The Karate Kid: Legends Trailer Has Dropped and My Inner Child is Screaming

The wait is finally over! The first trailer for Karate Kid: Legends has arrived, and my inner Karate Kid-loving child is screaming. I'll admit: I originally had my doubts with an Asian in the lead but seeing Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio was enough to convince me that I HAVE to watch this movie.

The Karate Kids: Legends trailer offers us some breathtaking cinematography complete with scenic views and of course, a display of martial arts choreography, plus the return of the iconic Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han from previous Karate Kid movies. Seeing these legends back in action, mentoring a new prodigy, evoked a wave of nostalgia that left me grinning from ear to ear.

Watch the Karate Kid: Legends trailer here:

Karate Kid: Legends promises to delve deeper into the philosophical core of the franchise, exploring themes of self-discovery, discipline, and the enduring power of mentorship. The trailer also hints at intense action sequences that are sure to leave us on the edge of their seats as always.

With a star-studded cast and a creative team passionate about honoring the legacy of the original films, Karate Kid: Legends is poised to be a knockout hit. Coming soon in Philippine cinemas, Karate Kid: Legends is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

My Waterbomb Festival Manila Wishlist: A Thirsty K-Pop Fan's Dream

Waterbomb Festival Manila has finally been announced, and I'm already counting down the days! As a K-Pop enthusiast, I've got a pretty out-there wishlist filled with complete long shots, but... allow this girl to dream. And yes, Waterbomb is all about abs to me. I'm not going to pretend otherwise.

My Waterbomb Festival Manila Wishlist

SHINee

Photo from @waterbomb_official on Instagram

This should be no surprise. Choi Minho and Taemin are no strangers to Waterbomb and we already know they're wow. But imagine adding the rest of those men to the mix! MG! So yes, I dream of seeing SHINee grace the Waterbomb stage. They would undoubtedly bring the house down.

ATEEZ

I have yet to watch ATEEZ live, but from what I've heard, they would also be a perfect addition to Waterbomb Festival Manila. Their energetic performances and stunning visuals would definitely leave a lasting impression on the audience even if we don't see any skin (though we probably would).

Huta

Photo from @waterbomb_official on Instagram

Huta (Min-hyuk of BTOB) isn't just known for his impressive abs but also for his energetic performances and charming personality. His stage presence is sure to electrify the crowd.

B.I.

More than skin; B.I.'s powerful vocals, intense stage presence, and fitting music would make him an absolute standout at Waterbomb. Amirite or amirite? We've seen him perform in Manila several times now and he knew how to hype up a crowd every single time.

ZEROBASEONE

Yes, they're young, but HEAR ME OUT. We've had three of the members show their abs on stage by now, they've got catchy bops perfect for a water festival, and most importantly, it's their last year as a group so we need to get them on stage every chance we get.

While this is just a dream lineup that will obviously just stay a dream lol, I'm excited to see what Waterbomb Festival Manila actually has in store for us. No matter who performs, I'm getting my wallet and pagkatao ready to make unforgettable memories. See you there?

WATCH: The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim BTS Featurette

As a Lord of the Rings lover, The War of the Rohirrim is one animated movie I can't wait to watch!

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim revolves around the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan (voiced by Brian Cox). A sudden attack forces Helm's people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg (later known as THE Helm's Deep!), and Helm's daughter has to lead the resistance to save their people.

Watch the latest BTS featurette of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim here:

I am so excited to see this brand new story of my favorite franchise of all time and see how well it fits into the world of The Lord of the Rings.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opens in cinemas on December 11, 2024.

11 Upcoming Disney Titles I am Extremely Excited About

The Disney APAC Content Showcase kicked off today, and my gosh, I am peeing in my pants with excitement. Obviously, a TON of titles were presented for their 2025-2026 theatrical and streaming slate, but here are my personal must-look-out-fors.

11 Upcoming Disney Titles I am Extremely Excited About

Snow White

I know, I know. I'm not exactly thrilled about this live-action movie (having grown up in Germany with the original fairy tale, not being pleased with how Rachel Zegler has been speaking about it, and not being a huge fan of live-action anythings, to be honest), but LOOK. AT. GAL. GADOT.

Gal Gadot looks absolutely stunning as the Evil Queen and I will definitely be watching when the movie shows in theaters around March 21, 2025 - just for her.

Lilo & Stitch

Actually, it lokos like 2025 might just be the year that Disney converts me into loving their live-action movies because Stitch looks far too cute.

TJ, one of my best friends, absolutely loves Stitch so this is definitely another movie penciled into my calendar. It is set to premiere in theaters around May 23, 2025.

TRON: Ares

Who doesn't love TRON? This upcoming movie is about a sophisticated program called Ares who comes into the real world, marking humans' first encounter with AI beings. As a sci-fi girly, this sounds like everything I love in a movie.

Plus, did I mention that it stars Jared Leto?!? TRON: Ares is set to premiere in theaters around October 10, 2025.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

My love for Avatar is no secret. In fact, one of the baby names I had lined up for Syrena was Pandora. Around December 19, 2025, we will be going back to the stunning world of Pandora with Jake, Neytiri, and the Sully family - and my goodness, the concept art is to die for!

Toy Story 5

While I believe that the Toy Story franchise should have ended after Toy Story 3, I am also more than willing to lap up as much Toy Story content as possible while I am still alive and breathing. So the news that a Toy Story 5 is in the works made me squeal to no end - and this time around, it is perfect for today's iPad generation.

In Toy Story 5, the gang meet a new threat to playtime: gadgets. Check out the concept art:

Incredibles 3

Another personal favorite Pixar movie of mine (and terribly underrated, I must say) is getting a third movie. I don't know much about it yet, but I'm still excited nonetheless.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Grogu lovers unite because a movie is set to premiere in theaters around May 22, 2026!

Andor Season 2

Not gonna lie: all of the Star Wars announcements today are on this list coz STAR WARS IS LIFE. From what I understood, this will be the last season? (Please say it isn't sooo!) It is set to launch on Disney+ on April 22, 2025.

Star Wars: Visions Vol. 3

The award-winning anthology of animated short films, Star Wars: Visions, will also be back for a third installment in 2025. Vol. 3 will feature nine shorts from eight different anime studios in Japan.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Animated Spider-Man anythings never seem to let us down, so this is another title I simply cannot for. And I'm sure Syrena will love this one as well.

This series will follow Peter Parker's journey in a unique way and in a style that touches on Spidey's early comic book roots. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is set to premiere on Disney+ on January 29, 2025.

Daredevil: Born Again

And saving the best for last, Daredevil is back!!! Again: not a secret (remember when I dressed up as comic book Elektra for comic con once? LOL). Anyway, I was absolutely obsessed with all of the Netflix series and was so sad when we first lost them... but here we are. Daredevil: Born Again is set to premiere on Disney+ on March 4, 2025. LFG!!!

Which upcoming Disney titles are you most excited about? Geek out with me!!!

Stray Kids AMA Debut was Absolutely Iconic

Stray Kids has done it again! They were absolutely amazing during their first-ever American Music Awards (AMAs) performance, delivering a high-energy mashup that paid homage to the '90s boy band, *NSYNC.

The performance, which aired as part of the ceremony's 50th-anniversary special, showcased our boys' undeniable talent and charisma.

The stage was set with a nostalgic atmosphere of them as puppets on strings, reminiscent of *NSYNC's 2000 album No Strings Attached and their original music video of Bye, Bye, Bye. (Special shoutout to their stylists who blessed us with plenty of sleeveless Stray Kids members! :p)

Their choice of song also doubled as a clever nod to Deadpool & Wolverine as Stray Kids performed Chk Chk Boom right after. (In case you didn't know, both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman made unforgettable cameos in Stray Kids' music video of that song.)

The overall performance captured the essence of their predecessors while adding the intense dance moves that we never got to see back in the day. It was the perfect blend of the past and present of "boy bands". Lance Bass even gave them a thumbs up after their performance as approval.

Stray Kids AMA appearance marked a significant milestone in their career and I am so, so proud of our boys.

Watch the iconic Stray Kids AMA performance here:

As one of the most popular K-pop groups in the world, Stray Kids AMA performance definitely helped to further solidify their status as global superstars.

Transformers One: Best Transformers Movie Ever?

I've always loved Transformers - a love I have passed down to my own kid - and when I say we watch a lot of Transformers together, I mean a loooot. From the movies to the cartoons, we've seen them all... and we love them all, even the "bad" ones.

Well, Transformers One reviews have started to come out and one critic for Next Best Picture has dubbed it "far and away the best Transformers film to date". If that won't make you watch it, I don't know what will.

Photo from Paramount Pictures

Transformers One is an animated film directed by Josh Cooley that takes us back to the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron and how they went from being like brothers to enemies; and apparently, it's amazing - including the voice cast and the soundtrack.

The Hollywood Reporter also praised the "gorgeous 3D-style computer animation" and the "entertaining origin story". Fans seem to love it too. Watch some fan reactions here:

I now cannot wait to get back home to watch it with Syrena! And oh, if you haven't seen it yet either, there are two post-credits scenes to watch out for so don't leave the cinemas right away!

Transformers One is now showing in Philippine cinemas.

Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born Stars a Singing Kim Tae-ri

I am so excited for Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born on Disney+. After all, Kim Tae-ri is one of my favorite Korean actresses. And truly, she never fails to amaze me.

I first learned about how dedicated Tae-ri is to her roles when I attended a press con for Twenty-Five Twenty-One where she shared that she really took fencing lessons in order to prepare for her role (and she was so serious about them too!)

She also spoke French in that drama and I later learned that she has a beginner level of French proficiency because she started learning the language prior to becoming an actor.

Now, she is about to show us what her singing skills are made of in the upcoming Korean series Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born.

Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born is set in post-war Korea, an era filled of desire and aspiration. In the series, Kim Tae-ri takes on the role of Jeongnyeon, a trainee of the theater company Maeran Gukgeuk-dan whose dream is to become the best performer in Korean female classical opera. Yes, this isn't regular singing that Tae-ri will be taking on, but classical opera, no less!

Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born also stars Shin Ye-eun from the Glory as Young-seo, Jeongnyeon's biggest rival. I am so excited for this!

Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born stars showing on Disney+ on October 12, 2024.

I'm in love with my G-SHOCK ITZY watch!

I love Casio watches, particularly Baby G and G-SHOCK watches. In fact, the first watch I ever fell in love with was a Casio Baby G watch.

So, when I learned that ITZY collaborated with the famous brand, I was ecstatic. A collaboration between my favorite Korean girl group and my favorite watch brand? Winner!

Honestly, it's the perfect collaboration because, like G-SHOCK, ITZY is just as powerful and just as tough.

There are three colors available in this collaboration - beige pink, white, and translucent black - and in my current attempt to veer away from my usual blacks, I went for the beige pink one.

Honestly, I have no regrets because just like the white and black, it matches perfectly well with practically any outfit. I also love the pinkish hands of the clock that gives it at added oomph.

To make MIDZYs even happier, the special G-SHOCK ITZY watches come in a tin case with the ITZY logo on it:

The tin case is also placed in a box with ITZY's signatures printed on it.

The watch face and the back of the watch have the ITZY logo on it too:

The G-SHOCK ITZY watch is definitely a must-have accessory for every MIDZY out there. Make sure to get yours before their concert in Manila!

The Century Tuna Superbods 2024 Finalists Have Been Revealed

Another day, another piece of motivation! The Century Tuna Superbods 2024 finalists have been revealed, and haaaaay... one day talaga. :p

This actually isn't the first time I've been in awe of the Century Tuna superbods. Fun fact: Century Tuna Superbods has been around since 2006!

For me, though, exactly 10 years ago (wow, time flies!), I took part in the online challenge that Century Tuna had on their site. That was back when I had a really bad concept of what fitness entailed though.

Now that I have a healthier outlook on health and fitness (and it only took a decade to get here? wew hahaha), I look at the Century Tuna Superbods 2024 finalists with new eyes.

Meet the Top 18 Century Tuna Superbods 2024 Finalists

For the male category: Nikko Nackaerts, Tony de Oteyza, Angel Mallari, Jerico Ejercito, Jether Palomo, Kris Guevarra, John Jenric Saldivar, Michael Ver Comaling, Jose Vicente Sobrevilla, Patrick Patawaran, John Paulo Dela Cruz, Carlo Adorador, Aaron Davis, Jeff Ong, Enzo Bonoan, Derick Hibaler, Naia Ching, and Joshua David Spider Webb.

For the female category: Monique de los Santos, Mariah Nicole Valdez, Justine Felizarta, Brooke Barredo, Lea Macapagal, Hazel Ortiz, Morena Carlos, Chrystel Mae Correos, Jasmin Ariola, Julia Sucgang-Bonoan, Nælah Alshorbaji, Clare Dacanay, Jessica Marasigan, Miaow Ayesa, Keylyn Trajano, Teodora Marie Reiss, Imelda Schweighart, and Inka Magnaye.

The evaluation process for the Century Tuna Superbods 2024 finalists was a rigorous one and included hundreds of online and onsite auditions. They were also evaluated through a walk-off to showcase their physiques, charisma, and stage presence and a question-and-answer portion to demonstrate their ability to share their fitness advocacies and wits.

Of course, all of the selected Century Tuna Superbods 2024 finalists also have inspiring stories to share as they strive for the healthiest and fittest versions of themselves.

This is in line with what Century Tuna Superbods is all about: celebrating people who have gone on remarkable journeys of physical transformation, personal growth, and a commitment to healthy living. Again: one day..... :p

The finals night of the Century Tuna Superbods 2024 Best You Ever Campaign will happen in July where this year’s #CenturyTunaSuperbodsBestYouEver winners will be named.

For more information, visit https://centurytuna.ph/ and follow Century Tuna on Facebook or Instagram for more updates.

Tabing Ilog Cast Reunite for A Journey - Get the Tissue Ready!

When I heard that some of the Tabing Ilog cast members were going to star in the Netflix movie A Journey together, I jumped at the chance to interview them about it. Little did I know how much the movie would actually wreck me.

In a nutshell, Kaye Abad stars as a woman who discovers her cancer has returned. She refuses treatment and decides to go to Australia with her husband (Paolo Contis) and their best friend (Patrick Garcia) while checking off things on her "magic list" (basically a bucket list) along the way.

A Journey Trailer

First and foremost, you need to know that this movie is heeeeeavy.

While it starts off light, and Tabing Ilog references and other nostalgic anecdotes are peppered into the movie, it is pretty heavy as a whole. I'm a cryer by nature but I still shed more tears than I'd like to admit while watching this.

Granted, this might have something to do with how much I related to the movie, but even without being able to relate to the health issues or their age, there is a lot to be learned from A Journey:

Do the things that you want to do.

Like Kaye's character, I found myself in several pickles in life last year, which prompted me to change my mindset about how I was living my life as a whole. Cue all of the trips, concerts, and random activities I've done since then.

A Journey reminds us that there is more to life than work and money. You can always earn more money but you won't always have the energy, youth, or good health to do the things that you want to do now. So book that trip, dye your hair, and see those penguins. Live a life filled with fantastic experiences that you can look back on. No matter what anyone says, you deserve it.

Make memories with the people you love.

At first, I didn't quite understand why the boys didn't make more of an effort to make one of Kaye's bucket list items come true prior to her getting sick again, but I now realize that goes back to being sucked into work and other things in life.

Anyway, if you miss/love someone, make time for them. Ditch the excuses. Take a trip together and rekindle your friendship/love. Take a trip to see someone you haven't seen in a long time.

I used to always put things off, thinking that "I'll make plans for next week/month" or "I'll see them next year" until surprise, it never happens.

Even though they are miles away, I recently visited my sister in Los Angeles, my best friend in Malta, my college best friend in France, and even some friends in Bangkok. Is my bank account happy? Definitely not. But I am. And I'd like to think they are too. It was well worth it in the end and I promised to see the people I love more often.

Always hold onto hope.

The most important thing I got out of A Journey though is that you should never lose hope. It's funny because hope used to be my favorite word. Somewhere along the years (let's blame all of the bad luck and crappy experiences I've had), I lost sight of that. But A Journey has reminded me to always hold onto hope - if not for ourselves, at least for those who love us.

Of course, A Journey isn't perfect. There were moments where my heart was already feeling so heavy and yet it felt like the movie was still dragging on. It's definitely not for the weak-hearted. I paused it a lot.

But it did remind me that I have been making the right choices in how I live my life nowadays. And if you haven't gone through a similar epiphany yet, I highly recommend you watch it. Just make sure you've got a lotta tissue ready.

Watch A Journey on Netflix here.

NBA Collaborates With LE SSERAFIM to Engage Fans in New Ways

An NBA LE SSERAFIM collaboration? YAHSSSSS!

After their successful partnership with BTS' Suga, the NBA is at it again to tug at our KPop-loving hearts. This time, it's a multi-year collaboration with the girl group LE SSERAFIM.

The talented ladies will be heading Friends of the NBA, a celebrity and influencer program in Asia that aims to engage sports and music fans in new and creative ways.

Expect to see them at NBA games and events, and collaborating with the sports giant on exclusive content which you can watch on the NBA's and LE SSERAFIM's social media channels. Kim Chae-won, Sakura, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha, and Hong-chae will also be sharing their experiences as NBA fans on social media.

"We are so excited to collaborate with the NBA,” the girls beam. “We had a great time watching an NBA game in person last year in LA! We look forward to working together with the league to experience so much more with NBA fans around the world."

Hopefully, we'll be getting NBA LE SSERAFIM merch too! Manifest with me!!!

Learn more about the NBA LE SSERAFIM collaboration here.

SEVENTEEN to Release Two New Albums This 2024?!??

I am watching Day 2 of SEVENTEEN's Follow Tour to Incheon as I am typing this (multi-tasking at its finest), but I am completely losing it because WHAT DID HOSHI JUST SAY?!??

Apparently, SEVENTEEN will be releasing not one BUT TWO albums this year?

He said it out of nowhere and the members were shocked because apparently, they were planning on announcing it at the end of today's concert... but we all know Hoshi and this is definitely not out of character. Lol. Based on their reactions, it seems legit but will confirm again at the end of the concert in a few hours.

He also said they'd be doing another tour after and he went on to say, "Let's all say 'Get some rest' at the count of three." Now, I know this was a joke and I know we're all happy to be getting so much SEVENTEEN content (they may also be rushing things since Jeonghan has to enlist in the military soon), but I do hope the boys get some rest somehow. 

Either way, OH MY GOD!!!

BSS are the New Faces for the OPPO Reno11 F 5G

BSS are the new faces for the OPPO Reno11 F 5G!!!

I'm so proud of our boys, and they look absolutely perfect in the posters:

OPPO has always been my smartphone of choice for my kid, Syrena, for a variety of reasons; and as a mini-Carat, it really isn't surprising that he now wants to get his hands on the OPPO Reno11 F 5G.

BSS members Seungkwan, DK, and Hoshi as the latest OPPO Reno Experts for OPPO’s APAC markets marks the beginning of a new era - and their exuberant energy truly matches the smartphone brand well.

Just check out the fun BSS OPPO commercial to see what I mean:

BSS’ embodiment of youthful energy and a genuine love or self-expression perfectly represent the key features of OPPO’s latest smartphone, reflecting the dynamic qualities that set the OPPO Reno11 F 5G apart in the market.

"The OPPO Reno series prides itself on being the portrait expert and we are thrilled to partner with BSS," shares Andy Shi, APAC President of OPPO. "It is not just about the innovation of the Reno series but more about providing a tool for genuine, joyous expression. We invite fans of OPPO and BSS alike to join us on this portrait photography journey to seize the opportunity and showcase their creativity."

No need to tell us twice - we're on it! ;)

OPPO’s latest addition to its Reno lineup, the OPPO Reno11 F 5G, is now available in the Philippines. With vibrant, eye-catching style, a 64MP Ultra-Clear Triple Camera, and a 120Hz AMOLED Borderless display, the OPPO Reno11F 5G is a winning combination of fresh looks and smart experiences.

For further updates from OPPO, please visit www.oppo.com.ph

Mean Girls Musical: What to Expect

I recently got Syrena to watch the original Mean Girls movie and my goodness. Can you believe it has already been 20 whole years since we were blessed with that amazing movie? Even though I am now "the cool mom" and no longer Regina George, it was still such a marvelous film to watch.

Ever since the remake was announced, however, I've been a bit on edge. I don't know how to feel about a Mean Girls movie for "this" generation (IYKYK). Will it even be funny? Will it still be relatable?

Knowing that Tina Fey will still be at the helm, I feel a bit more at ease. She also said that this musical film adaptation still captures the spirit of the original, but... I don't know.

Watch the trailer of the Mean Girls musical here:

Tina Fey promises, "We are still able to have new jokes and new moments that will surprise people who love the original and also delight a whole new audience."

Director Samantha Jayne also stresses on a significant point of Mean Girls: that women should support women instead of tearing each other down. "That message was great in 2004," she says, "and it will be great 100 years from now. If we have created a version that connects that message to today's audience and allows them to have fun, we're doing what we set out to do."

Will definitely need to be open-minded about this and watch it with Syrena to get his Gen Z perspective on it.

Are you excited for the Mean Girls musical?

Mark your calendars. The Mean Girls musical starts showing in Philippine cinemas on February 7, 2024.