It’s a new month full of new things to recap and discover in this edition of Week In Review. As we slowly inch closer to the end of the first quarter of the year, we give you some of the freshest releases to note, new and unlikely finds, and hot topics widely discussed on the Internet from the week that was.
Listening Station
P-POP blasts off in consecutive major concerts
As P-Pop continues to wave its flag both in the national and international music scene, this coming April, some of the biggest and most celebrated P-Pop groups are looking to showcase a new wave of Filipino performers.
P-POP Convention, one of the biggest fan gatherings dedicated to Filipino Pop or Pinoy Pop culture and music, officially announced the artists line up big pinoy acts from SB19, BINI, MNL48, and BGYO. Joining them are the rising groups of KAIA, VXON, 1stOne, 4th Impact, and Press Hit Play.
The two-day convention will be staged at the New Front Theater on April 10 3PM t0 & 8PM at the Big Dome, Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In the same vein, following this explosion of PPop performances, Tugatog Filipino Music Festival is also happening this June 18, 2022. Fans will get to see all their favorite P-pop groups in one stage featuring Alamat, BGYO, Bini, Litz, MNL48, PPop Generation, Press Hit Play, VXON, 1st One and many upcoming artists yet to be announced.
The event is the brainchild of Ant Savvy Creatives aimed at showcasing both rising and widely-celebrated artists that define the peak of Filipino music at a given time, this time, giving its due focus to P-Pop prominence.
The event will be streamed online via TicketMelon now available with premier tickets are at Php 1,800.00. Special exclusive content is also in store for VIP ticket holders along with access at Php 2,700.00 per ticket.
Adele’s Comeback Album “30” Tops the IFPI 2021 Album Charts
Adele’s critically-acclaimed comeback record, “30” ranked first on the IFPI Global Album All Format Chart in 2021, following a six-year break since the release of 25 in 2015.
The album’s title single also charted at #1 for ten weeks in a row on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the album her third time to top the Billboard Hot 100 list.
The multi-awarded music artist’s “30” also tops the IFPI Global Album Sales Chart and the inaugural IFPI Global Vinyl Album Chart, according to IFPI, an international organization representing the recorded music industry all around the world.
Also included on top ten of the 2021 Global Album All Format Chart are Doja Cat’s “Planet Her”, Morgan Wallen’s “Dangerous: The Double Alb”, Abba’s “Voyage”, The Kid Laroi’s “F*CK LOVE (Mixtape)”, Dua Lipa’s “Future Nostalgia”, The Weeknd’s “After Hours”, Ed Sheeran’s “Divide(=)”, Justin Bieber’s “Justice”, and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour”.
NCT Dream tease comeback album “Glitch Mode” to be released this March
Prepare your speakers and earphones, NCTzens! NCT Dream is set to return to music charts (and big stages) with their second album “Glitch Mode” to be released on March 28.
The group revealed the great news through their social media accounts with a short video teaser with the album name switching into different font colors and designs. This is after 9 months of releasing their repacked album, “Hello Future”, which also became ‘the BOP’ in United World Chart with 2.84 million album units sold.
NCT Dream is the third sub-unit of the 23-member K-pop group NCT (Neo Culture Technology), a South Korean boy band under SM Entertainment. The group debuted in 2016 and has been topping the music charts and stealing the fluttering hearts of the NCTzens.
Anne Curtis returns with docu-concert
OG “It girl” turned host and multimedia queen, Anne Curtis, returns after her 2 years of hiatus. The self-proclaimed ‘non-singer’ has recently announced her comeback “Luv-Anne” set for April 30, at 8 pm.
This serves as the superstar’s love letter to her fans, with a docu-concert that will feature her striking singing voice and bits of her life in the past two years behind the spotlight.
The virtual event will take place in streaming platforms KTX.ph and Vivamax with tickets amounting P1,750 if you wish to have an exclusive virtual meet-and-greet with the singer-actress, otherwise, they also offer regular tickets priced at P999 each.
Camila Cabello and Ed Sheeran release music video for “Bam Bam”
“You said you hated the ocean, but you’re surfin’ now. I said I’d love you for life, but I just sold our house.” Does it sound familiar? Maybe you heard it on TikTok where fans connected the lyrics to some of the most famous celebrity break-ups of late, including one of the song’s singers and fellow musician and now-ex Shawn Mendes. But we digress.
“Bam Bam” was earlier announced to be the collaboration between Cabello and hitmaker Ed Sheeran. On March 4, the official music video of the song has been released, bringing the global music superstars in a series of party fails, recalling toxicities of a fallen relationship, that ultimately leads to one’s necessary healing.
Screening Room
Dreamworks’ Shrek and Shrek 2 Enters in Netflix — As it Should
One of the most loved animated films of all time (regardless what generation you are born), Shrek and its hit sequel, Shrek 2, finally made its way to one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world, Netflix.
Released in 2001, the film established one of the world’s most popular animated series and has made history as the first-ever winner of the Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. The film has gathered a now-iconic cast of Hollywood A-listers from Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas, and Eddie Murphy. The first film in the franchise grossed almost $500M at the box office.
Drive My Car is streaming on HBOMax
Drive My Car, the most-nominated 2021 Japanese film is now available for streaming via HBOMax. After receiving four Oscars nominations; best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay and best international feature film, the film serves as one of the most anticipated, critically-acclaimed films to come out of the year, which now made its way to the global streaming platform.
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive my Car is an adaptation of the short stories of Haruki Murakami from his 2014 collection Men Without Women. The film also won the 2021 Cannes Film Festival with Best Screenplay.
Euphoria Season 2 Finale marks another series success
HBO’s teen drama series Euphoria just ended their second season this week after being released early this year on January 9. Series creator Sam Levinson and the cast shared that the series gained massive success since its release with over 14 million viewers across HBO and HBO Max, practically doubling its average audience since its initial season.
While details about season 3 are still unknown, it is estimated that the follow-up to the now-growing cult classic will air either late 2023 or early 2024.
Batman starring Robert Pattinson is now showing in Philippine theaters
The Batman fans in the Philippines have now the chance to be the first ones to watch the movie as it is now showing in cinemas. Warner Bros. then released the movie in the US theaters on Friday, March 4.
In a widely-publicized take on the role, Robert Pattinson brought the character of The Batman in “moody and broody intensity.” Pattinson then warned fans that the adaptation is a “sad movie”, where he played the iconic Bruce Wayne, who he calls a “weirdo.”
In the movie, Batman will unwillingly team up with Catwoman (Zoë Kravitz) for an investigation that may just reveal dark secrets that will lead to the notorious serial killer, The Riddler (Paul Dano).
In its release globally, the film has already collected $128.5 million in its box office debut, said to be the best opening weekend of 2022 by a landslide.
Watch the trailer here:
The movie is PG-13 and 176 minutes long. Check out Warner Bros. Philippines’ website for updates on participating cinemas.
Life and Style
Art Fair PH Returns this 2022 with Onsite Activities and Events
After spending the 2021 celebration due to the risks of the Pandemic, one of the biggest events celebrating and appreciating art and artists, Art Fair Philippines comes back this coming March 23 to April 1, to showcase a talented lineup of Filipino Artists.
The event will take place in an open-air venue at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, while Art Fair PH also makes several art shows and displays accessible online through their official website.
For more details and information on participating art galleries, curators, and artists, you can check out Art Fair Philippines’ website and social media accounts.
Turn-of-the-season fashion kicks off at Paris Fashion Week 2022
Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2022 kicked off last March 1 and will proceed until March 8. The first day was dominated by global fashion house Off-White which was also served as a heartfelt tribute to the late designer and founder Virgil Abloh, who died last year.
As expected, the event was star studded with top models such as Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and Gigi and Bella Hadid.
Shopee just introduced new brand Ambassador Marian Rivera
Shopee revealed this week that their newest ambassador is none other than, television and film superstar Marian Rivera, completing the Shopee family previously joined by husband Dingdong Dantes and daughter Zia.
During the media event of Shopee for its 3.15 Consumer Day, Rivera shared her experiences on how the e-commerce platform has contributed to her daily essentials as a shopaholic who loves going on a splurge with great deals and as a mom who thinks of the best finds online for her family.
The 3.15 Consumer Day will also be the very first mega sale this year for Shopee. Till March 15, users can find and save more on all they need on Shopee. Highlights including special treats for Filipino shoppers, exciting deals with ShopeePay and more entertaining experience with a new in-app game, Shopee Pets.
JSYK: Lola Nena’s Triple Cheese Donut is now an ice cream variant
Lola Nena’s turned their famous triple cheese donut into ice cream, in collaboration with a local ice cream artisan brand, Merry Moo who is famous for making innovative desserts out of cocktails and, well, even, champorado.
For making the ice cream, they used a doughnut ice cream base and mixed it with generous amounts of Lola Nena’s doughnut chunks and cheese bits.
Lola Nena’s x Merry Moo Triple Cheese Donuts Ice Cream costs P450 a pint (473ml). Use the code ‘LOLA’ at checkout for 10% off for a minimum purchase of P400. Code is applicable to cups and pints only.
Get the Triple Cheese Donuts Ice Cream at selected Lola Nena’s stores, or order thru Merry Moo’s website.
Pulse
Philippines officially opens its doors to Ukraine refugees
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine last February 24, 2022.
Currently, neighboring countries from the European Union and in Asia such as Japan and Philippines have opened their doors for Ukraine refugees.
In the Philippines, according to Justice Secretary, Menardo Guevarra, noted that “the country will accept refugees for humanitarian reasons.” He added, “So far, no Ukrainian citizen has sought asylum in the Philippines.”
On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte publicized the Executive Order 163 signed on February 28, under the international agreements stating that, “In this regard, the state shall closely monitor and ensure full protection of the rights of persons of concern to liberty and security, and freedom of movement. Subject to applicable laws and issuances, the minimum standards for the treatment of refugees shall be assured.”
Kim Kardashian declared as legally single, drops “West” from her name
Global reality television personality Kim Kardashian officially drops “West” from her name after being granted the first of two parts off the Internet star’s request for a “bifurcated divorce” with controversial musician Kanye West on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Kardashian virtually attended the hearing before a Los Angeles judge while the infamous rapper was represented by a lawyer.
With their divorce case tried in two parts: the first one being the recently concluded hearing concerning her civil status, and the other one concerning the custody of their children to happen in August.
Kardashian first filed for divorce on February 19, 2021, ending eight years of years of their marriage. In an interview with Vogue, Kardashian revealed that she will now choose her happiness over anyone else’s: “For so long, I did what made other people happy… I think in the last two years I decided I’m going to make myself happy – and that feels really good.”
Since her filing of divorce last year, Ye openly and, ever-so-controversially, expressed objections through social media that made the world turn against him for toxicities manifested to his ex-wife amid presently being in a relationship.
In the past couple of months, Ye was called out for posting private conversations between him and now-ex wife on Instagram, sending her a truck full of roses on Valentine’s Day, buying of the property across the Kardashian’s house just so he is close to her and their kids, and continuing leaving unsolicited comments on her posts on Instagram.
Many have actually stood behind the equally-controversial pop culture icon, on her debacle with the constant “attacks” from the former husband. ELLE writes of this harassment, to which, many of Ye’s fans responded in support of the rapper in the form of memes and online trolling, “Kardashian is a woman of great means and wealth, which leads people to believe that she isn’t in the imminent danger that women of far less fortune are. Be that as it may, the passive and active enabling of West’s behavior sends a signal not only to Kardashian but also victims of this type of harassment, or even more serious abuse, that what they’re experiencing is not to be taken seriously.”
Compiled and written by Andrea Andres, Roni Mae Serrano, Jaime Bautista, Isaiah Bailon, and Melanie Uson