Lovi Poe, 'Game of Thrones' star Maisie Williams unite for thriller 'Ignition'

 

By Carissa Alcantara

Published May 5, 2026 12:11 pm

After making her Hollywood debut in "Bad Man," Lovi Poe is set to appear in another international project. She will star alongside Maisie Williams in the thriller film "Ignition."

Poe shared the good news to fans via Instagram.

"'Ignition's' first look is out now—being introduced at Cannes this May. Can’t wait," she wrote. "Oh, and by the way… the North remembers. Had to bring a little 'Game of Thrones' energy," Lovi wrote.

According to a report by Variety, the film will be directed by Emmy-nominated director James Erskine.

The story follows Sylvie Johnson, played by Williams. What begins as a simple drive to London quickly turns into a nightmare when she receives a call from an unknown person who claims there is a bomb in her car. With no way to escape or ask for help, Sylvie is forced to simply follow instructions. She must deliver the bomb to the Royal Albert Hall. As the situation becomes more dangerous, she tries to survive while uncovering why she was chosen.

Also joining the cast is Rory Kinnear, known for his roles in the James Bond film series.

Erskine said the film was shot using a “live cinema” style. This method aims to make scenes feel more real and immediate.

"I wanted the audience to feel completely inside Sylvie’s experience as events unfold, capturing a sense of immediacy and psychological pressure that builds in real time. It creates the ideal platform for Maisie Williams’s extraordinary central performance," James explained.

Because filming took place in real locations and on active roads, the team used hidden, remotely controlled cameras. This allowed the actors to move freely and perform more naturally, without a visible film crew around them.

Peace I leave with you

 

By Manila Bulletin Newsroom

Published May 5, 2026 12:05 am | Updated May 4, 2026 07:05 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Peace is often understood as freedom from war or public disturbance. But the Hebrew shalom (peace) is more encompassing. It is the right relationship with God and with people. Over all, it refers to one’s well-being in totality. In Israel, shalom is ordinarily used in greetings. When people ask, “How are you?” they say, Ha-shalom? (“Is there peace?”). When one answers, “I am okay,” he says, Shalom! But above all, peace is a gift of God to those who obey his will.

In bidding goodbye to his disciples, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you… Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (v 27). Jesus says this at the eve of his departure, which will involve his arrest, his trial, and his being condemned to death. That very night, his disciples will abandon him when he is arrested in the Garden of Olives. Peace is not for them at this moment; rather, it anticipates the peace of his resurrection, when Jesus will appear to them and say, “Peace be with you!” And he gives them the Holy Spirit with the power to forgive sins (Jn 20:22-23). The risen Lord does not just give peace; he himself is the Shalom. By his cross and resurrection, he has set all men and women free. He has broken the “dividing wall” of enmity that separates people from God and from one another (Eph 2:14).

“Not as the world gives do I give it to you” (v 27). The Roman Empire built an altar to Pax Augusta to mark the victory of Octavius Augustus Caesar that ended the civil war in Rome. The peace that the world gives is imposed by arms, by threats, and by severe punishment. The peace of Jesus, the fruit of his suffering, is the one that sets us free, and gives us confidence and security in the midst of life’s troubles.

First Reading • Acts 14:19-28

In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the Church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent no little time with the disciples.

Gospel • Jn 14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

PSYCHOLOGY TRICKS THAT QUIETLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Mahi Khan

 

1.Pause briefly before responding

‎2.Speak at a slower pace to convey confidence

‎3.Choose curiosity over arguments—ask questions

‎4.Echo a few of their words to encourage them to open up

‎5.Hold steady eye contact when listening

‎6.Move at a calm, unhurried pace to show composure

‎7.Keep a gentle, natural smile in conversations

8.‎Use people’s names to build connection

‎9.Take a moment before answering tough questions

‎10.Say less, but speak with clarity and purpose

‎11.Pay close attention to body language

‎13.Stay calm, even in tense situations

‎13.Give small nods to show you’re engaged

14.‎Reflect calm and composed body language

‎15.Keep your facial expressions relaxed

‎16.Close conversations in a polite but confident way

‎upvote.

Friendster is back. What does this mean outside nostalgia?

 

BY CARL MARTIN AGUSTIN

MAY 5, 2026

The new-look Friendster promises “social networking without the nonsense” | Photo by Getty Images/Unsplash+

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Social media in the past years has greatly changed in terms of what we see on our feeds. Popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (pre-Elon), and Instagram, amassed widespread appeal on the promise of connecting both friends and strangers. Today, however, that promise has taken a backseat where we see intrusive ads and unwanted recommendations before getting to our friend’s latest updates—that is, on top of the widely accepted reality that our data is quietly being sold for profit.

Friendster, a social media pioneer that predated the many platforms we use today, had hundreds of millions of users in its heyday before ultimately bowing out to the industry giant that is Facebook.

More than a decade after its shutdown, Friendster has just made a comeback, and it’s promising a return-to-roots approach to social connection.

PSEi climbs on easing US-Iran conflict

 

BY EMMANUEL JOHN ABRIS

MAY 5, 2026

Read Next

Gov’t scales back T-bill award as yields climb

Local stocks closed higher on Monday as easing concerns over the United States-Iran conflict helped lift market sentiment.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) climbed 108.52 points or 1.86 percent, to finish at 5,942.16.

Philstocks financial research manager Japhet Tantiangco said the broader market traded in positive territory following reports that Iran proposed a 14-point plan to the US in a bid to reach a diplomatic resolution.

THE POWER OF LISTENING

 

By

 Mindanao Daily News

 -

May 4, 2026

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Great leaders are great listeners, and therefore my message today is a simple one – talk less and listen more. The best leaders are proactive, strategic, and intuitive listeners. They recognize knowledge and wisdom are not gained by talking, but by listening. Take a moment and reflect back on any great leader who comes to mind…you’ll find they are very adept at reading between the lines. They have the uncanny ability to understand what is not said, witnessed, or heard. In today’s post, I’ll quickly examine the merits of developing your listening skills. Warning: this post isn’t going to coddle you and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy – it is rather blunt and to the point.

Want to become a better leader? Stop talking and start listening. Being a leader should not be viewed as a license to increase the volume of rhetoric. Rather astute leaders know there is far more to be gained by surrendering the floor than by dominating it. In this age of instant communication, everyone seems to be in such a rush to communicate what’s on their mind, they fail to realize the value of everything that can be gleaned from the minds of others. Show me a leader who doesn’t recognize the value of listening to others and I’ll show you a train-wreck in the making.

Do you sometimes feel like this, my dear readers, that you want to discuss something, but the people opposite to you simply cannot listen to you? Sometimes, I would love to tell them, “first, learn to listen”!

Listening is indeed the key in effective communication. A person does not have to speak all the time to be the smartest person in the room. Lack of listening may result in frustration, disappointment, and resentment in our relationships. When we listen, we are able to create stronger emotional connections with people.

Many times during my teaching, I’m happy when my students have one or more questions for me – so, I can listen to them first. Active listening promotes mindful thinking, which can reduce anxiety and depression in students. It can also help students build relationships because as they engage themselves in conversation, their peers are more likely to view them as open and interested.

However, every time you use active listening, it gets a little easier. It can help you to navigate through difficult conversations. More than that, it helps improve overall communication, builds a better understanding and ultimately leads to better relationships with family, friends and co-workers too.

Listening is an active process by which we make sense of, assess, and respond to what we hear. The listening process involves five stages: receiving, understanding, evaluating, remembering, and responding. Not only in school or at the workplace. But especially talking about the workplace: Listening helps managers to solicit feedback and proactively find out about problems before they escalate. It’s also the only way for management to get to know people as individuals and ensure that they feel genuinely valued.

Listening and the supreme gift of wisdom belongs together. You can only become a wise person, if you know how to listen. Do you still remember the university lectures in your old student days once upon a time? Anybody can become wise, Proverbs says. Wisdom is not reserved for a brainy elite. Becoming wise requires self-discipline to study and humbly seek wisdom at every opportunity. And allow me to repeat: and, first, learn to listen.

BRACE FOR ANOTHER FUEL PRICE INCREASE

https://l.cdn.ph/oilpricehikemay5

#CDNEnterprise: Local oil prices are expected to increase again starting May 5, with diesel likely ending its recent streak of rollbacks, according to industry estimates. #CDNDigital

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