Girls' Generation's Sooyoung to make Hollywood debut in 'John Wick' spin-off

 

Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com

April 30, 2025 | 11:58am

MANILA, Philippines — Actress-singer Choi Soo-young, better known as Sooyoung of the K-pop act Girls' Generation, will make her Hollywood debut in "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina."

The movie, shortened to "Ballerina," is a spin-off from the main "John Wick" franchise starring Keanu Reeves that takes place in between the third and fourth movies.

"Ballerina" circles around Oscar nominee Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballerina who trains in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma (similar to Reeves' Wick).

Her first field mission is to protect Sooyoung's Katla Park before setting out to exact revenge for her father's death.

Franchise returnees include Reeves, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick in his final on-screen appearance. He died in March 2023.

Sooyoung has been a part of Girls' Generation since the group debuted in 2007, releasing hits like "Gee," "I Got a Boy," "The Boys," "Mr. Taxi," and "Oh!"

She left the group's agency, SM Entertainment, in 2017. She released her first solo single "Winter Breath" the following year and then signed with Saram Entertainment in 2019.

The singer made her acting debut in 2008, starring in the film "Hello, Schoolgirl" and comedy series "Unstoppable Marriage." 

Sooyoung had cameo appearances in the shows "Oh! My Lady," "Paradise Ranch," and "Gentleman's Dignity," and participated in SM Town film projects "I AM." and "SMTown: The Stage."

Since then Sooyoung has starred in "Fanletter, Please!," "Not Others," "Man in the Kitchen," "Tell Me What You Saw," "Run On," "If You Wish Upon Me," "My Spring Days," "Squad 38," "Dating Agency: Cyrano," "New Year Blues," and "So I Married the Anti-fan."

A heavenly mix of laughter and emotion: 'Isang Komedya sa Langit' hits cinemas this May

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Apr 29, 2025 06:50 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Set to premiere nationwide on May 28, 2025, this film promises an unforgettable cinematic journey filled with joy, reflection, and a touch of magic.

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From left: Aki Blanco, Ms.  Carmi Martin and multi-awarded actor, Jaime Fabregas

Get ready to laugh, cry, and be inspired—because this May, Kapitana Entertainment Media proudly presents 'Isang Komedya sa Langit', a uniquely heartwarming blend of comedy, fantasy, and drama. 

Set to premiere nationwide on May 28, 2025, this film promises an unforgettable cinematic journey filled with joy, reflection, and a touch of magic.

At the heart of the film is the veteran actor Jaime Fabregas, who takes on the role of Father Emanuel Garcia. Known for his powerful portrayals of clergy in Philippine cinema, Fabregas once again delivers a performance that resonates deeply. While playing a priest may be familiar territory for him, he admits this character brought a fresh challenge.

“Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses na ako gumanap bilang pari. Well, may challenge pa rin kase hindi naman lahat ng pari ay may pare-parehong character,” he shared.

Drawing from personal experiences, Fabregas revealed that he once served as an altar boy at the Naga Cathedral, a connection that undoubtedly adds depth and authenticity to his performance. 

Joining Fabregas is the ever-charismatic Carmi Martin, who plays the role of Naty—a part originally offered to Nova Villa. Embracing the project without hesitation, Martin saw great promise in the film’s story. Widely loved for her comedic flair, she showcases her versatility by diving into emotionally charged scenes, even shedding tears on set.

Also starring in the film is rising talent Aki Blanco, portraying Brother Marco. Following his acclaimed role in 'The Last 12 Days'. Blanco, managed by Tyronne Escalante, continues to build his reputation with another moving performance. When asked what he would change if he could revisit the past, Blanco reflected candidly:

“Siguro po, kung may babaguhin man ako, gusto ko bumalik sa pagiging teenager ko. Kase nung teenager ako, simple lang ang buhay ko… gusto ko lang balikan ‘yung mga gano’n kase sa panahon ngayon, puro social media na and puro celfone,” he expressed. 

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The film’s ensemble cast is further strengthened by performances from EA Guzman, John Medina, and Gene Padilla—each adding their own vibrant flavor to the story.

Behind this compelling project is writer and producer Rossana Hwang, the visionary force of Kapitana Entertainment Media. Far more than just the mind behind the screenplay, Hwang personally sought out the film’s leading talents. Jaime Fabregas came highly recommended by Frasco Mortiz, son of the comedic legend Edgar Mortiz.

“You have to get him,” Mortiz told Hwang.

From left: Aki Blanco, producer and screenplay writer Rossana Hwang, Carmi Martin and multi-awarded actor, Jaime Fabregas

Meanwhile, Carmi Martin was personally recruited by Hwang through the Barangay Chairman of Magallanes Village in Makati—an effort that highlights her passion and hands-on commitment to the craft of filmmaking.

Directed by Roi Paolo Calilong, 'Isang Komedya sa Langit' delivers a rich, colorful, and deeply meaningful story that is sure to leave a lasting impact on audiences.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind film that dares to blend humor with heartfelt drama. 'Isang Komedya sa Langit' is more than just a movie—it’s a reflection on life, faith, and love. This is a cinematic experience you won’t want to miss.

For more updates and information, visit Kapitana Entertainment Media.

Kyline Alcantara breaks silence on controversy

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Apr 29, 2025 11:03 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Kyline addressed the controversythrough a statement released by Sparkle GMA Artist Center on April 29.

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Kyline Alcantara (Instagram)

Kapuso star Kyline Alcantara has broken her silence on the issue involving her former boyfriend, Kobe Paras.

Kyline addressed the controversy through a statement released by Sparkle GMA Artist Center on April 29.

No specific names or events were mentioned in the statement, but fans believe it referred to her recent breakup with Kobe. 

Jackie Forster has confirmed the breakup of her son Kobe with Kyline in a video message. 

The full statement of Kyline issued via the Sparkle GMA Artist Center:

"Kyline would like to move on with this issue. She has chosen to keep her peace and maintain respect for the people who have been part of her life. She hopes we can all move on and put this issue to rest," the statement read.

Fans praised Kyline for choosing to remain silent. Here are some of the comments:

"Enjoy life being single. No stress, no drama."

"Good move Kyline. Less talk less mistake. There’s no perfect relationship. Past relationships can make you a stronger woman. Just focus on your goal. Pray and wait for God’s perfect choice for you. Don’t be in a hurry. Great revenge is be better and love yourself. God bless you."

"Indeed, you're handling this situation with professionalism and class! Keep moving forward!"

"She handled it very well than the two adults."

"I'm so proud of you talaga Kyline. Stay healthy and positive lang."

Things dogs can sense

 Dogs possess remarkable sensory abilities that allow them to perceive things beyond human detection, often leading to behaviors that seem paranormal. For example, they can sense subtle environmental changes, like the pressure drop before a storm, due to their acute hearing and sensitivity to vibrations.

Dogs are also thought to detect seismic activity, such as earthquakes, before humans feel them. Their ability to sense low-frequency vibrations or changes in the Earth's magnetic field may explain this behavior, though scientific evidence is still inconclusive.

Another remarkable ability dogs have is detecting illnesses in humans. Their sense of smell is so refined that they can identify changes in a person’s body chemistry, such as fluctuations in blood sugar or even the presence of cancer.

Dogs are highly attuned to human emotions, often sensing when their owners are upset or anxious. This emotional sensitivity sometimes leads them to exhibit behaviors like comforting or protecting their owners.

Lastly, dogs occasionally act strangely, staring at empty spaces or barking at nothing, which many attribute to their acute senses picking up stimuli beyond human perception.

All reactions:

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Women on the margins of history

BY AMBETH R. OCAMPO

APRIL 30, 2025

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Maria Luisa T. Camagay, professor emerita of the University of the Philippines department of history, is the scholar who led the charge for the study of women and women’s issues in Philippine history. Beginning with her 1995 book “Working Women of Manila during the 19th Century,” she recast history into “HER-story,” promoting women’s studies until it became accepted as a legitimate branch of Philippine historical inquiry. In 2010, she edited “More Pinay Than We Admit,” a compilation of essays in the field and a second volume this year, a gap of 15 years. The subtitle of the book is “The Filipina Emerges from the Margins,” and while it is a collective of 14 different authors (13 women and one male), it reads coherently and flows well, tracing Filipinas in history from the 16th century to the present.

I read the book in one sitting, lured into the rabbit hole by Gloria Esguerra Melencio’s essay on “Historical Markers on Filipino Women’s Sexuality during Spanish Colonial Times.” Despite its dull academic title, the essay’s content was an exposition of how female sexuality in the Philippines was framed by men, mostly Spanish religious chroniclers, who were understandably shocked to find different customs in their newfound colony: the use of penis implements, slavery of women, notions of virginity, concubinage, marriage, divorce, and polygamy at odds with their imported, Western, male, and Christian norms.

The two pages on the penis implements cite the first reference in Antonio Pigafetta’s 1521 account of the Magellan expedition. Pigafetta described this as a penile piercing with: “a gold or tin bolt as large as a goose quill, and in both ends of the same bolt, some have what resembles a spur, with points upon the ends, and others [have] what resembles the head of a cart nail … In the middle of the bolt is a hole, through which they urinate.” Pigafetta also noted that women would not “communicate” with the men without it!

Unfortunately, Pigafetta did not actually see this and merely relied on his informants. Sometimes, I wonder if the Pinoy informants he encountered agreed among themselves, “gag*hin natin ito.” But that does not explain why accounts of penis implements used by precolonial Pinoys are found in other sources: Miguel de Loarca (1582), Antonio de Morga (1609), and Francisco Ignacio Alzina (1667). The anonymous “Boxer Codex” (circa 1590) has a drawing on the margin of one of the manuscript pages. Twenty-first-century Pinoys, especially Visayan seafarers, boast of penile implants that can probably trace their roots to the ones Pigafetta saw in 1521.

Many of the essays in Camagay’s new book merely show the tip of the proverbial iceberg, pointing readers to the uncharted waters of primary sources in the National Archives of the Philippines. In the essay by Ma. Rita Lourdes Alfaro, she looks at bundles of documents that also caught my eye 40 years ago when I first ran my fingers through the catalog: aborto (abortion), infanticido (infanticide), homicidio (homicide), adulterio (adultery), and prostitucion (prostitution) that also include cases of vagrancy, undocumented women, and so-called “mujeres publicas (public women).” Alfaro shows how these seemingly banal archival classifications frame Filipinas, their passion, and their crimes within the male gaze of the colonial authorities. It is not just the content of the documents, but also the way they were written and understood at the time, that deserves closer investigation and reinterpretation.

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Camagay’s essay “Disarming the Catalonans of Zambales during the 17th Century” deals with the confiscation of ritual vessels of the Catalonans/Babaylans by a priest, attempting to stamp out the precolonial religion by using children of the community to rat on their elders. An inventory of the different types of earthenware vessels used by the babaylan is supplied. This long-lost episode in Philippine history frames the difficulties the Church had in converting Filipinos from their old faith into Christianity. It is to be noted here that not all Catalonans or Babaylans were women, there were some labeled as “bayoguin,” who were male babaylan who cross-dressed or were described as men who “had the nature of women.” This is a footnote that gains relevance in contemporary LGBTQ issues.

Mary Dorothy Jose revisits the way women are represented in accounts of the Philippine revolution, where some led men in battle as “generala” or “babaeng lalake.” Ma. Serena Diokno looks back on silences in history, focusing on Melchora Aquino, or “Tandang Sora,” who was only recognized in the 20th century. She has since appeared on banknotes, coins, stamps, textbooks, and monuments, her nickname is remembered. A far cry from the list of people arrested following the outbreak of the revolution in August 1896, when she was merely described as “a woman, a certain Sora.” From the margins and peripheries of Philippine history, the Filipina emerges to underscore what we now call HER-story.

Filipino works of universal value

APRIL 30, 2025

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Yesterday, there was a modest but meaningful ceremony held at the temporary headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs. It was formally speaking, the launch of the Memory of the World Program, Unesco Philippines. This is the Philippine arm, so to speak, of Unesco’s Memory of the World Program, which aims to guard against “collective amnesia” through the recognition of the world’s intellectual treasures, whether they be films, manuscripts, books, photographs, audiovisual recordings, scientific discoveries, exploratory voyages, and digital documents that are considered milestones in history. The program provides a platform for international cooperation to preserve and share the world’s documentary heritage while fostering a greater understanding of humanity’s shared history and cultural diversity.

For the Philippines, the list of our contributions to the Memory of the World Register can be subdivided into three levels: international: Philippine paleographs (Hanunoo, Buid, Tagbanua and Pala’wan) added in 1999, radio broadcast of the Philippine People Power Revolution added in 2003, the José Maceda Collection added in 2007, and the presidential papers of Manuel L. Quezon added in 2011; regional, comprising the Culion Leprosy archives, the Doctrina Christiana of 1593, the Hinilawod Epic chant recordings, and the Quezon papers added in 2010; and national, which consists of Eddie Romero’s ”Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?” and the Fernando Poe Jr. Film Archives.

The question that naturally arises, Ivan Henares (who is Unesco National Committee secretary general) told me, is why was there a launch yesterday when the Philippines has been applying for the inclusion of various things in the Memory of the World’s different registers. In a nutshell, the time had come for the launch because of two things. The first was to institutionalize past enthusiasm–the kind that had enabled the gathering of the extremely strict documentary and other requirements needed for the nomination—to ensure that inclusion wouldn’t just be an empty exercise in bragging rights. Nomination and acceptance also entail rigor and consistency: our laws confer privileges and benefits to those proclaimed part of the Memory of the World by Unesco in Paris, as well as an obligation to actually ensure not just the preservation but active use.

The second reason is that the works and items already recognized are a tiny percentage of what ought to be not just nominated, but also accepted and designated. Here, the future-forward purpose of the launch was eloquently laid out by professor Nick Deocampo, who is the chair of the National Memory of the World Committee. As the authority bar none on Philippine film history, he recounted his tireless efforts to identify and at times, miraculously locate, the artifacts of our film history. It is always a race against time. We are a nation of hoarders but in the hoarding, there is both the potential for a bonanza, but also, more often than not, the more real possibility of an accumulation of dead or dying artifacts: documents crumbling into dust, celluloid that has melted or is about to burst into flames, piles of ghostly because no longer viable in terms of preservation, reminders of what has been irretrievably lost.

Listening to Deocampo, and looking at the archivists, historians, academicians, and other unheralded, ill-remunerated, seldom-consulted people gathered in that hall from throughout the country, I was reminded of something I’ve long believed: if we had lost so much, we would have lost so much more, if it weren’t for people like the ones receiving their modest certificates from Unesco. They represent the fraternity that truly matters because their labor is seldom heralded, though the fruits of their labor are so tangible. Deocampo said the next step is to go up and down the country, activating regional nodes of like-minded people and institutions, spreading the word that the Memory of the World Registry exists and that there is a means and method for us as a people to have the tangible artifacts of our genius recognized as part of the patrimony of the world.

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Go to www.unesco.gov.ph to learn more. A good first step is to read more about the Memory of the World and find out when Unesco Philippines might be doing a presentation: one is scheduled to be held in Naga, then in Dumaguete, and then in Davao. There, you can find out more about the procedures, especially the documentation required. Deocampo says there is a great need to identify items and collections in the Visayas and Mindanao, in particular, which deserve recognition so that there will be support for their preservation and renewed relevance.

He said a very simple definition of what a document is—an item made with intellectual intent—can help unlock in our minds the great variety of things that deserve discussion, evaluation, and elevation. The country has a wealth of passionate individuals who have set out to collect, compile, and save the real material wealth of our country. The task for like-minded people who care is to bring these people and what they have made, acquired, saved, and set aside to the attention of our authorities and the global community. Having finally put the Unesco Philippines house in order in terms of documentation, Henares expects a new push to submit items from Rizal’s two novels to the journal La Solidaridad, to indigenous and other works for scrutiny according to the protocols of the Memory of the World. But they are hoping this is merely going to be a prelude to a wider effort, bringing in a wider range of concerned citizens.