The Making of a Real Hero -- Captain America, The First Avenger Movie Review

Potato On the Go:

After Iron Man and Thor, the first Avenger is finally here!  From Paramount Pictures and distributed by Solar Entertainment Corporation and United International Pictures, Captain America, The First Avenger debuts in Philippine theaters on July 27.

Captain America's story dates back during World War II when Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) struggled to get into the military to serve his country.  Patriotic, selfless and determined, Rogers volunteers in an experimental program that turns him into a super soldier known as Captain America.  Captain America joins forces with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and other soldiers to wage war against HYDRA organization led by Red Skull (Hugo Weaving).

Captain America tells the story of what heroism really is.  Unlike other Marvel superheroes Thor and Iron Man, Captain America who initially is the plain and weak Steve Rogers, already demonstrated courage, passion and love for country from the very start; traits that qualified him into becoming Captain America.  And as Captain America, Rogers was able to make bigger sacrifices for his nation, friends, colleagues and loved ones.  In fact, the character shows us the ordeals of the ideal superhero, the joys derived from helping others and the loneliness for giving up his personal happiness because of his role in the society.

Stars of "Sweet Charity" for Tatak Digitista (CPTD Part 3)

Scene Stealers:

I just came from the second day of the Rockwell Love Japan fundraising bazaar earlier.  It was fun not just because of the chance to help while buying fantastic goods but the activities featured in the affair.  One of which is Jamming for Japan which featured the stars of the upcoming 9 Works Theartical's musicale SWEET CHARITY, same team that brought us the successful run of RENT last year!  SWEET CHARITY is a Broadway Musical Comedy from Bob Fosse, creator of Chicago.  And lucky for me, the stars of SWEET CHARITY, who performed during the Love Japan event, are friendly and game enough to pose for Tatak Digitista!  =D  And they now comprise the third wave of Celebrities and Personalities for Tatak Digitista.  And here they are:   

Ciara Sotto for Tatak Digitista.  From teeny bopper roles, Ciara has transformed into an elegant performer.  And she does pole dancing very well! 

Gian Magdangal for Tatak Digitista.  Gian never fails to impress his audience in his theater performances.  And he shared he's coming up with an album soon.

Celebrities and Personalities for Tatak Digitista 2

Scene Stealers:

Once it's up, it just can't stop!  Now, there's a new batch of Celebrities and Personalities for Tatak Digitista =).  From the first 25, here's the next four in the list!

Professor Dumbledore for Tatak Digitista

DJ Samantha of Easy Rock for Tatak Digitista

DJ Chloe of Easy Rock for Tatak Digitista

Former MTRCB Chair Consoliza Laguardia for Tatak Digitista!  =)

Cheer for the Azkals through the "Cortal SQR Support the Azkals Facebook Contest"

Web Announcement:

After the Team Azkals' monumental win against Sri Lanka last July 3, our Philippine National Football Team is now gearing up for its World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait! And they need our moral support!

Let’s cheer them up through the “Cortal SQR Support the Azkals Facebook Contest”!

Here’s how:

1. Search and like the "Cortal SQR" Page on Facebook.
2. Post on the wall of the Cortal SQR Page your statement of support to Team Azkals in their match against Kuwait from July 23, 2011 at 12 noon to July 28 at 3 pm.
3. Your statement of support will serve as your official entry to the Facebook contest. A participant can only have one entry.
4. The post should end with the statement "Sa Cortal SQR, We Believe, Kaya Nyo Yan!"
5. Get as many Facebook friends as possible to like your entry.
6. Five winners will be chosen based on the following criteria: 50% for Creativity and 50% for Popularity (via Facebook likes).
7. Each winner will receive Cortal SQR and Azkals merchandise as prizes!
8. Winners will be announced on August 03, 2011.
9. This contest is open to Facebook users residing in the Philippines who are 18 years old and above.

What are you waiting for? Like Cortal SQR on Facebook now and start giving your moral support to our country’s newest football heroes!

This contest is brought to you by Cortal SQR, the official pain reliever of Team Azkals.

Glee goes to the big screen via "Glee The Concert 3D Movie"

Potato On the Go:

Calling all Gleeks, here's another reason for you to get electrified!  This September, 20th Century Fox brings you a unique concert experience via the "Glee The 3D Concert Movie"!  TV’s most electrifying singing group steps up on stage to give fans their glee of a lifetime in the immersive magic of 3D.

Women's Answer to Hangover! -- Bridesmaids Movie Review

Potato On the Go:

I'll be honest, at first, I was a little hesitant to check out the movie Bridesmaids (as I initially thought it's just another ordinary chick flick) but since Tatak Digitista's "Potato On the Go" section should always be on the go for movies and Solar Entertainment people are among the nicests in the industry, I took a crack of it.  And after that special screening at Solar's preview room in its Makati headquarters, I just can't stop thanking them for inviting me!  I really had a great, awesome, rocking time watching this smash comedy from Universal Pictures... Bridesmaids!

Directed by Paul Feig and written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids tells the story of Annie (Kristen Wiig), a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her bestfriend Lillian (Maya Rudolph) and a group of crazy bridesmaids Helen (Rose Byrne), Megan (Melissa McCarthy), Rita (Wendy McLendon-Covey) and Becca (Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down to matrimony.  But Annie's "car's tail light" is broken and needs  a "fix" but when she finds out her best friend since childhood just got engaged, she simply must be Lillian's maid of honor, no matter what.  Though in a mess with relationships, finance and career, Annie courageously and crazily went through the stressful pre-wedding rituals.  But this won't give her an easy time and will test her ability to rise from the "rock bottom". 

At first, as I said earlier, I thought it will just be the usual girlie movie or chick flick that we used to see but Bridesmaids really surprised me big time!  The movie is extremely hilarious and my jaws ached for hours after watching!  If only the director Paul Feig can hear me staying STOP as I was already crying hard while laughing!  =D

Potter Fever Isn't Over! -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Grosses P155 Million in 4 Days!

Potato On the Go:

Harry Potter fever isn't over and as a proof, the grand conclusion of the series "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" of Warner Bros. Pictures grossed an astounding nationwide box office of PhP 155 million in 4 days, shattering multiple box office records in a history-making opening weekend (July 14 to 17).

The announcement was made today by Warner Bros. (F.E.), Inc. General Manager, Francis Soliven.  Grossing P117.06-M alone in Metro Manila, the penultimate “Harry Potter” film obliterated the following records: biggest opening weekend all-time for a Warner Bros. title (breaking past “Superman Returns”), best opening weekend ever in the “Harry Potter” franchise (surpassing “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”) and highest opening weekend of the year for a Warner title (clobbering “Green Lantern”).  Its IMAX receipts of P14.287-M also broke the all-time biggest IMAX opening weekend record.

Help Rebuild Japan through Rockwell's Love Japan fundraising bazaar

Web Announcement:

Our country, the Philippines, though located in Earth's disaster zone, in a way has been fortunate enough to always get help from rich and industrialized nations when we are hit by calamities.  And one of which is Japan, which is also considered as one of our strongest partners in the Asia Pacific region.

Although Japan shares the same space as the Philippines in the ring of fire, they seemed to be invincible and unbreakable because of their first world status.  But when nature strikes, there's no rich nor poor nation.  Everyone can be a victim like Japan when it suffered from a devastating earthquake earlier this year.

Our country may be poor or may have never stopped experiencing the wrath of natural disasters, but that doesn't prevent us in helping.  I would like to believe that this situation is same as a parable in the bible that says that small sacrifices of the poor mean more than the extravagant donations of the rich.

It's high time that we help our Asian neighbor and nation friend this time around.  One way is through Love Japan, a fundraising activity to help in the rebuilding of Japan organized by the Philippines' Rockwell Community.

The Rockwell Community, composed of Rockwell Land, Rockwell Club, Power Plant Mall and the Rockwell Center, invites everyone to Love Japan -- a one-of-a-kind bazaar and auction on July 23-24, 2011 for the benefit of Japan’s rehabilitation.

The Grand Conclusion -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie Review

Potato On the Go:

After 10 years, the much awaited conclusion of what is said to be the most successful movie franchise in the world's film history is finally here, the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. 

Based on the novel with the same title by JK Rowling and directed by David Yates, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 tells the continuing saga of the boy who lived, Harry Potter.  After Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione destroyed one Horcrux and unlocked the secret of the three Deathly Hallows, they continued to seek the other Horcruxes to kill Lord Voldemort and put an end to the spread of darkness.  However, Voldemort was able to get hold of the Elder Wand helping him target the final stage to ultimate power.  He launches an attack on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where the trio, with the help of their friends in the school, return for one last stand against the evil forces that threaten to conquer the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.

From OBB to CBB, I am honestly speechless.  I am in awe up to now with this movie masterpiece, the epic conclusion of the Harry Potter series.  I held my breath in almost every scene as the movie is filled with suspense, mystery and surprise.  There was never a dull moment and each scene just kept on exciting the audience as the story unfolds and suspense builds up.

Celebrities and Personalities for Tatak Digitista

Scene Stealers:

A few days ago, you probably have seen the photos of personalities who posed for Tatak Digitista. They candidly and willingly held this blog's logo and posed for www.digitista.blogspot.com! Here's my first 25!  =)

Neil Etheridge for Tatak Digitista

Aly Borromeo for Tatak Digitista

Anton del Rosario for Tatak Digitista

JLC or John Lloyd Cruz for Tatak Digitista

Angel Locsin for Tatak Digitista

Phil Younghusband for Tatak Digitista

Gary V for Tatak Digitista.  [After almost 2 years since we launched UNICEF's Champions for Children, I didn't expect that Gary V would still remember me, but he did! =)  This shot was taken in ASAP Rocks.]

Congratulations to Ria Tirazona for winning the Urban Doggies promo in Tatak Digitista!

Web Announcement:

Congratulations to Ria Tirazona from BF Paranaque for winning the Urban Doggies promo in Tatak Digitista!

Here's Ria's winning comment:

ooooh...i've seen this van in my neighbors house several times already when bubba (my black lab) and i go for our daily walks! i have always wanted to try their services but, yeah, like you said, because of the rising cost of living, i have to prioritize expenses :( i never ever scrimp on bubba's vaccinations, food and well-being but the grooming part, i have been doing myself nalang because my budget can only go so far :( being an indoor dog (yes, despite his size haha!) i make sure he is as clean, fresh smelling and pest-free as possible. luckily he's quite good about his baths and all, although i have such a hard time cleaning his ears and i can't cut his nails. sometimes i am able to get my vet to do that though.

not too long ago, however, unfortunately I must add, our yaya bathed him and didn't dry out his ears well and he got an ear infection :( siiiigh.

i would so love for him to get all groomed and cleaned by the urban doggies team!!!

:) ria, bf paranaque

Ria just won a free grooming session for her pet Bubba, just like Jasper, the dog featured in the article last May! =) 

To Ria, please e-mail your residential address and landline number to digitista@gmail.com.  Urban Doggies will contact you to set the appointment for your dog.

Congrats once again and I hope you're pet would enjoy the cool grooming session from Urban Doggies, the first and the biggest mobile pet grooming service in the Philippines.

Witness the Rise of the Planet of the Apes on August 4

Potato On the Go:

The story of "Planet of the Apes" started as a novel and has been adapted to film, TV series and comics.  The last one I've seen is the movie remake in 2001 starring Mark Wahlberg.  And despite, the criticisms then, I somehow liked the film. 

Anyway, another movie of the same theme is coming on August 4, it's the “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (originally titled Cesar and Rise of the Apes) starring James Franco (127 Hours), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Tom Felton (Harry Potter).  But before you make any reaction, let me explain that the film though is not based on any specific plotline from the original series, but instead based on the elements from the earlier produced movies to create an entirely original origin story.  

Finally, our own football team to root for -- Go go go Azkals go!

FEATURISTIC:

Every FIFA World Cup, the whole world is always in festive mood.  And in such moments, I always envy a country which has its own team to cheer for.  Since ours is not on the football map then, I usually root for Brazil.

But now, that phase is over.  Though our football may be considered in its infancy stage yet and we still have a long way to go, I believe our country is on the right track.  While we are crazy as a nation about basketball, football is now within the radar of almost every Filipino.  The sport has finally arrived, and football may be next to basketball.  In a few months, the Philippines was transformed into a football country!  And that's because of our Team Azkals, the Philippine National Football Team.  Now, we have a team to cheer for!  Now we can celebrate with the world!

And thanks to my recent assignment, I was able to talk closely and get to know almost every Azkals player and hear their story. And I consider it an honor and privilege to have worked with our country's national football team.  In their recent World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka, their 5-1 aggregate score and the way they played for the country ignited the dormant Filipino spirit.  Once more, our country is one... and proud again.

As I work for this assignment, I made sure that I'll be able to deliver the best that I can.  That's all I can do for our country's newest heroes and the brand that has supported the team (and not just a few of them) and entrusted us of this responsibility, the new Cortal SQR.  Who would have not seen and heard about this awesome TVC: