The Umbrella Academy for a highly-anticipated third season.
Every so often—every once in the rarest while—a name emerges out of nowhere, like an alienesque, otherworldly entity invading an already overcrowded industry, breaking the monotony of names that make up the mainstream scene. In the case of the online series, Gameboys, two names have sprung up, unexpectedly—in the silence and chaos of a pandemic. These are two steady but relatively new names, who have been making their respective rounds in the independent circuit for years, now thrust in a national and an even global platform. For the Takeover Issue, editor Leo Balante looks deep into the unlikely pair, actors Elijah Canlas and Kokoy De Santos, recalling their leaps of faith that springboarded them from aspirants to independent films regulars, self-capturing actors, to #EliKoy becoming a global phenomenon, and them arguably becoming the most significant breakout stars of the year—bar none.
Another typhoon, another round of donation drives. At this point, nothing ever feels enough, but it’s all we can do until our leaders guide us towards a much-needed change with risk reduction programs and sustainable living.
An audition two years ago got Kyle Velino his big break in a time of uncertainty, and one fateful project in the form of the Philippines’ first BL series “Gameboys” has touched the lives of millions of people around the world with stories of real, three-dimensional characters. In an interview with Rank, he shared with us how heeding to life’s unexpected calls made his anti-hero role come to life.
Anybody else feeling the need to go out a lot more now, even if we know fully well that the virus is still out there, and we still probably shouldn’t? Do you also have two voices fighting in your head: one that pushes you out the door and tells you you need a change of scenery to be sane, and one that shackles you in the bed in fear of the “outside world”?
What is a queen without loyal subjects? And in the case of these trailblazing drag performers, without fans and supporters giving them standing ovations? According to these local royalty, to be a queen is to be armed and ready to take over the New Normal world wearing life’s fabulous colors.
According to our dear friend the dictionary, “reactive” depicts the natural reaction of people and organizations to respond to a stimulus after a deed has been done, while “proactive” refers to making decisions that would either solve or prevent damages before it even happens.
Days before the community quarantine, we met with the lead cast of the The Sandbox Collective’s Sandbox Fest 2020, bannering a re-staging of well-received Duncan Macmillan productions, “Lungs” and “Every Brilliant Thing”. Months later, following their productions’ unexpected stop, we revisit how the pandemic impacted these stage actors’ worldview as artists and human beings.
More than the saccharine exchanges and the heart-tugging drama, “Gameboys: The Series”, elicited critical and audience success with its delicate and refreshing portrayal of love–unembellished, uninhibited, pure. We sat down, virtually, with the series’ leads Elijah Canlas and Kokoy De Santos on all things ‘Gameboys’.
Rank Magazine statement on releasing timely, informative, and substantial content in the time of a pandemic.
The Takeover Issue
These are two steady but relatively new names, who have been making their respective rounds in the independent circuit for years, now thrust in a national and an even global platform.
More than becoming a national and global quarantine obsession, what the series significantly triumphed in is opening new ways of seeing with its narrative and direction as it championed representation, inclusivity, and love: core tenets that make us all human.
In the middle of it, two young actors, plucked out of their steady stream of roles in independent cinema, Elijah Canlas and Kokoy De Santos, breathed life into what is and should be called a catalyst of a necessary cultural revolution.
For the Takeover Issue, we look deep into the unlikely pair, recalling their leaps of faith that springboarded them from aspirants to independent films regulars, self-capturing actors, to EliKoy turning into a global phenomenon, and its young actors arguably the most significant breakout stars of the year—bar none.