Entertainment
Chinese language films premiere on HBO
THE HBO Asia Original anthology of martial arts TV movies coproduced with China Movie Channel (CMC) will premiere on HBO in Mandarin, the original language it was filmed in. Subtitled in both English and local language, Master of the Drunken Fist: Beggar So and
Master of the Shadowless Kick: Wong Kei-Ying will premiere at 9 p.m. on HBO on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26, respectively. Both movies will also be available in original language on HBO GO and HBO ON DEMAND. This is the first time Mandarin films are airing on HBO. These two anthology TV movies are one of four HBO Asia Original productions this year. The others include Halfworlds Season 2 and HBO Asia’s first Taiwanese coproduction, The Teenage Psychic.
The Legend of the Blue Sea on iflix
INTERNET TV service iflix will premiere Korea’s new fantasy drama,
The Legend of the Blue Sea. Fast tracked from Korea, iflix will premiere two new episodes every Thursday and Friday, less than 24 hours after their original telecast. iflix subscribers in the Philippines can now stream and download the first eight fully subtitled episodes, as well as new episodes weekly as they become available. Directed by Jin Hyok and written by Park Ji Eun, The Legend of the Blue Sea tells the story of a genius con artist (Lee Min Ho of Boys Over Flowers) who meets the world’s last remaining mermaid (Jun Ji Hyun of My Sassy Girl) as she tries to adapt to life on land. Past and present collide as the pair discovers a connection in their past. The show joins iflix’s extensive library of popular and highly acclaimed Korean dramas, including the award-winning fantasy drama Secret Garden, hit romantic comedy Boys Over Flowers, action drama City Hunters, and drama series Moon Embracing the Sun. iflix subscribers can also download TV shows and movies from iflix’s extensive catalogue for offline viewing. The service is priced at P129 per month in the Philippines for unlimited access.
SandBox launches night operations
SANDBOX has extended operating hours since the beginning of the month. All the rides are now open until 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. “Due to increased public demand, we are extending until 9 p.m. to cater to more visitors on weekends,” said Jomi De Guzman, Alviera Project Development Manager, in a press statement. There will also be the SandBox Holiday Beats concert on Dec. 17, featuring Ki Ro, Chocolate Factory, Che Che Bureche, Silent Sanctuary, Moonstar 88, and Hale. Alviera has also launched Li’l People, the latest attraction for children at SandBox. Meant for children up to 12 years old, the air-conditioned indoor playground is filled with colorful play areas with educational toys. New dining choices have also opened: El Pedro Cubano, Morgan’s Comfort Food, and Monster Milkshake. For more information on SandBox at Alviera, visit http://www.alviera.ph/ and http:// www.facebook.com/AlvieraPH.
Christmas with Nigella and Jamie
THIS DECEMBER, TLC focuses on Christmas with festive and easy to prepare meals by Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson. The Simply Nigella
Christmas Special shows how to have a relaxed but spectacular Christmas with her foolproof guide to stress-free festive cooking and easy entertaining. Premieres Dec. 19, 7:10 p.m. Jamie’s Night Before Christmas is a pre-Christmas treat for a delicious and stress-free festive feast with foolproof recipes and clever last minute ways to pimp up what you’re planning. Premieres Dec. 19, 8:05 p.m. Meanwhile, season 2 of
Insane Pools: Off The Deep End premieres Dec. 29, 8:05 p.m.
Top acts at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall
SOME OF the country’s top acts are at the Shangri-La Plaza this holiday season. The Vox Angeli Children’s Choir and Song Weavers Philippines will perform today at 6 p.m. at the Grand Atrium, and 7 p.m. at the East Atrium. Catch Xavier School De Novo on Dec. 17, 5 p.m. at the East Atrium; while the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of music director Gerard Salonga, gives a performance at 7 p.m. at the Grand Atrium. On Dec. 18, the Julie Borromeo Performing Arts Foundation takes the spotlight at the Grand Atrium at 3 p.m. Then it’s off to the East Atrium at 7 p.m. for a performance by the Ateneo Chamber Singers led by conductor Jonathan Velasco. It’s the Ateneo Boys Choir’s turn on Dec. 19, 6 p.m. at the East Atrium. The all-male choral ensemble Aleron sing classic and contemporary songs at the Grand Atrium at 7 p.m. The Ateneo Primary School and the Playshop Kids are set to perform on Dec. 20 at the Grand Atrium at 6 p.m., and East Atrium at 7 p.m., respectively. The Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir will go onstage on Dec. 21, 6 p.m. at the East Atrium. Violinist Jay Cayuca takes over the Grand Atrium at 7 p.m. The Philippine Madrigal Singers will perform on Dec. 22, 6 p.m. at the Grand Atrium. At 7 p.m., The Executives Band performs big band jazz and swing standards at the East Atrium. Voces Manila comes back with holiday hits on Dec. 23, 6 p.m. at the East Atrium; while the UP Jazz Ensemble jazzes up the season at the Grand Atrium at 7 p.m. Rounding up the Christmas musical series at the Shang, The Nightingales hit the Grand Atrium stage on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.; while Voce Fich performs on Dec. 30, 4 p.m. at the East Atrium, with A Capella Manila at the Grand Atrium at 7 p.m. For inquiries, call 370-2597 to 98 or visit www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficial.
‘Brocation’ with the gang in Hong Kong
THE Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and the latest reality show The Ultimate BROcation are listing down must-dos for a “brocation” in Hong Kong. These include flyboarding at Deep Water Bay; a yacht party at the Victoria Harbour; riding the Peak Tram; dining at WoolooMooloo, among other activities. The Ultimate BROcation premiered on Dec. 14, on KIX. New episodes air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. and encore on Saturdays at 8 p.m. KIX is available in the Philippines on Cablelink Channel (Ch.) 54, Cignal TV Ch. 133, Destiny Cable Ch. 63, Gsat Ch. 18 and SkyCable Ch.63.
Okada Manila’s preview set for Dec. 21
OKADA MANILA, the country’s largest world-class integrated resort, is officially turning on the holidays as it gives a glimpse of what the 44-hectare property has to offer on Dec. 21. Okada Manila’s preview event will include a Christmas concert featuring top Filipino artists Lani Misalucha, Regine Velasquez and Bamboo. The concert is free and open to the public. Complimentary transport service will be provided from SM Mall of Asia to shuttle guests to the property during the preview event. There will be a firework display enhanced with laser light show that can be seen as far as Quezon City. This spectacle of lights is the first of its kind in Manila and a preview of what guests can expect from the entertainment complex in the future. For more information, visit www.okadamanila.com/PreviewEvent/ and Facebook site: @OkadaManilaPH.
Documentary on a kidnapping on CI
CRIME + INVESTIGATION Network (CI) brings the disturbing true story of Colleen Stan in a documentary special. The Oregon native was abducted in 1977 and was held captive and imprisoned for up to 23 hours a day in a coffin-sized box for seven years. Stan’s survival story is documented in the two-part special, Colleen Stan: The Girl In The
Box, where she relates the actual events behind her harrowing experience and how she manages to overcome the worst nightmare of her life. Featuring news footages, interviews, and first-hand accounts from Stan and police officials, the docu-special takes viewers through her journey as she starts a new life and reveals how her faith and fortitude kept her alive. Colleen Stan: The Girl In The Box premieres Dec. 17, 9 p.m. CI is available on SkyCable Ch. 98 , Dream Satellite Ch. 35, Cablelink Ch. 41 and Destiny Cable Ch. 98.
Christmas performances at Filinvest City
FILINVEST CITY celebrates the holidays with a series of entertainments for the whole family. Ongoing until Dec. 31 is a dazzling Christmas Light Show, held from 6 to 9 p.m., which will feature performances from artists including JayR on Dec. 18 and Hale on Dec. 25 at the River Park, Festival Mall. Repertory Philippines’ production of Hansel and
Gretel — an adaptation of the opera re-written by Joy Virata for the Children’s Theatre — will have a performance at the Festival Mall on Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. The Voice of the South, a Christmas choral competition, will be held on Dec. 16, 6 p.m.; and Ballet Philippines’ Pas Des
Deux will have performances on Dec. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m., all happening at Westgate.