ABS-CBN’s innovative “Punch ng Bayan” of its Isang Bayan Para Kay Pacman campaign has gone full bore in just its first week in its efforts to spur the People’s Champion to bring home more glory for the country.

The number has been staggering in terms of how many punches the campaign has gathered so far. The punch meter has amounted to 18,735,253 punches as of 1PM, Saturday.

According to ABS-CBN Sports head Dino Laurena, “The campaign’s aim is to rally everyone to be one for Manny. We want to show the world that behind every Pacquiao punch is the strength of the Filipino people. For 20 years he fought for us, it’s time we give back and support him.”

Even popular Kapamilya stars have thrown their support for Manny Pacquiao as they mimicked one of his glaring habits: pounding his fists together, twice, before lunging for a jaw-breaking left straights or punishing body blows.

“Everyone can show their support for Manny Pacquiao by using #OneForPacman hashtag for every tweet or post in Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or they can have fun with the punching bag at the website oneforpacman.abs-cbn.com. Or text ONEFORPACMAN using ABS-CBNmobile,” he added.

The Kapamilya network believes that for every punch tallied, Manny Pacquiao is inspired more knowing that his fellow Filipinos are one with him in his fight.

Host-actor Luis Manzano once again became emotional as the staff of hit game show “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” surprised him for his birthday special airing this week.

Because of the show’s new format, the “KDOND” team was able to gather not just one but more than 20 special people in Luis’ life all in one stage.

Leading the pack are special studio players Anne Curtis, Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and Ryan Christian Recto, Piolo Pascual, Billy Crawford and Vhong Navarro, and Edu and Addie Manzano.

The special players haven’t even been revealed yet when Luis already burst into tears as he was caught off guard seeing 20 of his dearest friends do the “rampa” as members of the special set of Lucky Stars.

Who are these 20 Lucky Stars who are very special to Luis?

Find out in the weeklong “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal: The Lucky Birthday Special,” beginning Monday (Apr 20), 5 PM, on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold. For updates follow @KDONDph on Instagram and Twitter or visit the show’s official website at http://kapamilyadealornodeal.abs-cbn.com.

Meanwhile, viewers may also catch up on full episodes and past episodes of “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” through ABS-CBNmobile. For more information, please go to www.abscbnmobile.com.

Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel featured Manny Pacquiao’s latest song for the Filipino champ’s May 2 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Not only did he talk about the song, “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Filipino (I Will Fight for the Filipino),” he also sang parts of it in his show to the delight of the audience.

Pacquiao recorded the song and even made a music video, which is expected to be used for his ring entrance for the fight.

The boxer has been a frequent visitor of the late night show and has even joined some skits.

The eight-division champion also previously sang a duet of John Lennon’s classic, “Imagine,” with comedian Will Ferrell on the show.

Come May 3 at 4am in KSA and 5am in UAE (May 2, 9pm EST/6pm Pacific), ABS-CBN TFC is exclusively distributing what is billed as the “Fight of the Century” between Pacquiao and Mayweather to boxing aficionados in the Middle East.

Fans in the region can catch the mega-fight between two of the world’s best pound-for-pound boxers LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via PPV on the following cable networks: OSN, eLifeTV and Du.

Yet another milestone for TFC in the Middle East is that for the very first time, the network is also making the fight available on the big screen in cinemas across the Gulf in partnership with Novo Cinemas. TFC also partnered with major sports pubs, bars and hotels in the region as other venues to watch the fight.

As the fight falls on a work day in the Middle East, those who cannot stay home or hit the cinemas on this historic date can catch the fight online on TFC.tv.
(ABS-CBNNews.com/TFC)

English translation of “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Filipino” by huffingtonpost.com
Often I ask myself
Why be judged for what you feel?
What will it take for us to be heard?
Do we have to be born with privilege?
Even though it hurts me,
I’ll keep it all inside and not speak of it,
My heart bleeds, but others don’t see it
Because what’s more important
Is that my people are happy
I’ll fight the world in your name
I am Filipino, we are Filipino
I’ll fight the world, even risk my life
I will fight for Filipinos

We all have dreams for our country
To help or honor our people
It doesn’t matter who you are
Rich or poor
Together we fight for our country

I’ll fight the world in your name
I am Filipino, we are Filipino
I’ll fight the world, even risk my life
I will fight for Filipinos
I will fight…
I will fight…

I’ll fight the world in your name
I am Filipino, we are Filipino
I’ll fight the world, even risk my life
I will fight for Filipinos
I will fight for Filipinos
I will fight for…
My country

Chalk magazine is out on a hunt again for college campus hotties who possess the looks, talents, and brains to become part of its annual Bright Young Manila campaign starting this April 16 (Wednesday).

For its 15th year anniversary, Chalk, the youth and lifestyle magazine of ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. is scouring the metro for 15 finalists from different universities and colleges in Metro Manila who can represent their alma mater for the Bright Young Manila: Campus Hotties Edition campaign.

Last year, Chalk’s Bright Young Manila campaign received over 300 entries from UAAP and NCCA schools as well as all-girl colleges. With the help of online voting and Chalk’s editorial team, the 14 finalists were narrowed down to three boys and three girls who became part of the Chalk Bright Young Manila Hotties of 2014.

Chalk’s Bright Young Manila: Campus Hotties edition will kick off this year with a three-leg campus tour that that touches on topics on how to #LookGood, #LoveHard, and #LiveYoung – three issues that widely concern the Filipino youth today – featuring speakers who have gained popularity because of their spot-on and helpful advices.

The 15 finalists for this year’s Chalk Bright Young Manila Campus Hotties Edition will be launched at the #CHALKLIVEMOREPARTY, while the lucky winners of Chalk’s annual search will be announced and presented at Chalk’s 15th year anniversary party on October 2015.

For the past years, Chalk’s Bright Young Manila campaign has become a status symbol among the youth. The annual search has since produced the best and brightest young talents who have made a legacy in various industries including music, fashion, theater, and entrepreneurship among others.

For more information, please log on to Chalk on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Even for her first major studio film under ABS-CBN Star Cinema, white-hot independent Filipino film writer-directorAntoniette Jadaone, who is coming on the heels of the box-office and critical success of her “That Thing Called Tadhana”, was willing to take risks.  While You’re My Boss – which she also wrote – falls under her solid romantic comedy genre, she took the challenge of directing an untested on-screen partnership in two international Filipino superstars: Coco Martin and Toni Gonzaga.

The result?  You’re My Boss has grossed Php65 million in just three days of showing in the Philippines.  The film opened on Black Saturday, went head-to-head and toe-to-toe with powerhouse Hollywood movies like “Fast and Furious 7″, and more than held its own at the box office.

TFC@theMovies is bringing this latest rom-com blockbuster to U.S. and Canada starting April 10; Milan and Rome, Italy and Copenhagen, Denmark on April 12; Paris, France on April 12-19; UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman in the Middle East and Australia/New Zealand on April 16; Vienna, Austria on April 18-19; Madrid, Spain on April 19 and TBD in Oslo, Norway; and Athens, Greece, Singapore and Japan on April 26.

You’re My Boss is far from just being your usual case of rich girl-poor boy, love-hate storyline.  It’s a role reversal for the characters of Pong (Martin) who is the humble assistant of Georgina, an alpha female of a boss.  When Sir Albert (Freddie Webb), their company’s Chief Commercial Officer, goes on sabbatical, he assigns a very important deal to be handled by Georgina.  When she meets with the client, Mr. Najimoto, the latter refuses to discuss business with anyone face-to-face except with the head honcho.  Enter clueless Pong who Georgina conveniently introduces, under pretense, as the boss.  Thus, the deal is on with Mr. Najimoto, and so is the make-believe arrangement between Pong and Georgina.

Fans and critics rave over the steady story-telling of Jadaone and the on-screen chemistry between Martin and Gonzaga as their characters adjust to their new situation:

“With a script by Jadaone & Yoshke Dimen, this movie is filled with witty, quotable dialogue in relatable situtations, which isn’t surprising. It can be snarky, just like Georgina’s initial interactions with Pong. It can be sweet, just like Georgina’s interactions with Pong as they start to get to know each other. What it ISN’T is unfunny, bland, or just plain terrible.”  - Kieff Iporac, TheTalkingSign.com

“The film’s greatest strength is its focus. Once the two main characters are put together, there’s hardly a scene where they are apart. They interact with each other almost exclusively, the film giving them time to develop something meaningful.” - Philbert Ortiz, ClickTheCity.com

“You’re My Boss proposes that this extraordinary circumstance of a lie… is the setting for romance to bloom between two opposites… (and) the idea of a ‘boss’ is redefined from the professional to the personal. There’s an organic quality to her (Jadaone’s) story-telling that it never spoon-feeds the audience, instead she lets the narrative unfold naturally and in a very realistic and human manner.”  - Wanggo Gallaga, Juice.ph

“We’ve been pretty busy this Spring offering one original Filipino rom-com after another to the world and being thankful that the moviegoers are watching and loving them,” said ABS-CBN Global Head of Theatricals and acclaimed film, TV and concert director John-D Lazatin.  “You’re My Boss under true ‘galing ng Filipino‘ hands of my colleague, Antoinette, and the acting skills and charisma of Coco and Toni, is guaranteed to give movie audiences a rollicking good time in the theaters.  It’s a movie that all members of the family will enjoy.”

For more information including the theater listings in the U.S. and Canada for You’re My Boss,visit https://www.tfc-usa.com/youre-my-boss/  For Middle East, please visit https://tl-ph.facebook.com/TFCMiddleEast (theater listing subject to change without notice).  For Europe, visit https://www.facebook.com/TFCEurope . For Australia and New Zealand, visit https://tl-ph.facebook.com/TFCAustralia . For Singapore, visit https://tl-ph.facebook.com/TFCSingapore .For Japan, visit https://tl-ph.facebook.com/TFCJapan .

Metro Home and Entertaining magazine is bringing the summer vacation vibes closer to home as it dedicates its first design talk to transforming city homes into a resort-style haven this Saturday (April 11) at Fully Booked’s The Forum in Bonifacio High Street.

The talk will feature interior design and architecture experts Tisha de Borja and Carlo Mecate who will share tips on how to make homes that are found in the heart of the concrete jungle imbibe a relaxing atmosphere that will make urban home owners have a blissful staycation

Carlo Mecate

Tisha de Borja

Tisha, an architecture alumna of the Southern California Institute of Architecture is the brains behind furniture workshop E. Murio, a design and manufacturing organization known widely for its fine furniture and home interiors using natural materials. The talented young designer is also one of the main founders of Archipelago, a company that provides integrated design solutions.

Interior designer Carlo, who placed sixth in the Board of Interior Design after graduating from the Philippine School of Interior Design in 2005, is a freelance interior designer. Carlo has worked with MAV Furniture and he has been involved in several projects including residential, commercial, and retail.

The two bright talents in the design industry will also provide insights on trends, styles, and various elements that will make homes reflect resort style living.

Interested participants can pre-register through http://metrohomedesigntalks.abs-cbn.com. Registration at the event will begin at 1PM.

Metro Home and Entertaining is published by ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.

Eight-division world champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquaio is set to inspire the world in a different light as the highly anticipated sports drama movie event of the year titled “Kid Kulafu” shares his story not as a sports icon but as a young boy who knocked out life’s challenges.

“This is the untold story of our People’s Champ–way before the fame, fortune, championships and even prior wearing boxing gloves,” said Paul Soriano, the director of the biographical film presented by ABS-CBN, Star Cinema, and Ten17 Productions. “It is not about his career as a professional boxer but an in-depth look into his early years, from his birth up to his teenage life.”

According to Direk Paul, “Kid Kulafu” has been three years in the making with two years dedicated for extensive research about the childhood of the People’s Champ.

“Viewers will discover in the film how hard life was for Manny as a kid in General Santos City. They will get to know a young boy who had nothing but attitude, passion, and fighting spirit to face every challenge head on and knock it out one by one,” shared Direk Paul.

The director added that what inspired him more to do the movie was when he got to know more Manny through a series of conversations which happened within the two-year research spent for the biographical film.

As Manny shared to Direk Paul, “All the pain and the knock outs I experienced in boxing were just physical pain. But you know what’s more painful? It’s the fact that you have nothing to eat, no home where you can rest, and having a broken family. And I endured all those when I was young.”

Like Direk Paul, former child actor and “Kid Kulafu” lead star Buboy Villar feels honored to be part of the world champion’s biopic.

“I knew that there were a lot who auditioned for the role that’s why I was so happy when I was chosen. Because I’m really a big fan of Pacquiao,” said Buboy who underwent serious boxing training in preparation for the film.

“Because of ‘Kid Kulafu’ I realized that Sir Manny can be a huge source of inspiration to kids of today. He’s hardworking, determined to rise above poverty, and has high respect for his parents and family,” shared Buboy. “When Sir Manny stepped into amateur boxing, his goal was not to win. He wanted to help provide meals to his family and make his parents proud of him.”

Buboy assured moviegoers that there are still a lot that the world don’t know about Pacman. He quipped, “Before he became a world champion, he was Kid Kulafu who was filled fueled by passion and faith.”

“Kid Kulafu” was shot in select locations in Saranggani and General Santos City where Manny spent his childhood and teen years.

Portraying Manny’s parents Dionisia and Rosalio are award-winning actors Alessandra de Rossi and Alex Medina. Also part of the cast are Cesar Montano, Khalil Ramos and Igi Boy Flores. “Kid Kulafu” is written by Froilan Medina and under creative consultant Amor Olaguer and fight director Erwin Tagle.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN Store has released a collection of Kid Kulafu movie merchandise such as T-shirts, hoodies, and bags. The items may be bought at the ABS-CBN Store in The Loop located at the ABS-CBN Compound in Quezon City and online via www.abs-cbnstore.com. It will also be made available in selected cinema lobbies during the film’s theatrical release and in the following Elorde Gyms: Elorde Gilmore, Elorde Katipunan 1 and Elorde Maceda.

Don’t miss the biggest sports drama movie of the year, “Kid Kulafu,” to hit cinemas nationwide on April 15 (Wednesday).

For more information and latest updates about “Kid Kulafu” and other Star Cinema movies, simply visit StarCinema.com.ph, Facebook.com/StarCinema and Twitter.com/StarCinema.

After three weeks of solo transformations, the eight celebrity performers of “Your Face Sounds Familiar” face a new challenge as they perform in pairs in the hit variety show’s Easter Sunday (April 5) episode.

Melai Cantiveros and Tutti Caringal will try to rev up the crowd as they transform into rap group Salbakuta and perform one of their popular songs.

Jay-R and Karla Estrada will also join forces to perform a classic duet number by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.

Nyoy Volante and Jolina Magdangal, meanwhile, will show off their pipes as Juliet and Rey of OPM rock band Aegis.

“Your Face’s” so-called “EMax” love team, Maxene Magalona and Edgar Allan Guzman, will try to relive the on-screen romance of Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.

Even though the eight celebrities will be performing in pairs, jurors Gary Valenciano, Jed Madela, and Sharon Cuneta will still give them individual scores.

Who will be the week’s top scorer? And which music icons will they be impersonating next week?

Don’t miss “Your Face Sounds Familiar” Saturdays after “MMK” and Sundays after “Rated K” on ABS-CBN. For program updates, like www.facebook.com/yourfaceph, follow @YourFacePH on Twitter and Instagram, or visityourfacesoundsfamiliar.abs-cbn.com. Use the hashtag #YFSFDuets in posting comments online while watching the episode.