Watch Korean Films at SM Cinemas for Free

Yes I am one of the many Filipinos who love Koreanovelas. Their dramas are heartbreaking, their comedies are hilarious and their love stories are so unforgettable. And of course, the actors and actresses look perfect—even the guys look like girls because of their flawless skin and hair. So I guess many would be happy to know that they can watch Korean films at SM cinemas for free. The Korean Film Festival started yesterday, Sept 20 and would run until October 2.

The participating cinemas are SM North, SM Mall of Asia, and SM Cebu. As usual this is first come, first serve. It is advised to get your tickets at least 2 hours before the screening period to guarantee your slot.

Here are the feature films and the schedules:

Synopsis: Secret Reunion

Song Kang-ho, an ex-agent of the National Intelligence Service who is very careful about his actions, is paired with Kang Dong-won, a former spy from the North. Song’s character was released from the NIS six years after the gunfight which happened in the heart of Seoul; however, both men keep their identities hidden from each other.

Scandal Maker

Nam Hyun Soo was a very famous idol worshipped like God by teens. Though he is in his mid-thirties now, he is still one of the most sought-after celebrity in the industry and a DJ in a radio show. One of his listeners, Jung-nam, sends him letters narrating her willingness to see her father whom she never met. Her story became a hit and catapults the show’s ratings to be the most popular program. But one day, Jung-nam knocks on Hyun Soo’s door claiming that the father he hasn’t met is none other than him.

Happy Life

The plot revolves around three former members of college rock band, Volcano, who were reunited by the death of their leader. At the funeral, a young, jobless lead guitarist Gi-Young (Jang Geun Suk) suggested that they reform the band with him as the new front man.

My Dear Enemy

Hee-Soo, who is living a miserable life as a single woman in her thirties, sets out to find her ex-boyfriend, Byoung Woon who owes her $1000. Byeong Woon is also penniless but knows that girls are willing to give him money. Hee-Soo follows him as he visits many girls for money and starts a one-day journey that will change her life again.

Hwang Jin Yi

A film based on the story of Hwang Jin Yi, the most renowned courtesan of the Chosun Dynasty. She was a beautiful, talented and intelligent young woman who has no other choice but to become a gisaeng because she was an illegitimate child. The movie shows how she used her position and her charm to gain favor from the upper class, as well as his love affair with a male servant named Nom-yi.

For Eternal Hearts

An ordinary college boy Su-young meets an extraordinary girl named Pippi on campus. He fell in love with Pippi which did not last long because the latter ended her life at a student demonstration. While trying to get over Pippi, he was hired as a tutor for a girl named Su-young. He was almost at the brink of giving up because of Su-young’s peculiar personality but something is stopping him from doing so. He soon fell in love with Su-young and bizarre things started to happen.

Christmas In August

The film is about Jung-won who falls in love with Da-Rim while suffering from an unnamed illness. He hides the fact to Da-Rim and tries to continue living as usual, spending time with his friends and family.

SM Mall of Asia (Cinema 6)

September 21

My Dear Enemy - 6:30PM

Hwang Jin Yi - 9:30PM

September 22

Christmas in August - 6:30PM

Eternal Hearts - 9:30PM

September 23

Secret Reunion - 6:30PM

Happy Life - 9:30PM

September 24

Hwang Jin Yi - 12:45PM

Eternal Hearts - 3:00PM

Christmas in August - 7:30PM

September 25

Happy Life - 12:45PM

Scandal Maker - 3:00PM

My Dear Enemy - 7:30PM

SM North Edsa (Cinema 3)

September 20

Hwang Jin Yi - 1:40PM

Secret Reunion - 6:30PM

September 21

Scandal Maker - 1:40PM

Eternal Hearts - 6:30PM

September 22

Happy Life - 1:40PM

My Dear Enemy - 6:30PM

September 23

Christmas in August - 1:40PM

Scandal Maker - 6:30PM

September 24

Secret Reunion - 1:40PM

Happy Life - 6:30PM

My Dear Enemy - 9:30PM

September 25

Hwang Jin Yi - 1:40PM

Eternal Hearts - 6:30PM

Christmas in August - 9:30PM

SM Cebu (Cinema 1)

September 28 (Premiere Screening)

Scandal Maker - 1:30PM

September 28 (Regular Screening)

Eternal Hearts - 7:30PM

Happy Life - 9:30PM

September 29

Hwang Jin Yi - 5:30PM

Christmas in August - 7:30PM

Secret Reunion - 9:30PM

September 30

Eternal Hearts - 5:30PM

My Dear Enemy - 7:30PM

Scandal Maker - 9:30PM

October 1

Happy Life - 5:30PM

Secret Reunion - 7:30PM

My Dear Enemy - 9:30PM

October 2

Christmas in August - 5:30PM

Hwang Jin Yi - 7:30PM

Eternal Hearts - 9:30PM

For more information, log on to phil.korean-culture.org

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An Afternoon Delight: Bejewelled Spa in Ortigas

Since I started working, 2011 seems to be the busiest. There are so many tasks to do and targets to meet that can sometimes be overwhelming. There are also times when I want to complain because my boss seems to forget that there are only three people (actually only two) in our group and we are handling close to ten websites. So last June, when my group did our mid-year report- it was really satisfying to hear my boss say that he appreciates all our hard work. As a reward, he gave the three of us spa and massage vouchers for Bejewelled Spa in Ortigas.

Last Friday, our boss allowed us to go out as early as 2:45pm so we can finally use the vouchers. I am a bit ashamed to admit that it was actually my first time to experience a full body spa and massage treatment. The vouchers entitle us to the following services; one hour body massage, one hour deep moisturizing dead sea salt scrub, and hair spa.

One downside of this spa center is its location which is at the inner part of the GoldPark Center in Ortigas so it s so unlikely to see it right away. One may still need to ask the guard to point its exact location. The place is so hidden that of one of my officemates joked that they may be offering extra service.

But inside, the place looks clean and decent. I love the relaxing interior designs of Bejewelled Spa.

The therapists are polite and friendly. They immediately offered us our lockers and robes so we can undress right away. Then we were led to the spa room and the first treatment was the hair spa. I did not really feel it -she just put some hair cream and that’s it. Then she proceeded to give me a body scrub. As it was my first time, I am a little embarrassed to lie there almost naked and have someone to practically scrub my whole body. I had to keep myself from giggling most of the time. It was my favorite part of the package. 

After 60 minutes of scrubbing, we were asked to go to the shower room to rinse. I love the shower part too because I love the feel of the oil on my skin, I felt so moisturized. I am contented with the body scrub actually but there is still the one-hour body massage.

I am a newbie to spa centers, but I guess that based from the excellent service and the really relaxing massage, I believe that Bejewelled Spa is one of the best.

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32nd Manila International Book Fair This September

An event for all book lovers, the Manila International Book Fair, said to be the longest-running book events in Asia is happening this month. This annual event gathers together writers/authors, publishers, book sellers, and readers in one place.

Event: 32^nd Manila International Book Fair

Venue: Exhibit Halls 1 – 4, SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila

Event Dates: September 14 - 18, 2011

Event Hours: 10:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.

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Who Wants to Watch Miss Universe 2011 Live Online?

Everyone is excited for the Miss universe 2011 that will happen in San Paolo, Brazil today. Many people are hoping that our country’s bet this year, Ms. Shamcey Supsup will be able to bring home the crown.

The telecast of Miss Universe 2011 will be shown on ABSCBN at around 8:30 am. But for those people who will not have access to a TV screen at this time of day (because they are at work or something) may optt o watch Miss Universe 2011 via live streaming online.

For those who want to watch Miss Universe 2011 live online, here are some of the links you can visit:

http://missuniverselivestream.blogspot.com/

http://www.seeon.tv/view/19243/

http://noticiasaovivo.terra.com.br/diversao/miss-universo-2011/559-br/

http://www.livestream.com/missuniverse

http://stariray.info/watch-miss-universe-2011-live-streaming-online

http://www.youtube.com/missuniverse

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=293243119046&topic=15360

Miss Universe 2011 Liveblog: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/missuniverse2011/

Enjoy and share!

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Watch Films for Free: Europe Film Festival at Shang Cineplex

It is time to enjoy free movies again at the Shang Cineplex. The Europe Film Festival started last September 9. I am so sorry that this entry is so late but at least not so late as the Europe Film Festival will run until September 18.

This CineEuropa film festival features seventeen (17) movies with different genres. To get a free ticket, be sure that you are at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 1 thirty minutes before the screening .

Europe Film Festival: Movie Synopsis and Schedule:

Exchange (Schimb Valutar, 2008)

The film follows a factory worker who sells off all of his belongings to finance a move to Australia, only to get conned out of his money. In typical Romanian style, the film can be pretty bleak, but it also manages to be intensely human. Set during the aftermath of the Romanian revolution, the film explores people in a state of change, looking for brighter and better things but finding suffering along the way.

Letter to America (Pismo do Amerika, 2001)

The film follows a young writer who travels to a remote Bulgarian village to record a song for his best friend. His best friend is in America and in a coma, and he hopes that the song, which is said to revive the dead, will help bring him back into the world. Letter to America explores the struggle between the old and new Bulgaria, revealing a rich culture cut off from the rest of the world, and a generation of young people disconnected from their roots.

Intact (Intacto, 2001)

Is the kind of film that people either really love or really hate. In either case, its propensity for eliciting strong opinions makes it worth a look. The film takes place in a mysterious desert Casino where the “god of chance” (Max Von Sydow) facilitates a series of games for four, tenuously connected characters. The film crafts extravagant set pieces that explore the philosophical ramifications of the very concept of luck. It’s heady, sometimes ridiculous stuff. Some people will have their mind blown. Some will just scratch their heads and wonder what all the fuss is about. Both reactions are surprisingly valid.

Mammoth (Mammut)

About how the quiet life of a couple changes after the husband faces unlikely encounters during his travels.

How About Love

About a doctor who travels to the Thai-Burmese border and gets caught up in the affairs of a refugee camp. All of these films are well intentioned, shedding light on some of the great injustices that took place in the world. But the films place drama ahead of the truth, and often come off as a bit superficial.

Little Robbers (Die Kleinen Rauber, 2009)

Revenge and retribution is the name of the game where siblings Robby and Louise attempt to rob the bank that forcibly banished their parents from their apartment after their father lost his job; and Belgium’s Long Weekend, where two ex-factory workers kidnap their former boss to make him pay for the damages he caused his workers when his company went bankrupt.

Long Weekend (Verlengd Weekend)

Two ex-factory workers kidnap their former boss to make him pay for the damages he caused his workers when his company went bankrupt.

An Ordinary Execution (Une Execution Ordinaire, 2010)

A young urologist and healer who gets into a relationship with the dictator Stalin, and is cast under his manipulative spell.

Princess (Prinsessa, 2010)

About a mental patient who believes that she's royalty. She’s being treated by a doctor who's a little too eager to try out all sorts of new medical techniques in the treatment of schizophrenia. Though the premise might sound like a recipe for treacle, Princess can be a surprisingly complex depiction of mental illness and treatment in the forties. There are no easy heroes or villains; just people trying to do their best with the limited information that they have. The cast is madeup of some of Finland’s greatest actors, their talent bringing that complexity to life.

The Silent Army (Wit Licht, 2008)

The journey of 11-year-old Abu, who is kidnapped and forced to join the war. Follow a white restaurant owner in Africa as he sets out to find a friend's missing son, only to find a camp training child soldiers.

Mosquitoe's Tango (Tango S Komarmi, 2009)

About a man who returns to Slovakia seeking a divorce in order to remarry. His fiancee, afraid that he might stray, hires an actor to keep an eye on him. The film is a funny look at a couple of people coming face to face with the people they've become, and the people that they used to be.

The Escape ((Flugten, 2010)

It tells the story of a journalist kidnapped by terrorists who eventually escapes thanks to the help of one of her captors. Their paths cross again, leading to a tense and difficult confrontation. The Escape is a pretty conventional thriller, and it falls into many of the traps of the genre. But if the goal is to get the blood pumping, then the movie certainly succeeds.

Grapes (Bobule, 2008)

About the adventures of two young men—one is trying to master wine making after inheriting his grandfather's vineyard, while the other is a small-time crook and ladies' man.

The Lark Farm (La Masseria delle allodole, 2007)

Brothers Aram and Assadour, who have not seen each other in a long time, attempt to reunite but get stuck in the travails of a war between countries.

Mataharis

It follows three female detectives working cases that end up affecting their personal lives. One of them is tasked with infiltrating a factory and finding dirt on a manager trying to form a union.

Young Goethe In Love (Goethe!, 2010)

Pretty much what the title says, following Goethe in his years as a law student, in love with an alluring young woman named Lotte. It chronicles German poet Johann’s love affair with the beautiful yet feisty Lotte Buff, which ultimately inspired his literary masterpiece, The Sorrows of Young Werther.

Never Let Me Go

Childhood friends come to terms with their love for one other while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them.

 September 11

          o Little Greek Godfather - 12:00PM

          o The Lark Farm - 3:00PM

          o The Silent Army - 6:00PM

          o Exchange - 9:00PM

September 12

          o Intacto - 12:00PM

          o Mosquitoes Tango - 3:00PM

          o Mammoth - 6:00PM

          o How About Love - 9:00PM

September 13

          o Never Let Me Go - 12:00PM

          o Little Robbers - 3:00PM

          o Long Weekend - 6:00PM

          o Letter to America - 9:00PM

September 14

          o The Silent Army - 12:00PM

          o The Escape - 3:00PM

          o Princess - 6:00PM

          o An Ordinary Execution - 9:00PM

September 15

          o Goethe - 12:00PM

          o Little Greek Godfather - 3:00PM

          o The Lark Farm - 6:00PM

          o The Silent Army - 9:00PM

September 16

          o Exchange - 12:00PM

          o Mosquitoes Tango - 3:00PM

          o Mataharis - 6:00PM

          o Mammoth - 9:00PM

September 17

          o How About Love - 12:00PM

          o Never Let Me Go - 3:00PM

          o Little Greek Godfather - 6:00PM

          o Long Weekend - 9:00PM

September 18

          o Letter to America - 12:00PM

          o Grapes - 3:00PM

          o The Escape - 6:00PM

          o Princess - 9:00PM

For more information, log on to facebook.com/pages/Ating-Europa

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Old Man's Shirt to a New Dress

I saw this video and just have to share it here because I am so amazed at the creativity of the video creator. I am yet to try it and I hope I can do it right.

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Help Shamcey Supsup Win Online Poll of Miss Universe 2011: Guaranteed Slot in the Semifinals

The last time that a Filipina bagged the Miss Universe crown was in 1973. That was 38 years ago so to hope that the country’s representative for this year would be the 3^rd Miss Universe from the Philippines is not asking too much.

And I think the Philippines has a great chance to win this year because our representative to this prestigious pageant, Shamcey Supsup is not only gorgeous but also very intelligent. From what I heard, she is an architect, a board exam topnotcher and a summa cum laude- oh god she’s almost perfect.

Another thing that would make her win possible is the fact that for the first time, Miss Universe is inviting the public to vote for their favorite candidate thru an online poll. The winner will be given a slot in the semifinals round.

The official voting started last August 20 and would be open until September 12 at 6am (Philippine time). Voting is open to anyone who is at least 16 years old and legally residing in any of the countries with a candidate to the 2011 Miss Universe. Only 10 votes per e-mail address per day will be counted. You can vote by going to www.missuniverse.com

The grand coronation night of the Miss Universe 2011 will take place in Sau Paulo, Brazil on September 12.

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