An ‘Aliw’ for Gladys and the Boxers

Fast-rising comedy musical group Gladys and the Boxers with K punched their way to win an Aliw Award recently. The group was awarded Best Performer in Music Lounges, Group Category.

Composed of Gladys Guevarra, Kakai Brosas and Daniel Larrazabal, the group is currently doing the rounds of the hottest party places in the city such as Nth Degree, Soundstage, Chatterbox West Ave., Lite and Live, Kampo, and many more. They are about to release their debut album under Star Records.

The group wasn’t present to accept their tropy during the Aliw Awards. But Gladys, when she first learned of their victory, quipped, "Hay naku! Salamat na lang at na-aliw sila amin!"

10 new cinemas

Robinsons Movieworld-Galleria is now open with 10 brand new cinemas, fully equipped with the best in digital sound and projection technology. The cineplex will still occupy its former location at the 4th level of the Mall, which also underwent a major redevelopment.

The grand opening of Robinsons Movieworld-Galleria gathered a list of the most glittery names in various fields. My fabulous sister Kris Aquino led the ribbon-cutting event. Rufa Mae Quinto, Jeffrey Quizon, Pops Fernandez, Kuya Germs, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Assunta de Rossi also were part of the celebration. The Gokongweis were also in the opening including recent birthday boy John Gokongwei with his unico hijo Lance and daughters Lisa and Robina. Vice-President of Robinsons Land Corp. Frederick Go welcomed the guests while my friend Roseanne Consculluela was all smiles because the launch went smoothly. I hosted the opening with MTV VJ Belinda Panelo and Shannen Torres. Passage and Freeverse provided pulsating dance music all night long.

Also seen in the party were Miguel Zubiri, Keren Pascual, Wilson Tieng, Robbie Tan, Dondon Monteverde, Jeffrey Lim, Mark Reyes, Reyster Langit with wife Kit, Francis and wife Love Andaya, Kenneth Bracosa, Gerard Ramos, Jay Canlas and the fabulous Tessa Prieto-Valdes.

After the short opening ceremony, guests were treated to the movies The Fast and Furious, Knight’s Tale and Scream. Watching the movie was a thrill since we experienced the latest in THX, SDDS, DTS, Dolby and Dolby Digital EX sound technologies. The multi-million-peso renovation and improvements of Robinsons Movieworld also include 5000 new fabric upholstered seats, a spacious and specially themed lobby where a videowall has been installed at the center of the lobby. "Moviegoers will have a chance to preview the current releases or catch a glimpse of coming attractions," says Leo F. Hernandez, Robinsons Movieworld’s General Manager. He added that Robinson Movieworld-Galleria will also be offering amenities such as computerized ticketing systems, reserved seats and internet ticket reservations, loyalty cards and special pre-paid cinema cards to its patrons very soon.

Mall developer RLC, on the other hand, undertook the redevelopment of the entire 4th level of the Galleria to accommodate eight popular restaurant cafes and a couple of new retail concepts that will complement the new look of Robinsons Movieworld.

Likeable Ogami

One of the most endearing qualities of Japanese martial arts expert and businessman Genta Ogami is his having a soft spot in his heart for Pinoys. In fact, in his soon to be released movie (to be shown here and abroad) with Filipina actress Joyce Jimenez titled Blades of the Sun (formerly called Lords of Creation), Ogami refused to cast Filipino actors as kontrabida especially in sequences where there were fight scenes.

Says Ogami, "I love the Philippines and everything about, especially the people. And I am trying my best in my own little way to be able to help uplift the lives of the Filipino people."

Ogami is the owner of the G.O. Group of Companies, the umbrella company of G. Cosmos Philippines, a private organization, which gives unlimited opportunities to hardworking individuals. Mr. Ogami believes that for Filipinos to succeed, we must first learn to live our lives by helping others.

"I believe that we must learn to co-exist with each other and set aside our differences. If we will only put our hands together towards a common goal, nothing is impossible," adds Ogami.

The movie Blades of the Sun is scheduled for release in the Philippines end of this year.