Eugene Toquero Vows to Give it His All at One: Hero's Dream

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Filipino fan-favorite Eugene Toquero will be making his fourteenth trip to the cage as a professional mixed martial arts competitor on 3 November, and he will be doing so in front of a passionate crowd in Yangon, Myanmar.

The fans at the iconic Thuwunna Indoor Stadium will be entertained by the flamboyant flyweight Toquero once more on the undercard of ONE: HERO’S DREAM when he takes on highly-touted Chinese prospect Ma Hao Bin.

Toquero dropped his last three outings and is in dire need of a win as he returns to action on 3 November.

The 36-year-old Filipino veteran lost two of his scheduled bouts in 2016, yielding to reigning ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano Moraes via first-round submission in March before tasting the same fate at the hands of Team Lakay’s Danny Kingad in December.

Having his hand raised in triumph remained elusive to Toquero in April of this year when he bowed down to Indonesian standout Stefer Rahardian by way of unanimous decision.

As he desires to place himself on the winning track again, Toquero stressed that he has made some crucial adjustments to his preparation.

“I have made other adjustments. I train longer and harder now. I don’t want to be complacent because I am not getting any younger. This is a huge organization with a lot of very good martial artists from all over the world,” he said.

“I will give my best in this bout. I will leave everything on the line,” Toquero declared.

Toquero is confident that if his Chinese foe takes him lightly, it would be a catastrophic mistake.

“If my opponent did not train well, then I will eat him alive inside the cage. I am hungry for that win,” he stated.

The man standing in his re-entry to the winner’s column is Ma, who has strung together an impressive 7-1 professional record that includes three wins by submission and one by knockout.

In Ma’s recent trip to the ONE Championship cage, he submitted “The Wolf Of The Grasslands” Hexigetu in their flyweight affair at ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: SHANGHAI this past September, courtesy of a guillotine choke, with ten seconds remaining in round number two.

Toquero hopes that his experience will pay dividends when they meet across the cage, but he won't be paying too much attention to his adversary's game plan.

According to Toquero, the key to victory is in focusing on himself and making his A-game the priority.

"I never study my opponents. I do not care who they are because in Muay Thai and my amateur fights we never knew who our opponents were. We train in the gym and enhance our strengths," he shared.

With a fresh outlook and his back against the wall, Toquero is driven to break his losing spell and redeem his status as one of the most exciting flyweights in the Asian region.

"This time, l will make sure that my hand is raised as the winner. I am not going home with a loss on 3rd of November," he ended.

​For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

Full Bout Card Announced for One: Immortal Pursuit in Singapore

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), has just announced the full card for ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT, set for 24 November at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Fans will be treated to another exciting evening of authentic martial arts action, as the best martial artists in the world take to the ONE Championship cage. In the main event, reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee will defend her title against Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi in a highly-anticipated rematch. In the evening’s co-main event, reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren will defend his title against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki. It is Askren’s final bout as a professional before he retires from the cage, and takes an executive position with ONE Championship.

Ticket information for ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT is available at www.onefc.com.

21-year-old “Unstoppable” Angela Lee of Singapore is considered one of ONE Championship’s most outstanding athletes. She captured the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship with an awe-inspiring victory over Mei Yamaguchi in 2016, and has since then defended the title successfully on two occasions. Lee’s beautiful combination of elite striking and grappling has proven to be a potent formula for success, as she has remained unbeaten in her career. In the most recent bout of an impressive run, Lee dominated top contender Istela Nunes, showcasing her wide array of skills. She now returns to Singapore to defend her title against Mei Yamaguchi in a much-anticipated rematch.

34-year old Japanese martial arts veteran Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi is a female atomweight standout and a former ONE world title challenger from Tokyo. She is the DEEP Jewels Featherweight Champion, and owns seven submissions and two knockouts in her 27-bout professional career. In 2016, Yamaguchi challenged Angela Lee for the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight World Championship in an epic showdown that would later win multiple ‘Bout of the Year’ honors from international media publications. In her last bout, Yamaguchi submitted top contender Jenny Huang impressively within two rounds. With the victory, Yamaguchi earned the right to challenge for the world title once more opposite the champion Angela Lee.

A former NCAA Division I All-American and US Olympian, Ben “Funky” Askren is a collegiate wrestling legend and one of the finest martial artists in the world today. Askren joined ONE Championship in 2014, taking the promotion by storm and capturing the ONE Welterweight World Championship with a resounding technical knockout victory over Nobutatsu Suzuki. Since then, Askren has successfully defended the title twice, and has stopped six of his last seven opponents to maintain a perfect 17-0 professional record. In what is being billed as the last bout of Askren’s illustrious professional career, the American is set to defend his title against the legendary Shinya Aoki of Japan.

Global martial arts veteran Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki of Shizuoka, Japan, is one of the world’s most decorated athletes. He is the DREAM Lightweight Champion, former Shooto Welterweight Champion, and the former ONE Lightweight World Champion. The 34-year-old Aoki is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under the famed Yuki Nakai and has won multiple grappling tournaments all over the world. Aoki also holds a black belt in judo and is widely considered one of the best pure grapplers in professional martial arts competition today. In his next bout, Aoki makes his ONE Championship welterweight debut, taking on reigning ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren of the United States for the title.

Leandro “Brodinho” Issa is a 34-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion black belt from Sao Paulo, Brazil, who trains and competes out of the world-renowned Evolve Fight Team in Singapore. With a record of 14 wins and six losses, including nine wins by submission and two by knockout, Issa has proven to be an exciting competitor with a penchant for spectacular victories. A pioneer of ONE Championship’s bantamweight division, Issa will take on American Andrew Leone in his next assignment.

Andrew Leone of Cortland, New York, is a 28-year-old martial artist who trains alongside some of the most talented combat sports athletes in Asia at the renowned Bali MMA gym in Indonesia. With a standout record of eight wins and only three losses, Leone is victorious in three of his last four outings, including tough decisions over top flyweight contenders. In his most recent contest, Leone earned the right to challenge reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes, falling via first-round submission. Now, Leone is looking to get back into title contention but will next have to face talented veteran Leandro Issa.

22-year-old Singaporean top lightweight contender Amir Khan is a martial artist with a stellar professional record of 8-2. He is considered one of the most promising young talents to represent Singapore on the international stage of martial arts. Khan is currently riding a five-bout win streak, with all of his victories coming by way of scintillating finish, including one by submission and four by devastating knockout. In his most recent outing, Khan needed less than one round to finish Jaroslav Jartim with a combination of punches and kicks. Next in line for Khan is the always-dangerous Adrian Pang.

Adrian “The Hunter” Pang is a martial arts veteran from Queensland, Australia, with a 22-10-2 professional record. The veteran Pang has decimated opponents with his incredible power and no-frills approach to striking in nearly two decades as a professional. He is known for his astounding durability and overwhelming strength, with the ability to walk through opponents with little to no resistance. Pang will need to muster all of his strength however, when he takes on rising star Amir Khan of Singapore in his next appearance inside the ONE Championship cage.

22-year-old Li Kai Wen of Tianjin is the ONE Featherweight Beijing Tournament 2014 Champion and is one of the most fearsome young competitors from China. Li utilizes his tremendous striking ability and aggression to overwhelm foes with his offense, which has resulted in a series of impressive highlight reel stoppages so far in his young career. On his way to becoming a complete martial artist, Li will be faced with a tough challenge in fellow rising star Ahmed Mujtaba.

Ahmed “The Wolverine” Mujtaba is a Pakistani martial artist competing in ONE Championship’s stacked featherweight division. He owns an impressive professional record of six wins with only one defeat, with 83% of his wins coming by spectacular finish. Mujtaba is known for his tremendous grappling technique which has led to four submissions out of six total victories. Mujtaba makes his highly-anticipated return to the ONE Championship cage against Li Kai Wen.

Singaporean female strawweight contender “Mighty” May Ooi is a martial artist with a professional record of 3-2. A former champion swimmer, Ooi represented Singapore in the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona. Today, she is one of the country’s most talented martial artists, and a hard-working competitor possessing well-rounded striking and grappling skills. In her most recent contest, Ooi scored a thrilling upset, defeating Malaysia’s Ann “Athena” Osman by first-round submission in her promotional debut. Ooi is now set to make her second appearance inside the ONE Championship cage opposite Cambodia’s Vy Srey Khouch.

Vy Srey Khouch is a highly-regarded Cambodian martial artist and former female boxer who competed in numerous international competitions. She made her professional debut in 2015, winning by decision at ONE: KINGDOM OF KHMER. In her most recent bout, Srey Khouch fell just short of victory against Malaysian icon Ann Osman at ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS. In her next bout, she will take on Singaporean women’s martial arts standout, May Ooi.

37-year-old Arnaud “The Game” LePont is a lightweight veteran from France who sports a professional record of 11 wins and five losses. A fixture in the Asian martial arts scene, LePont is well-known in local martial arts circles and lives and trains in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He made his promotional debut in 2012, and has since notched two hard-earned victories in the ONE Championship cage. He now returns to action after a short break to take on Richard Corminal.

Filipino lightweight competitor Richard “Lion Heart” Corminal is a Filipino martial artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He holds a professional record of four wins and two losses, with each of his career victories to date coming by way of knockout. In his most recent bout, Corminal debuted inside the ONE Championship cage opposite Thai martial arts star Shannon Wiratchai. Corminal now aims for redemption, as he takes on Arnaud LePont in his second appearance in the promotion.

Yang “The Pugilist” Fei of Hubei, China, is a newcomer to ONE Championship, and one of the most promising young Chinese martial arts talents in the game. He sports a professional record of two victories and only one defeat, with both of his wins coming by finish. Making his promotional debut, Yang will seek victory against Waqar Umar in a three-round preliminary bout.

27-year-old Waqar Umar of Pakistan is a ONE Championship featherweight with a 4-4 professional record. All four of his victories have come by submission, made possible by his well-established grappling skills. Inside the ONE Championship cage, he’s faced the likes of Peter Davis, Amir Khan, and Benedict Ang. In his most recent contest, Umar took on rising star Keanu Subba in Malaysia. Umar now returns to take on Chinese competitor Yang Fei.

Tiffany “Soul Crusher” Teo is a female martial artist who competes in ONE Championship’s women’s flyweight division. She holds an unblemished professional record of six wins and no losses, including two submissions and two knockouts. Born in Brunei and raised in Singapore, Teo began training in taekwondo before moving on to compete in boxing and Muay Thai and eventually transitioning to the ONE Championship cage. In her last bout, Teo impressed with a thorough decision victory over Rebecca Heintzman. Teo’s next assignment is against Pooja Tomar.

Flyweight competitor Pooja Tomar is a martial artist from India with a professional record of three wins and one loss. With a penchant for showcasing her solid striking skills, Tomar has recorded all three of her victories by knockout. Competing largely in her home country of India, Tomar now makes her way to the biggest stage in Asian martial arts as she is set to make her ONE Championship debut against top Singaporean talent Tiffany Teo.

Chinese bantamweight prospect Miao Li Tao and Cambodian Khun Khmer practitioner Sim Bunsrun are set to kick off all the action at ONE: IMMORTAL PURSUIT in the evening’s first bout offering. The two strikers will lock horns in an exciting three-round contest, setting the pace of what should be an amazing night of martial arts competition.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.

DOTr Files Graft Case Against Former DOTr Officials, BURI

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) today filed a graft case, or a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, against former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, other former DOTC officials, and Busan Universal Rails Incorporated (BURI) officers, for entering into an alleged anomalous contract for the Metro Railway Transit 3 (MRT-3).

In a 29-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman earlier this morning, DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Procurement Atty. Reinier Paul Yebra cited four components of the MRT-3 project (Project) of the case which are: maintenance of the MRT-3 Systems; general overhauling of 43 units of light rail vehicles (LRVs); total replacement of the signaling system; and additional maintenance works.

According to Usec. Yebra, the DOTr finds it anomalous that while the joint venture of Busan (Busan JV) was the one who participated in and won the bidding, the entity doing the actual maintenance works of the MRT-3, and receiving payments therefor is BURI, which is a totally different entity.

"We want to know the truth. We find it anomalous that the project was awarded to Busan JV, but the one receiving payments and doing MRT-3 maintenance works is BURI, a totally different entity," Usec. Yebra said.

Usec. Yebra explained that the Notice of Award was issued to Busan JV on 23 December 2015. However, interestingly and disturbingly, on the same day, former DOTr Assistant Secretary for Procurement and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Camille Alcaraz requested the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to facilitate the registration of a Special Purpose Company consisting of the members of the Busan JV for the Contract Award of the Project. BURI was later on incorporated on 04 January 2016.

"It shows that the respondents conspired and confederated with one another to enter into a contract that is grossly disadvantageous to the government," he said.

"At the end of the day, our concern goes to our commuters. We can hear and feel their pleas. That is why the DOTr, through the leadership of Secretary Tugade, will do everything to serve the public with the truth and justice that they deserve," Usec. Yebra added.

Last 17 October 2017, DOTr served a Notice to Terminate it's contract with BURI due to: Poor performance; Failure to put in service and subsequently ensure the availability of the contractually obligated number of trains, and more importantly, it failed to put in operation reliable and efficient trains; Failure to implement a feasible procurement plan for spare parts, and in fact, failed to procure and store the required volume of spare parts which affected its ability to affect immediate repairs on defective trains and other facilities of the MRT-3 system, and; Failure to comply with the contractual requirements of a complete and up to date Computerized Maintenance Management System.

BURI was given 7 calendar days to respond and submit a verified position paper stating why the contract should not be terminated. After which, the DOTr shall have 10 days, upon receipt of BURI's response, to decide whether or not it will issue an Order to terminate the entire contract.

Travel in Style with BPI Credit Cards

Wazzup Pilipinas!

A tie-up with Qatar Airways and SSI Group, Inc. for exciting deals on major flights and travel essentials

BPI Credit Cards, Qatar Airways and SSI Group, Inc. collaborate to offer special discounts off airfares via installment plans; and travel essentials. Sealing the deal are (from left) Jenelyn Lacerna, Vice President for BPI Credit Cards; Rohan Seneviratne, Country Manager for Qatar Airways; and Michelle Suarez, Head of Marketing Communications for Stores Specialists, Inc.

BPI Credit Cards is collaborating with Qatar Airways, the world’s fastest-growing airline, and SSI Group, Inc. (SSI), the country’s leading specialty retailer, to offer installment plans and discounts on airfares, as well as travel essentials.

For the first time, Qatar Airways is offering Philippines travelers not only discounted fares to Europe and the United States, but also interest-free options for those who pay with their BPI Credit Cards.

Major travel essentials such as luggage from premium brands like Samsonite, American Tourister, and Lipault Paris, can also be purchased at a discount using BPI Credit Cards.

“Traveling has always been popular among our clients,” said Jenelyn Lacerna, Vice President for BPI Credit Cards. “With Qatar Airways offering deals via installment, these aspirational purchases have become more reachable and affordable. At BPI, we always strive to look for the best deals for our clients by partnering with the best service providers and retailers.”

Rohan Seneviratne, Qatar Airways Philippines Country Manager said the partnership with BPI Credit Cards complements the airline’s brand and values.

“This is the first time we are offering installment deals for our Philippines clientele. We are delighted to partner with BPI, a bank that similarly upholds the trust of clients, addresses their needs, and helps them reach their aspirational travel goals. In the same way, we at Qatar Airways value our clients by aiming to become the people’s airline of choice, through our unrivalled service, latest-generation aircraft, and now another convenient way of paying for their dream vacation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Stores Specialists, Inc. Head of Marketing Communications Michelle Suarez, said offering discounts on travel essentials, such as premium luggage, benefits not only those in the partnership, but also the customers who can now travel in style without having to spend as much.

“We are happy to offer special rates to BPI credit card holders since this allows them to purchase what they need to make that dream trip a reality. This helps promote the premium brands that we carry, too,” said Suarez.

Exclusive deals

There will be an Exclusive Preview Sale on Qatar Airways flights and travel essentials from SSI Group, Inc. premium brands for BPI Gold and Platinum Cardholders on October 20, 2017, from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Central Square in Bonifacio Hight Street Central, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The travel sale will be open to all BPI Credit and Prepaid Cardholders at the same venue from October 21 to 22, 2017, 11 am to 8 pm.

Exciting deals await BPI Credit Cardholders, including discounts and Real 0% installment deals on ticket purchases for up to six months. There will also be discounts on travel essentials for those getting ready for their dream trips.

The online sale for Qatar Airways’ airfares for BPI Credit Cardholders will begin on October 23 and will last until November 5, 2017. Visit www.qatarairways.com for more information.

First and Exclusive: Matchmaking Guru Patty Stanger Returns in ‘Million Dollar Matchmaker’ this November on Sony Channel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

New reality series premieres November 1, weeknights at 7:55pm

The world’s most popular matchmaker, Patti Stanger, begins anew with a group of millionaires for a final chance at finding love in the new reality show Million Dollar Matchmaker, premiering on Sony Channel this November.

Every week, two new millionaires check into an exclusive high-end resort where Patti has taken over the 21st floor so she can focus her eyes and ears on her unsuspecting clients who are hoping to leave with the love of their life. During their stay, they learn a few “love lessons” designed by Patti to point them in the right direction to true love. Each millionaire then will go on the same date twice with two potential matches to see if there is chemistry. Everything seems so simple, but there’s a catch! The dater must choose the millionaire back or they will be forced to check out alone.

Despite her expertise, Patti finds her hands full as she goes head-to-head with some of her unmatchable clients. And if Patti can’t help them find love by the end of their stay, no one can.

Million Dollar Matchmaker premieres on November 1 and can be seen weeknights at 7:55pm on Sony Channel.

Sony Channel is available on Cablelink Channel 39, Cignal Channel 120, Destiny Cable Channel 35, G Sat Channel 48, and SKYCable Channel 35.

Teams Sail to Manila Bay for APAC’s Regional Gauntlet

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Regional Qualifier and Regional Finals teams are headed to Manila Bay! From October 26th to 29th, the SMX Convention Center in Manila, Philippines will host a grand LAN for their Regional events.

Similar to EMEA, the Regional Finals will play host to sixteen of the top teams in the APAC region for DoTA 2 and CS:GO. Starting with the Regional Qualifier, teams will fight through a grueling gauntlet to reach the Regional Finals. Seven invited pro teams will compete in the Regional Finals per game title, while one team will earn their spot via the Regional Qualifier!

Only two teams will have the opportunity to sail ahead to the ROG MASTERS 2017 Grand Finals, while the rest will be left ashore in Manila Bay. They will be joined by the Regional Finals victors from AMERICAS, EMEA and CHINA. Six teams per game title will compete in a monumental battle of the ages. Ultimately one Dota 2 team and one CS:GO squad will be crowned the ROG MASTERS Champions!

(Originally taken from the official ROG Masters website)

Gloc-9 Marks 20 Years in the Biz with the Release of Rotonda EP

Gloc-9 is not one to brag about his work because he believes that it should speak for itself. Yet there is no underestimating his 20 years in the music industry, especially since it is not just about being rapper and performer, but also about being a songwriter.

It also is about having struggled to get to this point where he has nothing to prove, and now realizing that he has in fact put in the work and must only compete with himself. “Kung titingnan ko ‘yung 20 years, parang siguro ang biggest lesson ay ang magpatuloy lang do’n sa gusto mo talagang gawing mga kanta. Kasi siyempre maraming kailangan i-consider minsan, pero kung gano’n kasi, baka hindi ka na makakasulat,” he says.

Gloc-9 is not one to plan on writing a hit song, which makes each and every hit song a welcome surprise. What might be most interesting though is that the songs that have become hits are the ones that speak of very distinct issues of nation: LGBT rights, OFWs, poverty, prostitution, corruption. He says:“Na-realize ko rin sa tagal ko na ring nagsusulat ng kanta, na wala naman akong puwedeng isulat na hindi ko naranasan o nakita manlang. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung trigger din sa pagsusulat, na may makita ako, may tanong ako tungkol sa isang bagay.”

This might explain why Gloc-9 hasn’t found the need to follow fads or go for what’s trending in music. He is also not one to deny his age, in fact he finds comfort in it. “Parang mapapaisip ka rin na kung dalawang dekada ka na rito sa business na ‘to, then nadaanan mo na rin siguro ‘yung dinadaanan ngayon ng mga mas batang rapper,” he smiles. “Hindi ko na kailangang makipagsabayan sa kanila, time nila ito.”



Besides, there is enough space for everybody, and Gloc-9 is of the belief that the more rappers there are doing different things, then the better for original Pilipino music and its fans. His focus remains the same as 20 years ago when he himself was a young un-discovered rapper: to make songs that he is proud of, and hopefully put together an album.

On his 20 th year of course, a new album is what Gloc-9 does have, and he couldn’t be happier. “Yung Rotonda is an EP na sobrang natuwa ako sa bawat kanta, kasi dumating sa’kin paisa-isa, and parang nung nabuo ko ‘yung lima, sakto siya do’n sa gusto kong i-discuss na mga bagay na hindi ko pa napagusapan sa ibang album.”

ROTONDA is Gloc-9’s ninth studio album, and his third with Universal Records. AVAILABLE NOW in CD and Digital formats.

Catch Gloc9 perform live on November 4 (Saturday), 7 pm at Eastwood Central Plaza for his Rotonda EP Launch. Get a FREE Gloc-9 Rotonda T-Shirt for every CD purchase. First come, first served!

Gloc9’s 's latest #RotondaEP is now available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon and Spinnr

iTunes/Apple Music
https://itunes.apple.com/ph/album/rotonda-ep/id1282469760

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/7ujPVtwowGD0xSCILIzYJD

Deezer
http://deezer.com/album/48041732

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Rotonda-Gloc-9/dp/B075LNYDP5

Spinnr
http://www.spinnr.ph/desktop/#albumdetail?albumCode=6019011092659

#RotondaEP PREVIEW: https://youtu.be/55ibVhHX79o

ICE TUBIG MV : https://youtu.be/NyhM9KnWPys


FOLLOW GLOC-9:
http://glocdash9.com
Facebook, Twitter,& Instagram: @glocdash9

Boyzlife Live in Manila!

Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy, part of the multi-platinum, record breaking bands, Westlife and Boyzone, have joined forces to create Boyzlife.

Boyzlife is the thrilling untold story of life in two of the world’s biggest boybands, with the lifelong friends walking the audience through their lives - captivating tales of the highs, the lows and of course weaved in between the stories will be an intimate performance including a selection of their biggest hits that forged their careers! Boyzlife has been selling out all their special intimate performances since their formation in 2016.

During Brian’s time in Westlife the band secured a record 7 straight Number 1 singles, 12 UK & Ireland Number 1 singles in total, 4 Number 1 Albums, x3 Record of the Year Awards, x2 MTV Europe Music Award, x1 Brit Award and countless others. Sales during this time reached in excess of 30 million. Among Westlife’s chartbusting singles are; “Swear It Again”, “My Love”, “Fool Again”, “Queen of My Heart”, “I Have A dream”, “Uptown Girl”, “I Need You”, “Soledad”, “All or Nothing”, “Seasons In The Sun”, and many more! Brian’s debut solo single ‘Real To Me’ topped the charts in the UK, Ireland and across Europe, becoming one of the biggest radio airplay hits that year across the continent. Brian followed this up with a further three solo Number 1 singles and platinum status in Australia where he resided.

As a member of Boyzone, Keith has enjoyed incredible success, with the band being Europe’s most successful boyband during the second half of the 1990’s and the success has continued for many years. Achieving 6 UK Number 1 singles - with 16 of their first 17 singles going Top 5 in the UK Charts - it cemented Boyzone as the first Irish group to top the UK charts so regularly. 5 Number 1 albums were secured and over 25 million records sold worldwide. Some of the group’s greatest hits are No Matter What, I Love The Way You Love Me, Words, Baby Can I Hold You, Love Me For A Reason, among others.

Brian and Keith will sing the greatest hits of Boyzone and Westlife as they perform live in Manila on December 4 at the Kia Theater, presented by Ovation Productions. Ticket prices are P5750, 4750, 3750, 1750 and are available starting October 26 via www.ticketnet.com.ph and all regular ticketnet outlets.

Pinoy Boxer Michael Dasmarinas Wins at Suntec Singapore at His Debut Fight for Ringstar Boxing

Filipino boxer Michael “Hot & Spicy” Dasmarinas, lived up to his monicker and spiced up the evening at Ringstar Boxing’s ‘The Roar of Singapore III’, held at Suntec Convention & Exhibition in Singapore last weekend.

Michael knocked out his Thai opponent, Phupha Por Nobnom, in the second round of the supposed 6-round IBO undercard bantamweight division fight.

Dasmarinas says, “I am thankful to all those who helped me win this fight. To my friends, manager, my family, thank you to all of you. This is for all of you.”

Michael’s story of hardships as a young child were shared previously in Philippine media and got him a lot of attention, with CNN Philippines Anchor Mico Halili, even suggesting that his next monicker as he becomes a bigger fighter should be “Gloves on Fire”, since he had a story that his gloves were burned when he was 9-years old by a family member, who did not want him to get into the sport which is ironically, his bread and butter now.

With this with, Michael’s next bout will be a world title fight in 2018.

Favored Singaporean boxer Muhamad “The Chosen Wan” Ridhwan on the other hand, whose fight against Namibian Nataniel Sebastian, became truly the most exciting fight of the night, with 12 rounds of aggressive back and forth of both fighters. Both of whom before entering the ring were undefeated, Ridhwan with a 8-0 record and Sebastian with a previous 9-0 record before the night ended.

Trash talking also took place at the press conference two days before the fight, with Ridhwan, the more confident of the two, even slamming Sebastian’s fight record.

Ridhwan received a unanimous decision from the three judges, with a score of 115-113, 115-113 and 115-114.

Asked if he was suprised with Sebastian’s ability to sustain the 12 rounds, Ridhwan says, “I neutralized that, he couldn’t fight in the middle, that’s why I took control of the punches. He pushed the limits though, he brought it to 12 rounds, but I’ve been there before. I’ve been there in training. It was a good test. We learn from this, we are just going to grow stronger and better.”

Ringstar’s Founder and CEO Scott Farrell also announced at the end of the evening, that Ringstar will be back in February 2018 in Dalian, China, then April again in Singapore.

Let Your Feelings Run Wild with GEM this November!

Buckle up for a roller coaster of emotions this November! Learn from the struggles of a newlywed housewife in the Japanese drama Caution, Hazardous Wife. See how salarymen cope with office politics in the Japanese workplace drama Heisei Busaiku Salaryman. Join genius detective Hajime Kindaichi as he tries to solve new cases in the murder mystery series The Files of Young Kindaichi NEO. Go head over heels with the fate of star-crossed lovers in the Chinese romantic drama Memory Lost. After all the drama, relax and root for your favorite K-pop idols as they take acting lessons with hilarious consequences in the Korean variety show Acting Fighter.

Caution, Hazardous Wife
Newlywed Isayama Nami (Ayase Haruka) begins her mundane life as an ordinary housewife when she and her husband move to a quiet, exclusive neighborhood. Nami decides to take cooking classes where she meets other housewives, receiving tips from them while becoming friends. But underneath their happy faces, they all seem to have issues troubling them. She suspects one of her new friends is a victim of domestic violence and decides to save her. Can Nami help all her new friends?
Caution, Hazardous Wife premieres 20 November, every Monday and Tuesday at 9pm, first and exclusively on GEM.

Heisei Busaiku Salaryman
At the West Tokyo branch office of Pakupaku Confectionery, a baking company, capable salarymen clinch successive business deals. However, nothing seems to go right for four staff members. They perform their best in their work but they fail, get scolded and must restart their work all over again. The quartet struggles with challenges as they are dangerously close to being laid off. How will the four struggling salarymen prevail?
Heisei Busaiku Salaryman premieres 22 November, every Wednesday and Thursday at 9pm, first and exclusively on GEM.







The Files of Young Kindaichi NEO
Hajime Kindaichi’s (Ryosuke Yamada) childhood best friend, Miyuki Nanase (Haruna Kawaguchi), is scouted as the lead actress by an award-winning director for the latest production of the school film club. However, there are rumors that everyone connected to the previous production is doomed to die. Indeed, the film club members are found murdered one after another. Can Kindaichi protect Miyuki before she becomes the next victim?
The Files of Young Kindaichi NEO premieres 5 November, every Sunday at 10:30pm, with 2 episodes back-to-back, first and exclusively on GEM.

Memory Lost
Highly intelligent police officer Jingxi (Yang Rong) had previously met Han Chen (Bai Yu) through a misunderstanding. They meet again through another police case, and this time, Jingxi is impressed by the brilliant Han Chen and his use of traditional investigation methods. The pair tries to resolve the misunderstandings between them and work together to solve many difficult cases as Jingxi develops feelings for Han Chen. However, because of an accident years ago, Han Chen has lost his memory and only remembers that he has a fiancée. He searches tirelessly for her, despite his amnesia and everyone else insisting that this woman does not exist, to find the answers to his past. Will Han Chen find the answers that he seeks?
Memory Lost premieres 16 November, from Monday to Friday at 8pm, first and exclusively on GEM.

Acting Fighter
It’s time for the master class of acting! From crying to dramatic scenes, join our hilarious group of young K-pop idols as they take on various challenges every week to improve on their acting skills and win the acknowledgement of their peers! Will they succeed in becoming superstars?
Acting Fighter premieres 4 November, every Saturday at 10:40pm, first and exclusively on GEM.

GEM is available on SKYCable Channel 116 in Metro Manila and on Channel 222 in Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Baguio.