Let these movie and TV characters inspire your summertime dressing

Style, set, action!

BY JOHN LEGASPI

Apr 7, 2025 06:00 AM

  

---

Curating a look for the summer season should always be fun, vibrant, and an invitation to adventure. But if fashion inspiration isn’t hitting you right now, you may want to take some stylish cues from the characters you see on film and TV. These characters aren’t just fashionable—they embody a mood, making summer dressing about more than just staying cool. 

(Photo from academymuseum.org/Paramount Pictures)

Ripley and Dickie
Despite its thriller genre, "The Talented Mr. Ripley" offers gents everywhere endless inspiration for laid-back yet suave looks—perfect for city strolls or coastal sailing. Dickie’s style screams old-school class with his sweater polo and white shorts. Ripley’s, on the other hand, is all about the timeless charm of wardrobe staples, from crisp button-downs to impeccably cut trousers.

We recommend: Perry Ellis’ striped short-sleeve woven camp shirt, casual short-sleeve shirt, and Vincent sneakers.

(Photo from HBO)

Saxon and Lochlan Ratliff
Across all three seasons, "The White Lotus" has flawlessly captured the essence of dream-worthy travel through its costume design. The looks are all about next-level prints and bold color pairings—a total opposite of quiet luxury. In season three, the Ratliff brothers, Saxon and Lochlan, upped the ante for men’s resort wear with their playful choices in tops and swim shorts.

We recommend: Original Penguin’s hibiscus scene print swim shorts, Ecovero tropical leaf print shirt, and Ecovero sun check print shirt.Pjo 

(Photo from Warner Bros. Pictures)

Tashi Duncan
When it comes to sports luxe, one of the best references is the movie "Challengers." Its female lead, tennis player Tashi Duncan, demonstrates effortlessly chic style choices—thanks to the film’s costume designer, Jonathan Anderson. One of her most iconic looks is an all-white tennis ensemble, easily reinterpreted for the streets with just a few added accessories.

We recommend: Original Penguin’s Veronica dress, women’s color-block skort, and Veronica sleeveless polo.

For more style picks, head over to Original Penguin and Perry Ellis’ first-ever dual-brand store in the Philippines. Located at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, the new concept store features both brands’ latest collections, suited for any summer adventure.

Visit anthem.com.ph or follow @originalpenguinph, @perryellisph, and @anthemgroupph on Instagram to stay updated.

Bella Thompson gets fierce in first kontrabida/action role

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Apr 9, 2025 09:07 AM

  

---

AT A GLANCE

• As part of her offbeat role, Bella also looks forward to honing her villainess chops under the tutelage of iconic kontrabida actors.

Bella Thompson

Bella Thompson is ready to kick ass!

The twenty-something actress is gearing up for her first villain role in the upcoming Pinoyflix indie film Beyond The Call of Duty, which stars Martin del Rosario, Paolo Gumabao, and Maxine Trinidad.

She discloses, “I play Jade, the only female villain in the film. She’s a hacker with strong combat skills – smart, fierce, and calculated. She’s the type who can hold her own in any situation. One of those roles that leave a mark.”

Thankfully, Bella’s previous martial arts and military reservist training paid off and kept her in tip-top shape for the role.

She adds, “I underwent Basic Civil Military Training with the Philippine Navy. I’m a reservist. We trained in land navigation, gun handling, and small unit tactics. Outside of that, I’ve been boxing and doing Muay Thai since I was 13. I also learned basic arnis back in Cebu. All that training helped me connect with the physical side of Jade.”

Aside from dabbling in the heady action scenes, Bella is also excited about tackling the very first kontrabida role. She recalls, “I auditioned in November 2024, and when I got the news, I was genuinely excited. It was my first kontrabida and first action role, which was a big step. Plus, being part of a project with such a strong message and veteran actors is an opportunity I value.

She elaborates more on her acting paradigm shift, “Yes, it’s a huge shift, and I love it! Most of my past roles were more on the emotional or light side, but Jade is intense and action-driven. I enjoy characters that challenge me, and I’m open to more offbeat or unconventional roles moving forward.”

Some of Bella’s past movie projects include Ang Kwento ni Makoy with Buboy Villar. She also played the younger version of Beauty Gonzalez in After All.

Bella, currently co-managed by Viva Artist Management and Tyronne Escalante Artist Management, has just finished a Viva film, In Between, with Sue Ramirez and Diego Loyzaga. She also plays Honey Bee Ryder in Ang Mutya ng Section E, which she describes as a fun and colorful project.

As part of her offbeat role, Bella also looks forward to honing her villainess chops under the tutelage of iconic kontrabida actors.

She reveals, “I’m really looking forward to working with Mr. Jeffrey Santos and Sir Dindo Arroyo, both legends regarding kontrabida roles. I grew up watching them, so it’s exciting to share the screen and learn from their experience finally.”

Produced by LCS Film Production and Pinoyflix Films, Beyond the Call of Duty is directed by Jose “JR” Olinares, Jr., and Chavit Singson serves as executive producer.

The movie project also boasts collaborating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Teejay Marquez, Devon Seron, Alex Medina, Ramon Christopher, Dindo Arroyo, Mark Neumann, Migs Almendras, Rob Sy, Marlon Mance, and many others are also part of the cast.

Without God, everything we do would just be vanity

 

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

INDEED, that is what would surely happen. Without God, despite whatever brilliance and human and worldly success we may manage to achieve through our powers alone, everything would just be an exercise of self-indulgence and vanity that would lead us nowhere other than the ultimate disaster.

That is why Christ tried his best to convince the leading Jews then and now, us, that he comes from God and that he shows us the whole truth about ourselves, the truth that would make us really free, rid of the many subtle and sweet forms of slavery and bondage that we are prone to fall into. (cfr. Jn 8,31-42)

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” he said. We really need to train ourselves to have a certain abiding hunger and thirst for Christ, for his word and teaching, because, as he said, that is how we would truly be free.

This training should start as early as possible, right there at home when kids are still kids. They may not understand things yet, but they would eagerly follow what the parents, teachers and elders would teach and show them. And from there, they should be slowly made to understand who they really are and how they should be.

They have to be taught in a gradual but steady way that they, and all of us, are meant to be with God always, to do everything with him and for him, explaining slowly why this is so.

That is why, parents should first be properly taught about this, since they are the first teachers of their children. And they should not be teaching by words only, but also and mainly by deeds and example. The consistency between words and deeds should be made clear for their children to see.

Why do we need to be with God always? The quick answer is because we have been made in God’s image and likeness. We are supposed to share the very life and nature of God, a basic truth about ourselves that indeed is tremendously incredible, but which has to be explained well and inculcated in children’s mind as early as the children are able to understand things.

Without God, we would just be doing things on our own, without the eternal effects that our life and all our deeds ought to have. Our life would simply be of the perishable type, since without God, we would not be able to convert the perishable things in our life into something imperishable. (cfr. 1 Cor 15,53)

Everyone should be made to realize that we need to be with God more than we need air, water and food, which obviously are our necessities. It’s indeed a big challenge to be able to see that truth and to act in accordance with it.

Obviously, this will take a long and even a life-long process that will involve studying and internalizing the truths of our Christian faith, the development of virtues, the recourse to the sacraments and to the means of continuing formation.

There definitely is a need to learn how to pray, how to offer sacrifices, and how to avail of spiritual guidance. The art of spiritual and ascetical struggle should be mastered.

But before anything else, everyone should be made to see and understand why being with God offers us the best life we can have in this world, and why being by ourselves gives us the worst condition in life despite its apparent beauty.

Einigung am Abend: Union und SPD verständigen sich wohl auf Koalitionsvertrag

Stand:08.04.2025, 22:32 Uhr

Von: Bedrettin Bölükbasi 

Ein neuer Koalitionsvertrag könnte bald zustande kommen. Die Union und SPD stehen wohl kurz vor der Einigung. Noch laufen Verhandlungen über Steuern und Rente.

Das Wichtigste in
dieser Nachricht

1. Offenbar Einigung beim Koalitionsvertrag von Schwarz-Rot – Die Parteien arbeiten an den letzten Details der Verständigung.
2. Koalitionsverhandlungen zwischen Union und SPD im Endspurt – Jetzt kommt jetzt die finale Einigung zwischen den Parteichefs.
3. Union und SPD verhandeln um Koalitionsvertrag – Der Koalitionsvertrag muss von CDU, CSU und SPD noch abgesegnet werden.

Update, 22.25 Uhr: Die Aussagen, die in Medienberichten aus Verhandlerkreisen zu hören waren, scheinen sich zu bewahrheiten: Es wird in der Tat ein langer Abend und womöglich auch eine lange Nacht in der CDU-Zentrale in Berlin. Immer noch sitzen dort die vier Parteichefs der Union und der SPD. Sie feilen an den letzten kleinen Details eines Koalitionsvertrags. Eine Einigung wurde laut einem Bericht von RTL/ntv bereits erzielt. Jetzt geht es wohl nur noch um Kleinigkeiten.

Offenbar Einigung beim Koalitionsvertrag von Schwarz-Rot

Update, 20.30 Uhr: Die Union und die SPD haben sich fünf Wochen nach der Bundestagswahl auf einen Koalitionsvertrag geeinigt. Das berichtet RTL/ntv unter Berufung auf Verhandlerkreise. Eine Spitzenrunde hat demnach am Abend eine Grundsatzeinigung erzielt. Nun gehe es noch um Feinheiten, hieß es dem Bericht zufolge. Am Mittwoch (9. April) um 12 Uhr soll es eine Pressekonferenz geben, wo man die Details vorstellen wird. 

Update, 18 Uhr: Die Bild berichtet, dass inzwischen nur noch die vier Parteichefs von der CDU/CSU und der SPD verhandeln und den letzten „Feinschliff“ am Koalitionsvertrag vornehmen. Demnach sitzen seit dem späten Nachmittag nur noch Friedrich Merz, Markus Söder, Lars Klingbeil und Saskia Esken am Tisch. Es geht wohl um Fragen wie die Verteilung der Ministerien.

Erstmeldung: Berlin – Die entscheidenden Momente in den Koalitionsverhandlungen zwischen CDU/CSU und SPD stehen bevor. Eine Einigung scheint greifbar nah zu sein. Doch die Themen Steuern und Rente bleiben weiterhin problematisch und stellen für die 19 Chefverhandler eine Herausforderung dar.

Koalitionsverhandlungen zwischen Union und SPD im Endspurt

Seit Dienstagvormittag, dem 8. April, tagen die Chefverhandler von Union und SPD in der CDU-Zentrale in Berlin. Die Bild berichtet von einem „festen Willen“ zur Einigung zwischen den Parteien. Wann genau diese Einigung erreicht wird, ist jedoch unklar. Aus dem Umfeld der Verhandler heißt es lediglich, dass es ein langer Abend oder sogar eine lange Nacht ist.

Bundestagswahl 2025: Von „Tünkram“ bis zum „Tor zur Hölle“ – denkwürdige Zitate aus dem Wahlkampf

Fotostrecke ansehen

Quellen, die den Verhandlern nahestehen, zeigen sich dennoch optimistisch. Man sei „guter Dinge“, die Differenzen bei Steuer und Rente in den abendlichen Gesprächen zu klären. Sollte keine Einigung erzielt werden, „dann geht es eben morgen weiter“, so ein Insider gegenüber der Bild. Bei einer erfolgreichen Einigung könnte der neue Koalitionsvertrag bereits am Mittwoch vorgestellt werden. Am 7. Mai könnte dann CDU-Chef Friedrich Merz im Bundestag zum neuen Bundeskanzler gewählt werden.

Union und SPD verhandeln um Koalition: „Die letzten Meter sind die anstrengendsten“

Der internationale Druck, insbesondere durch die neue US-Zollpolitik, erhöht die Dringlichkeit eines schnellen Abschlusses. „Es sollte schnell gehen, es muss gut werden“, betonte CDU-Politiker Jens Spahn in Berlin.

Seit fast vier Wochen verhandeln die Spitzenpolitiker von CDU, CSU und SPD über einen gemeinsamen Koalitionsvertrag, der die zentralen Vorhaben einer schwarz-roten Regierung festhalten soll. Die saarländische Ministerpräsidentin Anke Rehlinger (SPD) sieht die Verhandlungen auf einem guten Weg. „Die letzten Meter sind die anstrengendsten, aber ich bin sicher, dass die Anstrengungen sich lohnen werden“, äußerte sie vor dem Konrad Adenauer Haus.

Union und SPD verhandeln um Koalitionsvertrag

Selbst wenn sich die Spitzen der drei Parteien auf einen Koalitionsvertrag einigen, ist die neue Regierung noch nicht gesichert. Der Vertrag muss noch von CDU, CSU und SPD genehmigt werden. Die SPD plant, alle Mitglieder darüber abstimmen zu lassen. Diese Mitgliederbefragung werde sicherlich noch einmal arbeitsintensiv, so Bas.

Ereignisreiche Tage in der US-Politik

Unser Merkur Newsletter USA kompakt informiert Sie dienstags über den aktuellen Stand in Trumps Politik. In Kooperation mit der Washington Post. Eine kurze Registrierung genügt.

Mit Klick auf den Button "Zum Newsletter anmelden" stimme ich den Datenschutzbestimmungen und dem Erhalt weiterer Medienangebote zu.

„So wie ich meine SPD kenne, winken die nicht einfach durch, sondern die werden sich schon sehr kritisch den Vertrag anschauen“, erklärte sie. Die Verhandlerinnen und Verhandler müssen den Koalitionsvertrag gut erläutern und für Zustimmung werben.