Why Spend Christmas at the Araneta Center

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There are only just a couple of weeks before Christmas day. And while some may already be trapped in a Christmas rush or the “holidaze,” Christmas at the Araneta Center continues to make spirits bright.

Aside from being one of the top destinations for those looking to buy Christmas presents or ornaments, Araneta Center has a full lineup of exciting activities that will make sure spending the Yuletide season here will be worthwhile.

1. Alab ng Puso: Rockers’ carol
“Jingle Bell Rock” may be one of the most popular Christmas songs, but at the Araneta Center, the public can rock with the hits of some of the country’s biggest musical acts in “Alab ng Puso,” a free concert at the Times Square Food Park on Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m.

The concert, which celebrates human rights, will feature performances from Sandwich, Noel Cabangon, Cookie Chua, Gary Granada, Aia de Leon, Tanya Markova, and spoken word artists Alfonso Manalastas and Juan Miguel Severo.

2. Impossible: Possibly the season’s best show
In a bevy of Christmas shows, is it still possible to find one that is entertaining as it is fresh and new?

Turns out, it is. Impossible, the world’s greatest magic show, comes to Araneta Center for the holidays. The show will run from Christmas day, December 25, 2017 to January 3, 2018 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ben Hart and Magical Bones, two of the magicians on the show, have earlier visited the country and thrilled Filipinos from all walks of life with their impressive tricks. Hart has earned a reputation for his unorthodox methods, while Bones has built a name as the world’s “best hip hop magician.” Joining the two are Ali Cook, Chris Cox, Josephine Lee and Bello Nock. Tickets are now available. For reservations and more information, visit TicketNet.com.ph or call 911-5555 or 374-9999.



3. Times Square Food Park: Gifting the senses
Dubbed as one of the most “Instagrammable” sites this Yuletide season, the Times Square Food Park serves as the bigger and better location of the iconic Araneta Center giant Christmas tree and the new tunnel of lights.

It also houses stalls that sell various food items and beverages—truly a perfect bonding spot for families, friends and couples.

As an added treat, there are fireworks shows every Fridays and Saturdays of December.

4. Santa Claus (and more) is in town!
Who wants to get stuck in a mall full of restless bargain hunters? Fortunately, this is not the case at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall and New Farmers Plaza.

Aside from being a top choice for those looking for gifts for their loved ones, the three malls also offer a respite to shoppers with chorale performances every day of December.

Santa Claus also roves around the three malls to spread the Holiday cheer and pose for photo-ops with Christmas shoppers whether they are naughty or nice.

5. Simbang Gabi: Tradition lives on at the Center

While some may be caught up with the hustle and bustle of the Christmas rush, many more make sure that they do not forget the true essence of the season.

The tradition of Simbang Gabi or Dawn Masses lives on at the Araneta Center with Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, New Farmers Plaza and Farmers Market providing the public a convenient venue for the Masses to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

Whether it is a “silent night” or a season filled with “joy to the world,” Araneta Center’s Christmas activities are a gift to the senses and the spirit.

Azkals Places Second In CTFA Invitational Tournament

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Azkals grabs second place in the recently concluded CTFA Invitational Tournament held in Taipei from December 1 to 5. In spite of an undermanned team, and three-day preparation - the quickly assembled Azkals composed of a few veterans, players from the U22 SEA Games squad and University stand out squeezed a second-place finish ahead of Timor Leste and Laos.

Most of the regular Azkals were not available because they we not released by their Clubs due to the PFL season is in its semi-finals stage. The CTFA Invitational Tournament dates are also outside of the FIFA dates so a number of call ups on foreign based Filipino players were not successful.

Asked about his reaction on Mr. Dan Palami’s description of the Azkals outing in Taipei as the Taiwan ‘debacle”, Mr. Jefferson Cheng, Team Manager says:

“If this is accurate, I am surprised with the comments of Dan (Mr. Palami). We are working for the same organisation which is the PFF, and representing one country, Our Country. I think a more encouraging and supportive stance will do more good for Philippine Football than complaining and maligning the players and coaches who did their best for their country. I think whoever makes these negative statements are being unfair. We ended up second place with 3 days preparation, the players were given the best organisation one can possibly do with the time, and logistics constraints we have plus the conflict that the CTFA Tournament have with the PFL schedule.

My role is temporary as the PFF Secretary General asked for assistance because most of the Clubs with the regular Azkals players including Mr. Palami’s Global FC are in the PFL semi-finals hence the Clubs prioritise the League instead of the National Team that is why they did not release the players. The regular Azkals Coach Thomas Dooley also had a very important previous commitment to speak in an AFC event representing the PFF.

Mr. Palami suggested certain players, we contacted them even bought them airline tickets but they did not come for some reason.

During the Tournament were some calls and red cards that did not go our way which could have changed the complexion of the games and the result of the Tournament. I am not offering any excuses as there are none needed. The Players and Coaches did their best and what is important is they were there on the field fighting. We had three days to prepare and the players coming in from a long hectic PFL schedule, a 2nd place finish is descent under the circumstances.

We should draw our attention to the positives. We may not have won the tournament but the winner here is Philippine Football. The exposure given to our younger players was the right thing to do. Just ask Miyagi from Cebu, who scored his first international goal with the Senior National Team, ask what the Cebuano football fans think about that. Or Gayoso from Ateneo who had his first cap. What about the sight of the younger players playing alongside their Idols! The senior players mentoring and leading the younger ones was a very good and encouraging thing to see. I think this is what team sports are all about. This experience of our younger players will only encourage and bring more fans, supporters and followers to our National Team and Philippine Football. Importante magtulungan tayo.”

Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta Headline Meant to Beh at MMFF

Just like every year, Octo Arts Films has a movie to offer featuring the Bossing himself. But unlike next year when they failed to get in to the festival, now they are back with a big bang as a different leading lady joins their lead comedian as headliner of the movie entitled Meant to Beh.

For the movie, bloggers were invited to a blogcon with Vic Sotto, Dawn Zulueta, JC Santos and Direk Chris Martinez attendibg the event. There are several celebrities included in the cast but only the three and their director.

It is not always that you get to do a video interview with Bossing Vic Sotto. I would have also interviewed Dawn but she already left when I was done with Bossing. You can watch the video on our official Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/wazzuppilipinas

Meanwhile, video coverage of the blogcon, from start to finish, are currently being uploaded at our official YouTube channel at http://www.YouTube.com/user/wazzuppilipinas



As usual, Vic was cool and composed at the Meant to Beh blogcon. He always projects himself as graciously decent eventhough he cracks a joke every now and then. His antics during the introduction started some laughter and consistently was there during the Q&A with the bloggers.

Their movie is also something new for the comedian since the plot deals with some family struggles specifically the "disenchantment" between husband and wife, and the temptations that surrounds.

Opposite Dawn Zulueta, plus an additional cast of younger actors, including child star Baste, and not to forget their usual extras from Eat Bulaga Dabarkads, the movie still somehow uses tried and tested formulas of showbiz.



Below is the official press release from the blogcon:

Meant To Beh Explores True Love’s Possibilities

Does true love stand the test of time? This is explored in “Meant To Beh” the latest blockbuster film starring Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta.

During the holiday season, happy families and loving relationships are highlighted amongst the merrymaking of the holidays. With Meant To Beh, moviegoers are treated to this funny and poignant story about the Balatbat family, where they can pick up timely lessons about life and love along the way. Middle-aged couple Antonio (Vic) and Andrea Balatbat (Dawn) try their best to raise their three children, Christian (JC Santos), Alex (Gabbi Garcia), and Riley (Baby Baste).

The Balatbats have a perfect family setup despite the fact that the couple was only forced by their parents to get married when they were younger. These and other issues arise through the years, creating challenges and hardships that threaten the harmony within the family and eventually lead to a point where the couple, realizing that they never really loved each other, decides to separate in order to find themselves.

This decision breaks their children’s hearts and they devise way to get their parents back together again despite both finding new respective partners. It has become their mission to get their parents to fall in love.

The family movie, which Dawn describes as “heartwarming”, is said to be the first “serious” comedy by Bossing Vic Sotto. He is very proud of the Filipino values that are highlighted, aside from the production’s entertainment value that will be enjoyed by audiences young and old. “There are no grand special effects this year, unlike the Enteng Kabisote series that we have presented in the past holiday seasons. It is a simple, relatable story that takes a closer look at today’s Filipino families and the values that we cherish.”

The movie, which also stars Sue Ramirez, Ruru Madrid, Andrea Torres, and Daniel Matsunaga is directed by Chris Martinez for Octoarts Films, M-Zet Productions and APT Entertainment.

Meant To Beh: Ika-Something na Utos will make its premiere in Philippine cinemas on December 25, 2017 as one of the eight official entries of the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.