Meet Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Top 40

The Top 40 Binibinis has been named and the journey to the crown begins with this 40 lovely, pretty, and captivating Pinays that will vie to be the next flag bearers in the Miss International, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Globe, Miss Grand, and Miss Universe, who will be the next? The complete list of the 40 Binibinis are listed down below, starting off with; 

Hannah Arnold

Jane Darren Genobisa

Samantha Poblete

Danielle Joi Magno

Mary Faye Murphy

Joanna Rose Tolledo

Jessica Marasigan

Marie Sherry Anne Tormes

Dia Nicole Magno

Honey Grace Cartasano

Francia Layderos

Cassandra Chan

Danielle Isabelle Dolk

Jessarie Dumaguing

Maria Isabela Galeria

Julia Eugene Saubier

Melba Ann Macasaet

Emma Mary Tiglao

Alanis Reign Binoya

Louisielle Denise Amorog

Gazini Christiana Ganadis

Marianne Marquez

Joahnna Carla Saad

Pauline Anne Cordero

April May Short

Leren Mae Bautista

Rubee Marie Faustino

Larah Grace Lacap

Martina Faustina Diaz

Malka Shaver

Kimberly Penchon

Samantha Mae Bernardo

Ilene Astrid de Vera

Maria Andrea Abesamis

Bea Patricia Magtanong

Jean Nicole Guerrero

Samantha Ashley Lo

Rosham Ramirez Saeed

Vickie Marie Milagrosa Rushton

Sigrid Grace Flores

Marvel Releases Official Avengers: End Game Trailer

The much anticipated part two of the Avengers battle against Thanos is finally coming this April 26 in cinemas! Will Tony Stark and the rest of who's left with the Avengers succeed in defeating Thanos? 

A New Era Rises for One Championship on March 30

Why you should watch ONE: A New Era on March 31

On March 31 from Tokyo Japan, ONE Championship will put on the greatest show in its promotion’s history, and arguably the best of the year in mixed martial arts.

ONE: A NEW ERA will feature three co-main events, four World Title bouts, and two epic promotional debuts. If that wasn’t enough, the show also features a fantasy-like kickboxing bout (Andy Souwer vs Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex), along with a match featuring perhaps the greatest female mixed martial artist in Japanese history in Mei Yamaguchi.

Here is a look at the entire card with a word on the top bouts and why you should watch.

ONE: A NEW ERA

Sunday, 31 March

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan

Main Event

ONE Lightweight World Championship

Eduard Folayang (C) vs Shinya Aoki

Mixed Martial Arts: 77.1kg

Rematch will be the word of the day in Japan. There are three of them and none bigger than the battle for the ONE Lightweight World Title.

Reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang owns a stoppage win over Shinya Aoki from their first meeting back in November 2016. At the time, Aoki was champion and he looked unbeatable as he mowed down every opponent he faced in the lightweight division. The resilient and conditioned Folayang wouldn’t be denied and his constant pressure led to the TKO victory and his first title reign.

Folayang has since lost the title and regained it while Aoki battled through the toughest patch of his glorious career to ascend back to the mountaintop. Now he will challenge for the World Title against the man who dethroned him, and Aoki will do it in front of his adoring countrymen in Japan. It would be hard for any bout on the card to follow this one, so it’s good it is the main event.

Co-Main Event

ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship

Xiong Jing Nan (C) vs Angela Lee

Mixed Martial Arts: 56.7kg

You know the main event has to be special if a champion-vs-champion superfight is the co-main event. ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion Angela Lee will put her undefeated professional record on the line as she climbs up to strawweight to challenge Xiong Jing Nan for her ONE Women’s Strawweight World Title.

Lee has battled past Japanese legend Mei Yamaguchi on two occasions but this battle with the powerful Xiong will be the biggest challenge of Unstoppable’s short, but impressive career thus far.

Ever since Xiong arrived in ONE, she’s done nothing but dominate her opponents. She too will be facing her toughest test. Which world-class martial artist will emerge victoriously?

Co-Main Event

ONE Middleweight World Championship

Aung La N Sang (C) vs Ken Hasegawa

Mixed Martial Arts: 93.0kg

As mentioned before, rematches are aplenty on this card.

In 2018, ONE Middleweight World Champion Aung La N Sang and Japan’s Ken Hasegawa battled in the Bout of the Year.

Aung La successfully defended his World title after securing a fifth-round KO, but Hasegawa represented himself well. Now Hasegawa will get a rematch with the “Burmese Python”, but this time, the scrap takes place in the challenger’s home country.

Can Aung La duplicate his performance, or has Hasegawa found some answers, and is he capable of using his fans’ energy to supplant Aung La as champion?

This figures to be another brawl and it could steal the show.

Co-Main Event

ONE Bantamweight World Championship

Kevin Belingon (C) vs Bibiano Fernandes

Mixed Martial Arts: 65.8kg

Yet another rematch comes our way here, and this one is the third bout in the series between reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon and Bibiano Fernandes.

In 2018, Belingon avenged a submission loss to Fernandes in their first meeting. Belingon took the bout by a narrow decision, and because of Fernandes’ long-standing reign as bantamweight king, he was awarded an immediate rematch.

With Belingon’s margin of victory far smaller than what Fernandes enjoyed in their bout, there is something for the Filipino warrior to prove. Brazil’s Fernandes wants nothing more than to win his title back, and both men want to win the series. On most cards, this would be the main event. On March 31, it will be the first co-main event.

ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix (Quarter-Final)

Demetrious Johnson vs Yuya Wakamatsu

Mixed Martial Arts: 61.2kg

The debut of legendary 12-time Flyweight Mixed Martial Arts World Champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson will be the last non-title bout on the card. He faces local hero Yuya Wakamatsu in his promotional debut and it will be one of the more highly-anticipated first looks in mixed martial arts history.

Johnson is still widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artists in the world, and he’ll be looking to show that against Wakamatsu.

ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix (Quarter-Final)

Eddie Alvarez vs Timofey Nastyukhin

Mixed Martial Arts: 77.1kg

“The Underground King” Eddie Alvarez is in the same situation as Johnson. He’s a former multiple-time Mixed Martial Arts World Champion making his ONE Championship debut and looking to make a statement.

Alvarez faces Russia’s Timofey Nastyukhin in the first round of the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix. He is expected to challenge for ONE’s gold at some point, and perhaps become the first man to win a world title in the three major global mixed martial arts promotions.

Nastyukhin represents Alvarez’s first impediment, as he had constantly asked for the toughest most dangerous opponent available. Nastyukhin certainly fits that bill. Expect a tremendous war of attrition in this exciting lightweight matchup.

Meet The Binibining Pilipinas 2019 Hopefuls

Submission of application for this year's Binibining Pilipinas ended yesterday, with over 90 lovely and gorgeous Pinays submitted their application only 40 of them will be picked in the final screening happening on Monday at the New Frontier Theater in Cubao. 

Sadly, there were girls whom we waited for that didn't show up in the 15 day application period, the likes of Maine Elima, Sirene Suitton, Michelle Dee, and of course Winwyn Marquez who announced that she will no longer join the pageant due to prior commitments and contracts.

Anyway, back to the girls who submitted their application, I've only covered the last 5 days of the application and here are my Top 15 pre Binibini pick, this will be in random order. 

1. April Short, 5'11, 24, Zamboanga City: 

2. Agatha Romero, 24, 5'8, City of Manila.

3. Samantha Bernardo,  26, 5'8, Puerto Princesa City. 

4. Vickie Rushton, 26, 5'6, Bacolod City. 

5. Julia Saubier, 24, 5'11, Paranaque City. 

6. Denj Magno

7. Jessica Marasigan, 25, 5'5, Caloocan City

8. Gazini Ganados, 23, 5'8, Cebu City.

9.  Denise Omorog, 24, 5'8, Catanduanes

10. Emma Tiglao, 24, 5'9, Mabalacat City

11. Patch Magtanong, 24, 5'9, Quezon City

12. Aya Abesamis, 27, 5'8, Pasig City

13. Samantha Lo, 25, 5'9, Cebu

14. Kayesha Chua, 26, 5'7, Legaspi City.

15. Sigrid Grace Flores, 26, 5'7, Catanduanes 

Photo of Sigrid Grace Flores, Jessica Marasigan, Julia Saubier, and Vickie Rushton courtesy to Adam Genato.

Dive in with Sahaya this March 18 on GMA Telebabad

Dive into the enthralling world of Sahaya beginning March 18

On GMA Telebabad

In a world that is constantly changing, there is something to be said about celebrating our true identity and heritage.

This March 18, the Entertainment Group of GMA Network fulfills its commitment to bring viewers world-class entertainment with its newest primetime spectacle, Sahaya.

This extraordinary epic-drama series is top-billed by one of this generation’s brightest and hottest love teams - Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix together with sought-after Kapuso leading man Migo Adecer.

Sahaya is the inspiring story of a determined and special Badjaw who rises above all difficult circumstances in life that will challenge her resiliency as she maps her path towards self-acceptance, success, and admiration.

In her titular role as Sahaya, Bianca breathes life into a beautiful Badjaw lady blessed with extraordinary abilities which will lead her to inspire her family and her people, including Ahmad, her simple childhood friend who has always been in love with her, portrayed by Miguel.

Adding a twist to their story is Jordan, played by Migo, the wealthy Manileño who will compete with Ahmad for Sahaya’s love.

Joining them in this intriguing series are talented actors and actresses: Eric Quizon as Hubert, Jordan’s father whose business is coral mining at Sahaya’s village in Tawi-Tawi; Zoren Legaspi as Harold, Sahaya’s father who abandons her mother before he knew that they were about to have a child; Mylene Dizon as Manisan, a Badjaw who fell for Harold and ended up raising and teaching their daughter, Sahaya, resiliency and good values; Pen Medina as Panglima Alari, Manisan’s father and the panglima (leader) of the Sama Dilaut; Debra Liz as Babu, Sahaya’s cheerful grandmother; Juan Rodrigo as Bapa, older brother of Panglima Alari; Ana Roces as Irene, Harold’s loyal wife who will do anything to protect her family; Ashley Ortega as Lindsay, Jordan’s spoiled cousin and the school’s queen bee; and Ms. Snooky Serna as Salida, a loving yet vengeful mother who will be the reason why Manisan and Sahaya will be separated.

Playing very special roles in the pilot week are Benjamin Alves as Aratu, Salida’s son and Manisan’s husband; Gil Cuerva as the young Harold; Karl Medina as young Alari and Jasmine Curtis-Smith as the young Manisan.

To shed light on the culture of our Badjaw brothers and sisters, GMA 7 hired consultants and recreated an entire set reminiscent of a real Badjaw village in Calatagan, Batangas that will bring viewers a realistic vision of their community—a surprising feat only the Kapuso Network delivers in a remarkable manner. Likewise for this program, the Network sets the bar even higher as it uses for the first time a high-end cinema camera to create clean, sharp and cinematic images.

Sahaya is created through the visionary minds of writers Marlon Miguel and Jonathan Cruz. Aloy Adlawan is the Creative Director and Suzette Doctolero head writes the show. This grand production is under the helm of the esteemed director Zig Dulay.

This original series, created by the GMA Drama group, is headed by the SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Helen Rose Sese, Executive Producer Milo Paz.

Join Sahaya as she brings pride to her culture through her captivating adventures beginning March 18, after Kara Mia, on GMA Telebabad.

Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com. (30)

FDCP Opens Film Lab for Mindanao Filmmakers

A new development platform for Mindanao stories has been created by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through the Southern Voices Film Lab (SOVOLAB). This is an opportunity to discover the diverse and unique stories and perspectives from the South and give them the chance to develop and find the path to become full-fledged projects.

The SOVOLAB, an intensive script and development lab for Mindanaoan filmmakers, is open to all filmmakers from Mindanao who are developing their first, second, and third feature films. Deadline of submission is on April 12, 2019.

Six (6) to eighth (8) projects in the advanced stage of development will be selected. Over the course of eight (8) months, the chosen filmmakers will participate in three (3) workshop sessions in Mindanao and will be mentored by international and local experts to improve their screenplays.

The first session will be held in May, the second session will be in September, and the third session will be in November. Sessions include script consulting and talks by industry experts.

The fourth and final session will be the SOVOLAB Pitch Showcase, which is the participants’ final pitch to the Jury and Decision Makers in Davao City during the Mindanao Film Festival in December. Two (2) projects will receive a co-production grant worth one million pesos.

For more information, visit http://fdcp.ph/southern-voices-film-lab.

SpongeCola releases new Album in "Sea of Lights" Concert this March 29

SPONGE COLA TO HOLD “SEA OF LIGHTS” CONCERT ON MARCH 29, 2019

This year, Sponge Cola will be celebrate another great year of being one of the premiere OPM rock bands in the industry - and in true Sponge Cola fashion, they’re bringing their songs, both old and new, straight to their audience through their one-night intimate concert “Sea of Lights” on March 29, 2019 at the Power Mac Spotlight Circuit Makati at 7PM.

Since they started, the band (composed of frontman and lead singer Yael Yuzon, guitarist Erwin “Armo” Armovit, bassist Gosh Dilay, and drummer TedMark Cruz) has been delivering non-stop hits that are already integral to many Sponge Cola supporters and OPM fans alike. Their catalog spans all their multi-awarded albums, which include certified hits such as “Jeepney,” “Gemini,” “Nakapagtataka,” “Bitiw,” “Tuliro,” “Puso,” “Tambay,” “Kunwari,” and so much more. They have no doubt been a part of the journey of many Filipinos, may it be through teleserye soundtracks or their life soundtracks.

This journey continues with the upcoming release of their latest album “Sea of Lights,” a collection of songs that celebrates the sound and musical style that the band is known for, while also experimenting with new sounds into the mix. The album includes songs such as the previously released songs “Phantoms,” “Paliyabin Na Ang Lahat,” “Meron Ba?,” “Promises (feat. Karylle),” and many more songs that will be performed live for the first time in concert. As a bonus, concert-goers will also receive a limited edition physical copy of the album.

The concert will not only feature songs from their latest album, but will celebrate their greatest hits, together with intricate and well-planned production numbers that will be a delight to all attendees. Joining the band in concert will be special guests Leanne and Naara, I Belong To The Zoo, and Karylle. Directed by Paolo Valenciano, the “Sea of Lights” major concert will be on March 29, 2019 at the Powermac Spotlight, Circuit Makati.

A limited amount of tickets are available for PhP 1750 (Online Price) / PhP 1850 (Special Early Bird Price) / PhP 2250 (Door Price), and are available for purchase at all SM Tickets outlets. Special thanks to concert sponsors Powermac Spotlight, Lyrics, Bugsy’s, and Imperial Blue Whisky.

Watch out for the release of the music videos “Meron Ba” and “Promises (feat. Karylle), and the “Sea of Lights” album soon, under Universal Records. 

Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards top bills penultimate Cathy Garcia Molina Movie

The rumors were finally confirmed as Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards are set to star in the could be second to the last movie of Director Cathy Garcia-Molina.

The #KathrynAldenMovie2019 still don't have any working title as of the moment, but the movie is set to push mid of this year. 

Could be the last? Last year Direk Cathy announced that she has five movies left with Star Cinema before she retired, she already did three, My Perfect You, The Hows of Us, and Three Words to Forever. Direk Cathy is also said to Direk a movie with JM De Guzman this year as well. 

The rumors of Kathryn-Alden team up came buzzing after Alden's love team lie lowed late last year. 

Meet Marvel's Newest Filipino Super Hero "Wave"

Remember when Marvel announced that they are up for something big for their Filipino fans by making a new superhero that is of Filipino descent? Well the character is coming to life after Greg Pak who is known for his works such as X Men and Warlock comics finally introduced their newest Filipino superhero "Wave" on his Twitter account earlier today.

Wearing a Green and Gold armor and suit, Wave is a female water warrior with a Kampilan like sword (Two Point Sword).  

"Wave" is part of the newest super hero series by Marvel entitled War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas. Wave along with other Asian superheroes are tasked to defend the world against the War of the Realms set in Asia. 

The new Filipino Superhero is set to debut this May 2019.   

As announced at @sxsw, I'm thrilled to share the great @leinilyu's stunning design of WAVE, Marvel's new Filipino superhero! Gorgeous colors by @sunnygho! She'll appear for the first time in WAR OF THE REALMS: NEW AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 in May, with art by Gang-Hyuk Lim! pic.twitter.com/cZhwXbQ1FG

— Greg Pak (@gregpak) March 9, 2019

FEU Finishes on Top of this year's National Cheerleading Championship

The Far Eastern University Cheering Squad clinched the top tier in the 14th National Cheerdance Championship held last Saturday, March 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Tamaraw's Cheering Squad became the best cheerleading team in the country after they surpassed the best of the best teams in the Coed Cheer category of the Nationals. 

The Tamaraws performed a "Smooth Criminal" themed routine that placed them on top of the Basic Elements, Tossing, and Tumbling category, they scored a total of 338 points to finish on top over 7 other schools.

Meanwhile, the reigning CDC champions NU Pep Squad went home as first runners up, while the UE Pep Squad went home as the second runners up. 

You can watch the National Cheerleading Championship 2019 here: