Why we can't stop watching PETA's Rak of Aegis online

It will be a delight for OPM fans to get back to Villa Venezia and relive the story of Aileen, Ken, Mary Jane, Kiel, Jewel and the rest of their neighbors singing the songs of Aegis in Rak of Aegis, one of my most loved musicals from the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA). Now, everyone will got the chance to see it as it will be streamed online on July 31, August 1, 7 and 8, 2021 via www.ticket2me.net.

This run is a fundraising drive to help PETA's community of dedicated artists survive that has been greatly affected by the pandemic. The lack of shows, events, workshops and the painful layoff of artists, staff, and crew made them decide to do this initiative in this trying times.

Rak of Aegis' story has a similarity in today's pandemic that Aileen (Aicelle Santos), Tolits (Pepe Herrera), Ken (Poppert Bernadas), Mary Jane (Isay Alvarez), Kiel (Robert Sena) and the rest of Villa Venezia who faced a challenge by helping each other during a calamity -- a scenario which is very similar today that needs to be addressed as everybody are struggling their ways to survive in the crisis brought by COVID-19.

Pepe Herrera (Tolits) and Aicelle Santos (Aileen)

Isay Alvarez (Mary Jane) and Robert Sena (Kiel)

Poppert Bernadas as Ken

It is also a celebration of OPM music, with the songs of rockband Aegis that crosses the borders of social class. This online show will feature subtitles, and yes, you can sing-along to the top of your lungs octaves higher than Luha, Halik, Sinta, Basang-basa sa Ulan and more. The drama, humor, music and messages of hope, resiliency, family and community will now be available to everyone who wants to see it around the world! 

Tickets are now ON SALE when you visit www.ticket2me.net and choose the following pay-per-view options:

• Livestream at Php 350 - 8:00 P.M to 11:00 P.M. (Philippine Standard Time)
• Video On Demand at Php 500 - 24-hours streaming from 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. the next day (Philippine Standard Time)
• Video on Demand Premium at Php 1,000 - 24-hours streaming from 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. the next day (Philippine Standard Time) plus exclusive access to the Rak with Aegis LIVE virtual concert on August 8, 8:00 P.M., featuring the Aegis Band and select cast of Rak of Aegis.

Get full Rak of Aegis experience with an Aegis concert! 

You can also help PETA and the artists and keep the arts alive by donating through their bank and Gcash accounts below:

For bulk tickets and partnerships, contact Mitch Go, mitchgo@petatheater.com, 0917-5391112. For more information, follow PETA’s social media pages: Facebook www.facebook.com/petatheater; Instagram @petatheater; Twitter @petatheater; YouTube www.youtube.com/petatheateronline or visit www.petatheater.com/rakofaegis.

*images courtesy of PETA

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In The Heights character posters

Warner Bros. Pictures just released the character posters of the cast of the In The Heights movie, directed by Jon Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Check out Usnavi, Vanessa and the neighbors of Washington Heights in these photos:

In The Heights tells the story of the block of Washington Heights, where a kaleidoscope of dreams and passion rallies in this vibrant community. A magnetic bodega owner Usnavi collects his memories and sings of hopes, dreams and imagination as he saves his every penny in his daily grind. 

“In the Heights” fuses Lin-Manuel Miranda’s kinetic music and lyrics with director Jon M. Chu’s lively and authentic eye for storytelling to capture a world very much of its place, but universal in its experience.

“In the Heights” stars Anthony Ramos (“A Star is Born,” Broadway’s “Hamilton”), Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton,” “BlacKkKlansman”), singer/songwriter Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera (TV’s “Vida”), Olga Merediz (Broadway’s “In the Heights”), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Broadway’s “Rent”), Gregory Diaz IV (Broadway’s “Matilda the Musical”), Stephanie Beatriz (TV’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Dascha Polanco (TV’s “Orange is the New Black”) and Jimmy Smits (the “Star Wars” films).

Opening in June 11 in theaters and HBO Max.

*images from Warner Bros. Pictures
 

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Home gadgets to give your mom this May

With most members of the family spending more time at home, keeping it clean and bright is a challenge for our moms. This Mother’s Day, let's surprise them with exciting innovations from SM Home that will make her home-works a breeze and give her more time for herself.

Me who shares the cleaning chores at home, these smart cleaners like robotic vacuums are recommended to work on dusty floors, stained fabrics, stinky corners and kitchen clutter in half the time we spent in our usual cleaning routine. We want our homes spotless and squeaky clean so these power scrubbers will do the job for us; while UV sterilizers sanitize and disinfect bed linens and dinnerware to protect your family from unwanted viruses. Check out the available items from the SM Home catalog:

Clean with style with Eufy HomeVac S11 Go, a cordless and lightweight stick-vacuum cleaner that allows you to maneuver into the corners and around furniture.

Save time from washing the dishes and keep your dinnerware germ-free with Hanabishi

Dishwasher with UV Sterilizer.

Eufy HomeVac H11 is a mini vacuum that offers practical solutions in your home’s cleaning needs.

Let this Eufy RoboVac G10 Hybrid takes charge of mopping and sweeping in half the time as Mom relaxes.

This Crossett Air Purifier is equipped with HEPA filter that ensures cleaner air for your home.

Kokubo Bottle Sponges for long bottle and glasses and dust off the mites from your bed with this Dowell UV Mites Cleaner.

Sanitize and disinfect your home with this Landlite UV- C Sterilizer Portable Lamp and Pocket Stick.

This May, get discounts and online coupons on select home essential items and furniture from SM Home. Shop for your mom and place your order online through the SM Store’s Call to Deliver (#143SM) and ShopSM app. For more info and updates, follow SM Home at the SM Store in Instagram or visit  thesmstore.com website.

 

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Marvel Studios launches Phase 4 with new movies release dates

Marvel Studios celebrates the movies by continuing the saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with their updated dates of releases.

We've seen WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier which ushered the new phase with exciting movies and stories of the superheroes we all loved. Starting with Black Widow, after a year of delay due to the pandemic, we will finally see Natasha's story. Joined in with Rachel Weisz, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark) and David Harbour. Opening in theaters, July 9, 2021.

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha

And Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings with Simu Liu, Awkwafina as Katy, Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan, Florian Munteanu as Razor Fist, Tony Chiu-Wai Leung as Wenwu and more to be released on September 3.

Simu Liu as Shang-Chi

Watch the trailers and see release dates below -- with a touching VO from Stan Lee✝ himself.

We also had a footage of Eternals, featuring Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani, Ma Dong-Seok, and more. Eternals will be in theaters November 5.

That's not all, Marvel surprised us with a reboot of Fantastic 4 entering the MCU. It's definitely something to watch out for.

We would really hope that the pandemic would be over soon so we'll all be able to see these movies in the theaters. See you at the movies.

 

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Steven Spielberg's West Side Story teaser released on Oscars Night

Musical fans are in for a Christmas gift this year as Disney releases teaser of the remake of West Side Story, just in time of Oscars Night.

In modernized fashion, Spielberg's West Side Story is the adaptation of the Shakespearean love tragedy Romeo and Juliet and based on the award winning movie in 1961. Two feuding families became two warring gangs in New York City, the white Jets led by Riff, and Latino Sharks, led by Bernardo. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding.

Cast includes Ansel Elgort as Tony, Rachel Zegler as Maria, Ariana Debose as Anita, David Alvarez as Bernardo, Rita Moreno as Valentina, Mike Faist as Riff and more.

Ansel Elgort as Tony, Rachel Zegler as Maria

Rachel Zegler as Maria

Let us all revisit the songs of Stephen Sondheim in the acclaimed musical like Somewhere, Maria, I Feel Pretty, the Jet Song and more.

The West Side Story will be in theaters December 10 and will be distributed by Walt Disney. Watch the trailer below.

 

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MORTAL KOMBAT Movie Review

If you're looking for a gore and bloody action, then Mortal Kombat is the movie that's right for you, especially if you're a fan of the video game, I guess.

Mortal Kombat basically was about protecting the earth against the occupation of the Outerworld champions led by Kabal and his monster force. On earth, MMA fighter Cole Young finds himself in his destiny to fight against Kabal, Bi-han / Subzero, Mileena and Kano. It is a fight to supremacy and peace in the universe with Lord Raiden and new found colleagues Sonya Blade, Jax, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao. 

Any movie like this is still better seen on the big screen. With its good sound, sets, costumes and special effects, some might less appreciate it in the home set up. The fight scenes are just in the normal human speed and not very martial-artsy which I think makes it more mortal. The lines are not cheesy, and there is also a hint of light humor but forgivable.

Mortal Kombat is now available via video on demand in HBO Max and in theaters where available.

 

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PETA's RAK OF AEGIS to stream soon

Gawad Buhay's multi-awarded musical from the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) comes to your home screens soon!

Rak of Aegis will stream for pay-per-view on ticket2me.net on July 31, Aug. 1, 7, and 8.

Written by Liza Magtoto, the musical features songs by the rock band Aegis such as Sinta, Luha, Christmas Bonus, Rockin' in the Cities, Munting Pangarap, Halik, Mary Jane, Basang-basa sa Ulan and more. 

The musical follows Aileen who dreams of becoming famous by posting song covers online. As she pursues her dreams she also helps her perennially flooded urban community. The musical opened on Jan. 31, 2014 and its most recent run closed on Sept. 29, 2019.

Directed by PETA Artistic Director Maribel Legarda, with musical direction, arrangement, and vocal direction by Myke Salomon, principal cast members from the past seven seasons include Aicelle Santos, Jerald Napoles, Pepe Herrera, Isay Alvarez Seña, Robert Seña, Kakai Bautista, Myke Salomon, Poppert Bernadas, and Ron Alfonso.

The online stream is the banner project of PETA’s #TakePETAbeyondCOVID fundraising campaign.

 

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