Stories that revolve around deception and infidelity never grow old. And although our relatively conservative society doesn’t condone betrayal and unfaithfulness, we are still bombarded by so many stories on TV where someone cheats on his or her significant other. And for some reason, we find some sort of satisfaction watching them.
Case in point, primetime series Halik and its astronomical success in the ratings game and its top-trending episodes just prove viewers’ infatuation with dramas that tackle extramarital affairs.
Halik’s performance also shows that more people keep getting hooked on the drama and its intriguing stories on infidelity, not to mention the intertwined relationships of Lino (Jericho Rosales), Jacky (Yen Santos), Ace (Sam Milby), and Jade (Yam Concepcion). We even often hear some people wanting to get home early just to see the show on TV or watch the episodic highlights on YouTube. They feel bad if they missed an episode.
Recognizing this demand, the largest Video on Demand service in Southeast Asia, renewed its partnership agreement with ABS-CBN. The new agreement gives HOOQ subscribers access to more Kapamilya movies and shows, including the latest hit drama Halik within 24 hours of its airing.
The show, which premiered on Aug. 24, is the first ABS-CBN series with catch up episodes available on HOOQ and has become one of the most watched shows on the platform.
With the release of Dolce Amore earlier last month, Kapamilyas are in for a treat as HOOQ will soon be offering all-time favorites FPJ: Ang Probinsyano, La Luna Sangre, Wildflower, and so many others for the first time.
Sheila Paul, HOOQ Philippines Country Manager said, “We are so happy to bring more of ABS-CBN’s blockbuster movies and TV shows to HOOQ. We remain committed to delivering the best Pinoy content to our subscribers, continuing to enrich our content catalog with the widest collection of local hits of any video-on-demand service.”
Jeffrey Remigio, Content and Programming Head at HOOQ Philippines, said, “Aside from TV shows, HOOQ subscribers can also catch blockbuster films such as Vince, Kath & James, My Ex and Whys, and A Second Chance. This is in addition to the remastered classics that will be shown on HOOQ—titles like Himala, Sana Maulit Muli,and Oro Plata Mata.”
Macie Imperial, ABS-CBN’s VP for Integrated Program Acquisitions and International Distribution shared, “We are very excited to renew our partnership with HOOQ for another three years. This partnership is a strong global collaboration to continue to share ABS-CBN’s leading TV shows and blockbuster movies not only to Filipino viewers but to the rest of Southeast Asia as well.”
HOOQ customers can now access their favorite ABS-CBN titles on HOOQ from P59. This weekly pricing allows for more Filipinos to enjoy the service and enjoy a mobile-first experience where they can watch the first episode of all TV series for free. At the same time, customers can take advantage of the download function, which enables subscribers to download up to 10 titles onto their mobile devices to watch offline without an internet connection.
Customers can simply download the HOOQ app from Apple Store or Google Play, sign up or log in, to access HOOQ’s extensive library of Hollywood and Asian hits. Watch shows on HOOQ via Chromecast, Roku and Android TV. Smart, TNT and Sun users can enjoy a 30-day free trial. Globe mobile users can enjoy a 45-day free trial. Find out more and sign up today for a complimentary trial at www.hooq.tv.
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Abby meets the showbiz press
Sometimes it’s quite challenging to break the ice when you are talking to a politician, but with Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, her being so candid makes her so relatable you don’t have to struggle to start a conversation with her. And if you had a no-holds-barred discussion with Abby, it’s impossible for you not to notice her strong yet charming personality.
In a casual brunch with the showbiz press in a restaurant in Quezon City, the Makati leader arrived on time and started to great everyone in the room.
“I rarely come here in Quezon City because I’m allergic to traffic,” the incumbent Makati City mayor started, “But I can hardly say no to Manay Lolit(Solis) when she invites me for lunch. She’s my favorite. I can’t thank her enough for the support she’s been giving me since 2007.”
“And Ricky Lo also my favorite. May kami nyan,” said in jest, “And all the members of the showbiz press because of the support they’ve been giving me since I ran for Congress.”
Even before the host of the lunch could formally introduce the people invited to the intimate event, members of the entertainment press had already started bombarding the mayor with questions regarding her rivalry with her brother Junjun, who is running against her for Makati’s mayoral post in the 2019 elections.
“The situation is really difficult, whether you’re running against your brother, your cousin or any relatives, because it involves emotions. At alam mong pagkatapos ngelections hindi yun dun natatapos. This is not an ordinary rivalry and you cannot cut ties with someone you are related to,” she stated.
She further said that she’s civil with her brother, “civil in the sense that we don’t communicate because there’s this tendency that we end up saying things that we’ll regret.”
But more than the “Battle of the Binays,” Abby wanted to talk about her journey before becoming a public servant. At first, she was even reluctant to discuss the issue between her and Monsour del Rosario who is apparently now choosing the side of her brother.
“We had a falling-out this year. He wasn’t working at all. He was focused more on Taekwondo and his position in the sports commission. The Makati residents don’t feel his presence. For two years, wala siyang ginagawa. We talked last January. That was the time when we broke up,” she said while laughing.
Abby was frank with her answers to the questions thrown to her by the showbiz press and while some people are still wondering how she and her brother end up battling over the mayoral post in Makati, she only had this to say, “He only had two options: first was to run and the second was not to run.”