Author: Rossane Ramos

While our health workers are busy risking their lives to save the country from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), their families look forward to the day they can be with each other once again.  Four-year-old Redd is one of the many children waiting for their frontliner parents to finally come home. In a viral facebook post uploaded by his aunt, Hienrica Louinski Romero, the boy is seen holding up a sign that asked the public to stay home so that his parents can come home, too.  “My mom and dad are frontliners. Please #StayAtHome so that they can come home too.…

Kapamilya star Angel Locsin is on Darna-mode once again. The actress, with the help of her fiancé Neil Arce and some of her celebrity friends, were able to set up sleeping tents for health workers in Taguig.  On March 20, Angel appealed to her friends in the industry to give their taping beds for frontliners.  “To my friends in the industry, maybe you can spare your taping beds for our health workers? Also to everyone reading this, if you have available folding beds that we could borrow, we would greatly appreciate it. We’ll name the bed after the donor and…

Due to the suspension of work and cancellation of events, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) disclosed that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused the Filipino Audio-Visual industry to suffer. Most Audio-Visual (AV) industry workers, including freelancers, talents, production staff and technical crew members who get paid on a “per day” basis have no work during the COVID-19 situation.  In support of AV workers who have been displaced by the lockdown in Luzon, the FDCP launched the Disaster/Emergency Assistance and Relief (DEAR) Program to aid its stakeholders during calamities and major disasters. “Under the DEAR Program, the targeted support program…

To provide entertainment while some Filipinos stay in their homes during these trying times, over-the-top content platform iWant is offering more than 1,000 Pinoy movies for free for a limited time.  The iWant app is available on iOs and Android.  Laugh-out-loud comedies such as Vice Ganda’s Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad, Beauty and the Bestie, Super Parental Guardians, Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy, and Ai-Ai delas Alas’ Tanging Ina Series are ready for binge-watching.  Romance-dramas No Other Woman, The Mistress, One More Chance, The Unmarried Wife, One More Try, and The Love Affair are available as well.  If you’re…

Amidst the call of public health authorities around the world to practice “social distancing,” the World Health Organization (WHO) clarified that it should actually be “physical distancing.” In a press briefing on Friday, WHO’s coronavirus expert Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said it is essential to maintain physical distance from people to prevent the virus from spreading but it doesn’t mean that “socially we have to disconnect from our loved ones, from our family.” She emphasized the benefit of technology in keeping families and friends connected during these trying times.  “We’re changing to say physical distance and that’s on purpose because…

Actress Alessandra de Rossi expressed her worries for her family residing in Italy.  In an Instagram post, the 35-year-old asked her followers to spare a prayer for her father in Italy. While her mother will be flying out from Canada back home to Italy.  “My Pepito please stay locked in your home. Please help me pray for Italy and for @ermatsko who will be flying from Canada pabalik ng Italy very soon,” she said.  In a separate post, she admitted how difficult it is to be away from her family.  “Hirap malayo sa pamilya. Nakakabaliw,” she wrote.  In a report…

The 16th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has been postponed amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the event’s organizers announced on Facebook. “We recognize the health and safety hazard that film production might pose on filmmakers and workers as they strive to meet the original deadlines for the competition. We also anticipate the modified ways of ‘live’ audience engagement that might need to be adopted after the quarantine period,” they said in the statement. They assured that the organizers will consider solutions in reducing the economic loss that stakeholders of the festival will encounter while the festival programmers are looking for…

OPM band Ben&Ben will be holding their own online concert this Friday, March 27, to raise funds for those affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  The Facebook live event, Puhon, will feature the nine-piece group jamming to their hits for an hour-long show.  “Puhon! is an initiative that brings people together to combat COVID-19 in the Philippines by providing a timely and coordinated response to affected communities, and by building a network of courage and inspiration through stories and music,” they said.  The money that will be raised will be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPEs) and nutrition support…

Filipino-American singer Francisco Martin was nothing but nerves when he auditioned for talent competition series American Idol.  After proving to the judges that he’s superstar material, he made sure to maintain his reputation during Hollywood Week of the competition. The 18-year-old talent sang his own rendition of James Bay’s Hold The River.  His parents Fatima and John Martin are both Filipinos. They currently reside in San Francisco, California. (READ: WATCH: Fil-Am singer charms judges on American Idol.)

Regal Entertainment is releasing its films online amid the month-long Luzon lockdown and community quarantine elsewhere nationwide after the rise of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country.  The filmmaking company announced on Facebook that they are featuring free Regal movies on its Facebook page as an attempt to entertain people while they are in their homes.  Among these films are the classics Temptation Island, Prinsipe Abante at ang Lihim ng Ibong Adarna, Kambal Dragon and Student Body. “Let’s keep safe and stay at home as we flatten the curve of the COVID-19 cases. With this we are featuring FREE REGAL…