She’s Dating the Gangster: Certified Blockbuster

STORM clouds gathered at the opening day of the Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo—starrer teen romance She’s Dating the Gangster but no typhoon was strong enough to ravage the film’s box office performance.

The Star Cinema film, which opened on July 16, the same day when typhoon Glenda wrought havoc across Calabarzon including Metro Manila, breached the P100-million mark in just five days of theatrical release.

According to the film outfit’s advertising and promotions manager, the film also earned P15 million on its opening day, a testament on how an army of KathNiel can go the distance just to show support to their idols. Indeed, the tandem of the young onscreen couple deserves the moniker, Teen King and Queen.

Helmed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, She’s Dating The Gangster  is a story that starts out as a make-believe relationship between reluctant Athena (Kathryn) and school’s resident bad boy Kenji (Daniel) as part of the latter’s plan to get back at his ex-girlfriend.

Based on the online book sensation-turned-bestseller, She’s Dating the Gangster is currently being screened in 220 theaters nationwide. Hence, it’s also expected to break some local box office records.

Pinoy talents on the global stage

A young talent’s sweet victory makes a lot of his countrymen proud.

At the recently concluded World Championship of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) held in Los Angeles, California, Lloyd Montebon, an 11-year-old student from Davao Oriental won the coveted prize in the junior division, the same division which young singer Rhap Salazar dominated in 2009.

The young crooner wowed the panel of judges after belting out a pop version of “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.” To give you an idea, he sang it the way Regine Velasquez did.

To most local singers, including those countries that participate in the annual event, the WCOPA is the global platform for aspiring performing artists worldwide. This contest that is held annually in Hollywood is often referred to as the “Olympics of the Performing Arts.”

Among the most notable products of WCOPA is Jed Madela who won in the senior division in 2005. The Star Record artist was eventually inducted into the Performing Arts Hall of Fame in 2013.

Meanwhile, there’s a new wave of interesting and fresh talents in the Australian edition of the hit singing competition X Factor and three of them are Filipinos.

Self-described shy girl Marlisa Punzalan, 15-year-old student Justin Vasquez, and pop-rock fan Mary Ann Van Der Horst all made it to the audition phase of the talent search.  They drew standing ovations not only from the audience but also from the four judges namely Ronan Keating, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Dannii Minogue and Redfoo.

Mary Ann, a 28-year-old health professional who is married to an Australian, was one of the the contestants who received loud applauses. She jokingly said her husband was annoyed whenever she sings but the judges were all praises after her performance.

“When you came out, I thought you weren’t serious,” said former Boyzone frontman Ronan, referring to how the Pinay had blown the judges away with her rendition of Beyoncé’s “Halo.”

“I was so wrong,” he added. “Everything about you, Mary Ann. The way that you moved onstage, the way that you were singing that song like it was your own, it was incredible to watch. That was amazing.”