MANILA, Philippines—Time really flies when you’re having fun, and now that we’re going from the month of love to the month of acknowledging the majestic presence of women in the world, there’s surprisingly still a lot of news to unpack, and rejoice about.
Though February’s run feels faster compared to the first month of the year, that definitely isn’t the case for the events, movie announcements, and song releases that have graced the week, as the talk among these topics continues to be something that people are conversing and gushing about.
Listening Station
Sarah Geronimo will be awarded by Billboard with the GLOBAL FORCE award at Billboard Women in Music 2024 in Los Angeles
Our country’s very own popstar royalty, Sarah Geronimo, is set to be honored with a marvelous award in Los Angeles at the Billboard Women in Music 2024 this March 6. It’s an award ceremony that caters to bring recognition to the women who have made an impact in the industry throughout the year—and for Geronimo, this marks the first time that a Filipina has been honored with the Global Force Award.
Alongside her, she’ll be joined by other artists who will be awarded the same thing, and other categories that will be presented that night. For the Woman of the Year Award, a.k.a. the grandest of them all, Karol G is hailed as the recipient and is set to take home the crown.
This momentous occasion is hosted by American actress Tracee Ellis Ross and can be streamed on Billboard’s official website on March 7.
Shakira reveals the tracklist for her upcoming album ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’
After the release of ‘El Dorado’ last 2017, which was recognized as a huge success due to how it spent five weeks on the top spot of Billboard’s Top Latin Album Charts, Shakira will make a return to the music scene with a new album ‘Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran’ which will be available on March 22nd.
It will have 16 tracks in total; eight of them will be new tracks from the artist, while seven are said to be past collaborations with other well-respected Latin musicians such as Karol G, Manuel Turizo, Ozuna, and Fuerza Regida.
Aside from this work being considered her comeback album this year, she will be also making her debut release on vinyl which will introduce four separate artwork editions, each complemented by its colored vinyl version.
SB19’s Justin unveils the music video for his debut solo song, ‘Surreal’
Mystical and a piece of art that transports you into another realm, that’s exactly what Justin De Dios from SB19 managed to achieve for the overall vibe of the ‘Surreal’ music video, his debut solo song. We see him from one forest to another, navigating throughout the seasons, and pulling us along the adventures he’s undertaking in attaining the peace that he’s seeking out for.
As per Justin, the song, written down and began to be in the works just two years ago, embodies the wonder of serendipitous moments and aspirations. It tells us how seemingly unreachable can materialize into reality when faced with significant change, catalyzed by the perfect fusion of timing, resilience, and diligent effort.
The music video as of this moment has garnered over 271k views on YouTube. With this release of his, Justin becomes the 4th member of SB19 who has released their solo work.
Screening Room
The official trailer for Jun Lana’s thrilling film ‘YOUR MOTHER’S SON’ has been released.
With a compelling premise that tells the tale of a middle-aged woman navigating life with her strangely possessive son and one of her students, the official trailer of Your Mother’s Son, a carefully crafted film enveloped with a courageous story, has been released. Bravely incorporating themes such as incest and drug use, people from all over the world were left intrigued, piquing their curiosity about what the film had to offer when the trailer was finally unveiled.
Starring Sue Prado, Kokoy de Santos, Miggy Jimenez, and Elora Españo, the movie’s trailer illustrated ambiguous yet thought-provoking scenes, leaving everyone with plenty of questions in mind. The film focuses on the complexity of one’s relationship with their abuser, showcasing the sexual dynamics between the three characters while also highlighting the desensitization of immoral acts transpiring in society.
Directed by the notorious Filipino filmmaker Jun Robles Lana with over 11 Palanca Awards for Literature, known for his previous works “Die Beautiful” in 2016 and for his most recent movie “Ten Little Mistresses” in 2023, the thrilling drama “Your Mother’s Son” will be premiering in the country as the opening film at TheIdeaFirst Film Festival on April 12.
‘Fairly OddParents: A New Wish’ is coming to Nickelodeon this year.
Whether you’re young at heart or you simply enjoy the nostalgia that animated films bring when watching one, the sequel to the “A Fairly Odd Parents “titled Fairly OddParents: A New Wish is something to keep in mind for its impending international release this year.
Following the success of one of the most beloved children’s films, the premise of the show will revolve around the ten-year-old Hazel Wells, a new character of the show, who has recently moved into a new city without any friends, finding herself wistful in the sudden changes and new beginnings. Coincidentally, her next-door neighbors happen to be Wanda and Cosmo, fairies that grant wishes, promising a new adventure and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The familiar voices of Susanne Blakeslee as Wanda and Daran Norris as Cosmo will be returning to our screens, blessing us with their heartwarming talent as voice actors of the main characters of the children’s television series. Meanwhile, well-known screenwriter Ashleigh Crystal Hairston will voice the new character Hazel Well.
“Fairly OddParents: A New Wish” will be available to stream on Netflix with 20 episodes. The release date of the magical animated film has not been announced yet.
‘Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme’ is now available for streaming on Netflix
If you’re ready to tremble and shiver in fear through a disturbing movie experience, the sequel of a classic Filipino horror film, Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme, is now available on Netflix for everyone to enjoy. After a nine-year-long hiatus, the iconic franchise returns with a suspenseful and nail-biting premise that follows a collection of stories that will leave people on the edge of their seats.
Having a veteran ensemble of cast such as Iza Calzado, Paul Salas, Jane De Leon, Rob Gomez, and Paolo Gumabao, the never-before-seen R-18 version promises to scare everyone with its timeless display of socially relevant issues intertwined with themes of gore and violence. “Shake, Rattle, & Roll Extreme” was directed by prominent filmmakers such as Joey De Guzman, Richard Somes, and Jerrold Tarong, who have worked on different successful hit shows in their respective careers.
Gloriously marking its sixteenth installment since 1984, the film’s anthology series has undeniably become part of the Filipino cinema culture, enriching the horror genre in the film industry. With its recent release, the horrorphile in everyone is filled with nothing but excitement as it features three different segments: “Glitch,” “Mukbang,” and “Rage,” with each having approximately 50 minutes of screentime, making it the longest movie franchise as of writing.
‘Dune: Part Two’ gets positive reception
After the massive success of Dune: Part One in theaters for its visual spectacle and mind-blowing storytelling in 2021, you’d expect nothing less from the sequel of the science fiction film. With a projection of having $80 million in its opening week, “Dune: Part Two” has been constantly appraised and famously recognized by different film critics, making it one of the highest-rated films this year.
Gradually showcasing the continuation of the journey of Paul Atriedes, seeking vengeance on the death of his family while navigating an adventure that centers around his fate in life, comprising of terrible visions of the future in the enigmatic universe and the unexpected emergence of the love of his life— the film has already made its mark on everyone, having positive reviews and appraisal everywhere. Explicitly having a mélange of different themes such as free will, religion, and fanaticism, the movie underscores the complexities of power and human suffering.
Directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, intertwined with world-renowned celebrities Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, and Austin Butler as the ensemble cast, “Dune Part Two” created an impactful moment in the history of cinema, making people worldwide feel its intensity through visuals, musical scoring, and outstanding acting.
The tickets for the long-awaited sequel of the book to film adaptation are now available in theaters nationwide.
Radar
Spotify launched the ‘Song Psychic’ feature which answers any of your random questions with existing song titles
What makes it fun is to ask random questions and answer with a song title. It is like asking other people what they prefer or what their future will look like. Spotify unveiled its newest update adding an element to song discovery through using magic 8-ball readings and responding to arbitrary queries through song titles. Now, users may explore their Spotify account with a curious attitude since “Song Psychic” generates your queries and answers your curiosity with song titles. This addition provides a unique approach to exploring and discovering new music, much like a tarot deck offering you insights into life’s secrets.
Spotify’s Song Psychic gives you the esoteric charm of much like tarot reading and partly mystical oracle while channeling the power of music to offer to all Spotify subscribers asking and surprising revelations through harmony. Through this means of approach, Spotify has turned its process of discovering new music into a captivating encounter, in which brand-new music and response reveal new musical insight.
Pulse
TRI.BE to resume activities after the untimely demise of producer Shinsadong Tiger
As the K-Pop community continues to mourn the loss of producer Shinsadong Tiger, The current girl group, he produced, TRI.BE, has made the courageous decision to resume its activities after the tragic news of the last wish of the producer Shinsadong Tiger. Producer Shinsadong Tigers was widely recognized for his contributions to the music industry, with many people familiar with his popular singles and production style.
Many people were wondering right after the news, TRI.BE gained attention globally because of its courage to perform on stage while performing the music produced by Shinsadong Tiger. Making them viral these last few days because of its raw, festive type of genre which is rarely seen in the Korean pop industry.
Seventeen’s S.COUPS has been exempted from the military enlistment after a recent medical checkup due to his injury
S.Coups, the leader of Seventeen, and a prominent figure in the world of K-Pop, has received a military service exemption due to a severe knee injury sustained last year. This is after undergoing a recent physical examination as part of his mandatory service requirements where he was deemed as fully exempt from duty due to the severity of his recent injuries.
From what could be recalled, S.Coups wasn’t able to join promotional activities done by the group for their latest album ‘Seventeenth Heaven’ as well as several concerts following it. He has been recovering promptly since then, and rest assured, he’s scheduled to reunite with his members for their upcoming show set to take place at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on March 30 and 31.
According to their agency, Seventeen will be the first K-pop group to hold a solo concert at the stadium.
The internet’s wild connections with Kate Middleton and the Willy Wonka experience disaster in Glasgow
The people of the United Kingdom seem to be having a feast online as they talk about the recent Willy Wonka failed experience in Glasgow and Kate Middleton’s absence for the past weeks. Most of them even relate the two topics together, with some reckoning that the reason behind Middleton suddenly disappearing from the public is because she was one of the people who attended the Willy Wonka event and somehow managed to get lost there.
But of course, that isn’t what’s happening at all. It’s been announced prior by the Palace that Middleton was going to be recovering from her abdominal surgery, causing her to refrain from being seen by the people for over two months now.
Meanwhile, the Willy Wonka disaster convinced families to splurge an amount of at least $44 just for them and their kids to experience an indeed disastrous incident. When they got to the venue, their expectations were quickly hit by harsh reality as they witnessed even less than the mediocre design of the venue and the supposed interactive parts of “Willy’s Chocolate Experience”.
This caused a lot of memes to rise in X and for this subject to be highly talked about.
Events & Festivals
FENIX360 celebrates its launch in the Philippines through FENIX360 Philippines Live!
FENIX360, the new artist-centric social media platform that empowers and supports artists in their creative pursuits, has finally landed in the Philippines after recently being introduced in Asia. It’s an application that is made to offer improved chances in optimizing their earnings when it comes to their artistry.
Unlike other social media platforms, it establishes a distinct benchmark in the arts and visionary industries, as well as caters to a diverse range of creators, including musicians, dancers, producers, artists, models, and designers. Here, they can earn substantial revenue shares from advertising and other transactions like merchandise sales and live streams.
By fostering deeper connections between artists and fans, FENIX360 creates a mutually beneficial environment for all involved.
Last February 27, 2024, the event FENIX360 Philippines Live! took place at the New Frontier Theater, Araneta City. It was an exciting night filled with passion from the artists executing their craft and fans screaming their hearts out for their faves performing that night. Among the line-up was Josh Cullen from SB19, seasoned rock bands 6Cyclemind and Gracenote, rapper Nik Makino, viral sensations Toneejay, Autotelic, and Sunkissed Lola, sibling pop duo No Lore, and emerging pop sensation Ica Frias.
The FENIX360 app is now available on iOS and Android devices. Visit their official website at www.fenix360.com.
Compiled and written by Alexi Aquilino, Kevin Renzo Daniel, and Nina Tansengco.