2015-04: April
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GMA Network’s Official Statement on Marian Rivera
Kapuso Primetime Queen Marian Rivera has withdrawn from her upcoming program “The Rich Man’s Daughter” and her GMA Pinoy TV guestings abroad due to her delicate condition. GMA Network fully supports Marian’s decision and strongly believes that Marian and her baby’s safety is first and foremost. We would like to assure her supporters that Marian will still be seen in various shows in the Kapuso Network. We pray for a healthy and happy pregnancy for our dear Marian.
Reaching a milestone with 10 successful years of being one at heart with global Filipinos, GMA International amps up the entertainment by kicking off a year-long anniversary celebration with the much-awaited Kapusong Pinoy concert series in Vancouver and Anaheim this April.
AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Join the TFC Kapamilya Audition Caravan for Pinoy Big Brother and Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition on April 12, Sunday, 12-5pm at the TFC Studio
STATEMENT ON “THE BUZZ”
After more than 15 years of unparalleled credibility as Philippine television's leading showbiz-oriented talk show, The Buzz takes a break after its April 5,2015 episode. The program recognizes the evolution in showbiz news reporting, and to cope with it, The Buzz deems it a necessary step to reinvent to start anew. Showbiz news will never die. The showbiz talk genre remains.
Since the program began, The Buzz has gained the authority of being the premiere source of truthful and balanced entertainment news for the Filipino audience worldwide. As the program bids farewell for now, The Buzz would like to thank its loyal viewers for the support they have given the show in its entire run. See you again soon. ( Kane Errol Choa, Head, ABS-CBN Corporate Communications)
Los Angeles-based Beauty Queen Jessica Marasigan, right, and her brother Robin are two (2) of those who made the semi-final cut during last week's PBB, PBB Teen and Teleserye Audition Caravan held at the TFC Studios in Redwood City, CA. Photo by Richard Lao, CPA, MSMOT
Denver's Instagram Sensation Hannah Tolentino, left, and Basketeer (Part Irish, Guatemalan & Filipino) Jorden Dougherty are two (2) of those who made the semi-final cut during last week's PBB, PBB Teen and Teleserye Audition Caravan held at the TFC Studios in Redwood City, CA.Photo by Richard Lao, CPA, MSMOT
AGAINST ALL ODDS TRIUMPH: Little did anyone notice, but despite him suffering from extreme pain and high fever brought by an infected toe nail during the events, Sacramento, CA's JUSTIN SMABY (of ART PERSONAS) was named Top Runway Slayer (aka Male Supermodel) @ Manila Fashion Festival 2015 held at The Green Sun Hotel in Makati.
Kaley Mendoza (daughter of Jason & Nikki Mendoza) celebrated her 1st birthday with family and friends last Saturday in San Jose, CA. Kaley is the grand daughter of 1974 Binibining Pilipinas-1st Runner Up Winner Imelda Cajanding Santos and the niece of the First Ginoong-Pilipinas USA Winner Getty Santos. Photo by Richard Lao, CPA, MSMOT
Photo Journalist Richard C. Lao, CPA, MSMOT (standing left) celebrated his recent birthday via dinner at the Red Lantern Chinese Authentic Cuisine in Thunder Valley Resort in Lincoln, CA with friends Elizabeth Drechsler, Donnie Pestrana, Catherine Chua, Dory 'Aries' Pose (co-celebrant), among others.
Jimmy Kimmel Sings Manny New Pacquiao's Song... in Tagalog
LATE NIGHT JIMMYS GET THEIR TAGALOG ON: Popular American late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel (right) of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" outdoes the other late night talk show host Jimmy (Fallon) of NBC in Tagalog. Last December, Fallon randomly spoke "Lapis, Bangka, Tsokolate at Kamatis (Pencil, Boat, Chocolate and Tomato) on air to promote "The Tonight Show" in the Philippines. Last night, Kimmel sang parts in Tagalog of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao's (left) new song "Lalaban Ako Para Sa Filipino (I Will Fight For The Filipino)" which the boxer recorded for his May 2 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr, (Images from Youtube.com)
Hollywood-based Fil-Am Designer Oliver Tolentino held a couple of trunk shows at Westin St. Francis Hotel last Thursday and Saturday, March 26 & 28, 2015, respectively (shown here with models Kaila Williams and Alexandra Drechsler, right).
MEDIA RELEASE
Philippine Anti-Cybercrime Police nabs college professor for pirating ABS-CBN shows
Bataan-based IT professor already advertising on pirate website free live streaming for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on May 2 in Las Vegas targets OFWs; ABS-CBN seeks damages of over USD6 million
by Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) caught one of the most wanted pirates of movies and television programs of ABS-CBN and other major television networks in the country.
Jonathan Dela Cruz was caught in the act of pirating television programs of ABS-CBN at his house in Bataan on Monday.
The PNP-ACG said Dela Cruz created the website "pinoy-tv-replay.com http://pinoy-tv-replay.com" that features a variety of shows from the different channels of ABS-CBN.
"Nag-u-upload siya ng video copyrighted by ABS-CBN. Sa website dun sya kumikita sa pay-per-view. Once yung mga tao pumunta sa website at nag-view, automatic nag-ge-generate siya ng pera(He uploads video copyrighted by ABS-CBN. Once people visit and view the site, it generates revenue)," said Supt. Bernard Yang, chief of the PNP-ACG Cybercrime Unit.
Through a complaint filed by ABS-CBN, the PNP-ACG conducted surveillance on Dela Cruz for weeks and found his base of operation in Brgy. Camayan in Mariveles, Bataan. He was tracked down by investigators through his Facebook account.
"Ang violation nito is Republic Act 8293 o yung Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines pursuant to the Cybercrime Act of 2012(The violation in this case is the Republic Act 8293 or Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines pursuant to the Cybercrime Act of 2012)," Yang said.
Judge Ramon Pamular of Nueva Ecija issued a search warrant yesterday afternoon against Dela Cruz. He was arrested after coming back from Hong Kong.
Dela Cruz is a professor of Information Technology at a state college and university in Bataan. He is also a member of a huge fraternity in the country.
ABS-CBN's Assistant Vice President of Global Anti-Piracy Elisha Lawrence said ABS-CBN will pursue cases against pirates such as Jonathan Dela Cruz following "numerous reports of malware on these free sites, which infect viewers' computers allowing hackers to invade people's computers and view their financial records, steal their credit card numbers, photoshop photos that they find in their hard drives and sent to porn sites."
"We are enforcing against these sites to protect our viewers. But in the meantime as we go after each and every one of these sites, protect yourself and your family and stay away from free sites and free streaming sites. Don't pay the high price for free," Lawrence said in a statement.
In an interview with ABS-CBN, Dela Cruz admitted to the crime of piracy, stealing the programs and spreading them online through his website in exchange for money.
"Kunwari po may nag upload kinukuha ko po yung code tapos inaano ko sa blogspot, kaya nga po kami naglalagay ng disclaimer alam ko naman na copyright na kaso ito(If someone uploads, I get the code but I put a disclaimer because I know that copyright is the case here)," Dela Cruz said.
"Piracy nga po yun pero di naman kami yung parang source talaga. (It is piracy but we are not the real source)," he adds.
Most of his victims are overseas Filipino workers, he said.
"Fifty to forty dollars po, maiipon po, mga OFW po, kaya naman kami nag-e-embed para makatulong sa mga OFW na hindi nakakapanood, kasi mahal bayad sa iba, pero aware po ako illegal yun mag-spread kami ng video na copyrighted (I get 50 to 40 dollars from OFWs, but I embed so I can help OFWs who can't watch because it gets expensive to watch, but I am aware that it is illegal to spread copyrighted video")," Lawrence said.
On his website, it was seen that Dela Cruz was also already advertising a free live streaming for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Seized from Dela Cruz through a search warrant were computer hardware and a wide screen television he is allegedly using to pirate programs. There were also several bank accounts, ATM and credit cards that were found in his possession.
Also seized were his motocycle and a sedan.
Aside from the case that will be filed by the PNP-ACG at the Department of Justice, ABS-CBN has also filed a lawsuit today at the US Federal District against Jonathan Dela Cruz for copyright and trademark infringement of ABS-CBN's television shows and movies.
The company is seeking damages of over $6 million.
ABS-CBN is represented by Gilbert Reyes of Poblador Bautista & Reyes Law Offices in the case. Stephen Gaffigan, meanwhile, is representing ABS-CBN in the civil complaint before the US Federal District Court. (ABS-CBNNews.com)
ABS-CBN TFC "ASAP" host and Philippine Concert King Martin Nievera
returns to the M Pavilion in Las Vegas this April 4
ABS-CBN TFC's first goodwill ambassador and Philippine Concert King Martin Nievera is returning to Las Vegas for a one-night concert this April 4, Saturday at the M Pavilion of the M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After performing to a sold out crowd in 2014, the multi-awarded, world-class Filipino American singer and international sensation is ready to wow and thrill ticket holders to his concert at the classy 2,300-seat M Pavilion.
Throughout his career, Nievera’s acclaimed soulful performances have earned him 18 platinum records as well as five double-platinum, three triple-platinum and one quadruple-platinum album. As an actor, Nievera has appeared in 11 movies and seven television series and specials. He is currently one of the hosts on the acclaimed and world-renowned musical variety television show “ASAP” and recently appeared as a celebrity judge on “The X Factor Philippines,” both programs of ABS-CBN. "ASAP" is currently seen worldwide only through TFC.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now, priced at $30, $38 and $46, plus taxes and fees.
Tickets can be purchased at the M Resort Box Office, by phone 800-745-3000 or atTicketmaster.com.
For more information, visit: http://www.themresort.com/entertainment/events/Las-Vegas-Entertainment-Martin-Nievera.html
Untold Story of Manny Pacquiao Revealed in "Kid Kulafu"
From left, "Kid Kulafu" director Paul Soriano with former child actor and the film's lead star, Buboy Villar; Moviegoers in the U.S. and Canada get the chance to see "Kid Kulafu" on the big screen when the film hits the theaters on April 24; Many celebrities around the world like the current hottest loveteam of Philippine TV, Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano of ABS-CBN TFC's "Forevermore", are showing their love for Manny and for the film, "Kid Kulafu". (ABS-CBN Integrated Corporate Communications)
'Tadhana' director Antoinette Jadaone, Coco Martin & Toni Gonzaga score big with "You're My Boss"
TFC@theMovies is bringing to theaters around the world the Philippines' current number one rom-com movie blockbuster, "You're My Boss" starring Coco Martin and Toni Gonzaga in a film directed by Antoinette Jadaone. Clockwise from top left: Coco Martin greets fans at SM Novaliches; "You're My Boss" grossed Php 65 million already in just 3 days in the Philippines and will start its international screenings this Friday, April 10 in U.S. and Canada and roll out to various continents this month; Toni Gonzaga with fans at the film's block screening in SM Megamall. (TFC@theMovies/ABS-CBN Star Cinema photos)
Of Chance Encounters and Surprising Journeys: Join Angelica Panganiban, JM de Guzman
TFC@theMovies is bringing to 31 theaters the most successful independent Filipino film to date: "That Thing Called Tadhana", written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, with an award-winning performance by Angelica Panganiban, shown with co-star JM de Guzman. The film opens in the US on March 27. (ABS-CBN Corporation/Cinema One Originals)
MIDDLE EAST
1) Only 9 days to go till the Fight of the Century!!! TFC is exclusively distributing the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in the Middle East through TFC.tv, OSN, Du, eLife, Novo Cinemas and partner bars and hotels. Get your own "better than ringside" tickets now via PPV online, on cable, or via Novo Cinema and TFC on-ground partners. Visit mayweathervspacquiao.me for more information in viewing the fight in the Middle East.
THEATRICALS
2) Catch the #FightOftheCentury #Pacquiao fever!!! Watch TFC@theMovies' "Kid Kulafu" in 18 U.S. and 7 Canada theaters starting Friday, April 24
ABS-CBN TFC chosen as exclusive PPV distributor
of Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in the Middle East
DUBAI, UAE, April 10, 2015 – In a move that reinforces its position as one of the key media players in the pay-per-view landscape, ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) signed a deal with Las Vegas boxing bigwigs, Mayweather Promotions LLC and Top Rank, Inc., to be the exclusive distributor of the much-ballyhooed and much awaited welterweight world championship unification bout on May 2 between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao on all media platforms in the Middle East.
GMA Network Waives Exclusive TV Airing Rights for Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight
In true Kapuso fashion, GMA Network has waived its exclusive TV airing rights for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happening on May 2 in Las Vegas.
"GMA Network recognizes the magnitude of this fight and we want every Filipino to be part of this momentous event and unifying experience," announced GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon in a message delivered by the Company's EVP and CFO Felipe S. Yalong during a press conference.
Ai-Ai delas Alas: I have returned.
The long wait is over. Philippine Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas returns to her home network as she signed an exclusive contract with GMA Network today, April 16.
Karelasyon debuts this Saturday
GMA News and Public Affairs proudly presents Karelasyon—the newest drama anthology set to reveal the real nature of relationships based on true-to-life experiences of people who have faced different ordeals in the hopes of keeping the love of their lives.
Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko, 39 years of unwavering public service
Thirty nine years on the air and counting, the Philippines’ longest running public service program Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko (KKMK) shows no signs of slowing down as it remains committed to its mission of improving the welfare of indigent Filipinos across the country, especially children afflicted with cancer.
Megan Young returns to the Kapuso Network
Starstruck II alumna and Miss World 2013 Megan Young returns to her home network as she inked a one-year exclusive contract with GMA Network recently (March 31).
RE: THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINEUP FOR ITS 31ST EDITION! - APRIL 23 - 30, 2015 IN DOWNTOWN LA, LITTLE TOKYO, KOREATOWN, WEST HOLLYWOOD
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS of Los Angeles is proud to announce its line-up for the 31st Edition of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presented by Visual Communications. This year's Fest will present 134 films from over 20 countries with 32 features and 102 short films. This is the largest Asian Pacific film festival of its kind in Southern California, and this year the festival has one of the highest number of films by Asian American filmmakers ever - 17 feature films from Asian Pacific American directors.
Below and attached is our press release. Your coverage and report on this year's 31st Festival is greatly encouraged. We have screening links for films for your capsule reviews and we can set up interviews with available filmmakers. If you have any questions, please let us know. For the complete program guide and for tickets go directly to: www.vconline.org/festival
Also if you are a film writer or journalist and would like to attend the festival as a press representative - please register for your accreditation directly at http://www.asianfilmfestla.org/accreditation/
Thank you in advance for your consideration,
David Magdael/Festival Co-Director
