Another Filipino film has made the country proud by winning the Golden Fox Award at the recently concluded Calcutta International Cult Film Festival. The film, Unveiling the Horse Demon, stars Filipino-British actor Guy Lockwood Award-winning Neal Tan directed the film with the famous cosmetologist cum-talent manager Tony Galvez as producer.
Unveiling the Horse Demon shared the Golden Fox Award in the horror-science fiction genre feature film category with the following films from other countries: Steven Berkoff’sTelltale Heart, directed by Stephen Cookson (United Kingdom); Jasper, directed by Julien Nicaud (Switzerland); Aliens With Knives, directed by Struan Sutherland and Nicole Steeves(Canada); and Lost in Apocalypse, directed by Sky Wang (China).
Lockwood, who describes himself as a performer in diverse interests like acting, singing and martial arts, plays his first lead role in a feature film. He co-stars in the horror-science fiction flick with Maria Isabel Lopez, Patricia Javier, Sue Prado, Mara Lopez, and Gene Padilla among others.
Lockwood was a recording artist in Los Angeles when he decided to pursue an acting career by producing, writing and playing the lead role in Unveiling the Horse Demon. He is the founder of Giant King Film Productions.
He has received awards in Contemporary Acting and Vocal Gospel from the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood. He was also WIMLER Young Ambassador of Goodwill. In 2010, he was accorded a scholarship from the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.
Lockwood feels grateful to Neal Tan whose most notable work was Ataul for Rent, winner of the Best Story and Best Screenplay Awards from the FAMAS Awards 2008; and his producerTony Galvez for their trust in his talent.
Strike Back kicks off 6th season on Cinemax
The action-packed Cinemax drama series Strike Back kicked off its sixth season same time as the U.S. last Saturday, Jan. 26 at 11:00 a.m. with a same encore at 10:00 p.m. on HBO GO and CINEMAX. Shot entirely in Malaysia, the new season features returning stars Warren Brown (Luther, The Dark Knight Rises), Daniel MacPherson (A Wrinkle in Time) and Alin Sumarwata (Neighbours, Burning Man), along with new cast members Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica, Monday Mornings) and Yasemin Allen (Water and Fire).
When a Russian bomber crashes in the South China Sea, the covert special-ops soldiers of Section 20 — Thomas “Mac” McAllister (Warren Brown), Samuel Wyatt (Daniel MacPherson) and Gracie Novin (Alin Sumarwata) — are sent to investigate. There, they cross paths with Katrina Zarkova (Yasemin Allen), a rogue Russian operative with questionable loyalties.
Under orders from the new commanding officer, Col. Alexander Coltrane (Jamie Bamber), Section 20 pursues stolen contents of the Russian jet across Southeast Asia. They will work alongside the Malaysian police to shut down a Triad gang in Kuala Lumpur, uncover a corrupt plot by a wealthy Indian businesswoman running for Parliament and plunge into the jungles of the Golden Triangle in Myanmar, facing off against mercenary drug agents and terrifying warlords as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to push the world to the brink of global conflict.
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Flip Nights at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge
Take a chance during cold January nights with a classic gin and tonic in hand as Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge presents Flip Nights, in partnership with Bombay Sapphire. Simply toss a coin and get a complimentary round of gin and tonic when you win against the bartender. This promotion is available from 8 p.m. onwards Sundays through Tuesdays.
Located at the topmost level of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge is a signature Ortigas attraction offering an unobstructed 180-degree view of Manila. Apart from the remarkable skyline scenery, the sky bar invites diners to indulge in its vast selection of cocktails, wines and other spirits together with a well-curated line-up of dishes that is a good mix of Filipino, Spanish and other Mediterranean favorites.
For more information, call (02) 720-7720 or e-mail restaurant.mnl@marcopolohotels.com.
For more information about Marco Polo Ortigas, contact (632) 720-7777 or book online via www.marcopolohotels.com or email: manila@marcopolohotels.com. Visitfacebook.com/MarcoPoloOrtigasManila or follow @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter or Instagram.
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More duty free stores in 2019
Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) Chief Operating Officer Vicente Pelagio Angala on Wednesday announced the agency’s plan to open new stores at the international airports of Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Panglao, Bohol this year.
With this expansion, the state-owned retail company is moving to achieving its target of 15 percent of the international traveller by 2027.
“We are in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and definitely it will happen this year,” said Angala.
Speaking to media men, he also revealed that DFPC’s total sales reached $217 million in 2018, a two percent growth from 2017.
Filipino tourists, Balikbayan’s and OFWs remain the DFPC’s top source market with $59.9 million total of transactions, followed by the Americans ($4.9 million), Chinese ($1.5 million), and Canadians ($1.1 million).
The top five best-selling categories are confectionary, liquors and spirits, perfume and cosmetics, fashion, and supermarket.
“One of the factors that contributed to this growth is our partnerships with third-party online payments solutions such as Alipay and WeChat,” said Angala.
“Our collaboration also with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Go Lokal program has steadily grown to this day and we expected to continue to grow in the coming years,” he added.
In line with the thrust of Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to promote proudly Pinoy-made products, DFPC in close coordination with the Department of Tourism in adding homegrown products thru the Philippines’ Finest Kiosk.
These plans and programs bode well for the DFPC’s higher target of $220 million for 2019.
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