(from abs-cbn news.com) WATCH: 'The Voice Teens' first 4-chair turner!

WATCH: 'The Voice Teens' first 4-chair turner 

MANILA -- A 15-year-old boy from Parañaque City is this season's first four-chair turner on "The Voice Teens."

John Mc Earl Estrada, 15, earned the approval of all four coaches with his performance of Iñigo Pascual's Dahil Sa 'Yo.

"Parang napaka-presko. Parang biglang pumresko 'yung hangin dito sa loob ng studio habang kumakanta ka. That's why you got all four of us na umikot para sa'yo, and we were all just smiling at ini-enjoy lang namin 'yung performance mo," Lea Salonga told Estrada.

MIKKO: CRUSH SI COACH SARAH!

Sarah Geronimo, for her part, said: "Alam mo, nakakatuwa na mapanood 'yung mga artist na katulad mo na para bang hindi sila nagco-compete. Nagpe-perform lang sila out of love for music, out of love for entertaining people."

Bamboo also lauded Estrada for his "fun" performance.

"You just sounded like you were having fun. It didn't have to be the perfect performance. It doesn't have to be," he said.

"Tama 'yung pinili mong kanta, ang ganda ng boses mo, cool na cool ka lang. Parang pro na 'yung dating mo," Sharon Cuneta said.

Estrada, who admitted to having a crush on Geronimo, eventually chose to be part of her team.

Hosted by Luis Manzano and Toni Gonzaga, "The Voice Teens" airs Saturdays after "Home Sweetie Home" and Sundays after "Goin' Bulilit."

(source link: http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/16/17/watch-the-voice-teens-first-4-chair-turner)

MIKKO: RELAXING, COOL, REFRESHING!

HIWAGA: A JOURNEY TO EMBRACE YOUR FAMILY WITH A GREATER LOVE...

In terms of clarity, message and well-polished direction, indie film Hiwaga is great. Its intention is clear: to spread further the importance of family ties, to value and protect nature and restore the faith to the Almighty above.

The film, which had its block screening at the Cinema 5 of Fisher Mall and had media people as important guests, garnered rave comments, unending cries and tears from movie scribe Pete Ampoloquio (because of the film's heavy dramatic scenes), kisses and hugs to the great actors who all performed in the film.

The film was well-crafted, nicely edited, visually polished and had a certain rhythm of direction which brought you to hearing a lullaby song from your mother's arms. Surely, the craft of its director (Kudos, sir Rico John Amparo) - like he was sculpting a great sculpture of Art and Form, was vividly seen on the film. The hands were delicate, fine, superb.

No matter how small an indie film is, but once it was excellently done and cut into pieces of fine art- the result is magnificent. And that's exactly what director Rico John  Amparo did on this film. He managed to present a heavy-drama material, mixed-in with spirituality, gods and goddesses, and family values - with that of a well-coordinated and unified substance. How did he manage to do that? That, we could say by now, is a true work of ART.

And surprises of all surprises, the young actors, very new and so fresh in the business- could very well ACT so great. Especially its lead characters - John Mc Earl and Joshua David Clemente (who both portrayed the character named John Estrada in the film- John as the teen John Estrada and Joshua as the boy John). John's acting on one scene of the film where he delivered his Valedictory address was one of the finest acting deliveries that a blogger had seen for years. John's tears were so cinematic, the way he delivered his lines were subtle but deep- and it made us cry. If this film would be an entry to the Oscar awards in Hollywood, for sure, John's acting would be noticed. Because he's so good.

Meanwhile, Joshua David Clemente's way of acting was also noticeable. He certainly looked like an older brother taking care of his sisters. His boyish looks was a GIFT to the film.

The cinematography effect of the film- especially the earlier scenes on the forest- which had "misty-foggy" look-, was an experiment to the cinematographer, maybe, but it was really good. Effective. Magnificent.

The story of the film was original. You could feel it. Because the story was never told before. Never copied. Another excellent job.

If your tears were not enough after watching this film, better prepare an empty metal bucket so that your tears would fit on it. From start to finish, we couldn't breathe because we're holding-on to our tears.

Hiwaga is a journey to embrace your family anew. Because all of us belonged to a FAMILY. And whether we loosen them up or not,

In the end.

Your family would still be there-


FOREVER.




(WORDS BY ROBERT MANUGUID SILVERIO)

with photos by ms. TRIXIE DAUZ, RICO JOHN AMPARO & OTHERS

DIREK RICO JOHN AMPARO WITH JOSHUA CLEMENTE

JOSHUA AND JOHN

JOSHUA DAVE CLEMENTE

JOHN MC EARL

DIREK RICO JOHN AMPARO

JOHN WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAST OF "HIWAGA"

JOSHUA WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAST OF "HIWAGA"

THIS BLOGGER WITH JOSHUA AND JOHN

"HIWAGA" SYNOPSIS, AN INDIE FILM WHICH WILL HAVE A SPECIAL BLOCK SCREENING TOMORROW AT CINEMA 5 OF FISHERMALL

CZEL SANTIAGO STARS IN "HIWAGA"

HANDSOME AND CUTE JOHN MCEARL OF "HIWAGA"

CZEL SANTIAGO AND JOHN MCEARL, STARS IN "HIWAGA"

JOHN MCEARL AND CZEL SANTIAGO DURING THE MALL PROMO TOUR OF "HIWAGA"

CHRISTIOHER NOVABOS, JOHN MCEARL, CZEL SANTIAGO,  SABEL OREDINA AND MAPUA PROFESSOR BENNY AGAPITO

A GREAT ENIGMATIC FILM, "HIWAGA" WILL HAVE A SPECIAL BLOCK SCREENING TOMORROW AT THE CINEMA 5 OF FISHERMALL. CELEBRITIES, FILM DIRECTORS, ACTORS AND ACTRESSES, PLUS SOME SELECTED MEDIA PEOPLE WERE ALL INVITED TO GRACE THIS SPECIAL BLOCK SCREENING.

ALSO EXPECTED TO ATTEND TOMORROW'S SPECIAL EVENT ARE THE YOUNG CAST OF THE FILM, HEADED BY CZEL SANTIAGO (HER FORMER SCREEN NAME IS EDSEL SANTIAGO, AS SEEN ON THE FILM POSTER BELOW) AND  JOHN MC EARL.

CZEL AND ANOTHER FEMALE CAST FROM "HIWAGA" IN PERSON OF ALTHEA OREDINA WILL ALSO BE CASTED IN THE FILM "SINANDOMENG" BY DIRECTOR BYRON BRYANT. "SINANDOMENG" IS AMONG THE FILM ENTRIES OF THIS YEAR'S TOFARM FILM FESTIVAL.

BELOW IS "HIWAGA"'s FILM SYNOPSIS. READ ON AND FEEL AMAZED BY THE GREAT STORY OF THIS FILM!

"HIWAGA" FILM POSTER

”HIWAGA" Journey to the Mystery of Life A Film by SIR RCA This film takes its roots from the song “Hiwaga” which awakens the senses, imparts morals, and tenders inspiration to those yearning for their parents, the abandoned, and the orphans who are searching for enlightenment. This masterpiece displays Filipino values as issues on environment, education, family, love, and spirituality are tackled. How were you forged and toughened by time? What is the extent of your faith? Can you fulfill a covenant? Sabel, a mystic healer from the Sacred Mountains, conjures power from an enchanted necklace given to her by “sentinels of nature” and water from a miraculous spring. Ironically, she’s able to minister to the needs of others, but helpless with her own malady and on her dying breath, left her children Lorraine, John, Hannah, and Princess with a promise. With her demise, her children were taken to Bahay Kalinga, an orphanage in Manila, where their faith were tested in several occasions. They knew that they will eventually be separated so they made a pact that they will someday reunite no matter what. True enough, they got adopted by people of diversified backgrounds. Painful as it was, they picked up their lives and learned to assimilate with their new families. After a decade, John returned to the Sacred Mountains much to the delight of the “sentinels of nature.” John met and fell for Angelica, who was in the company of hikers who infuriated the sentinels when they defiled the environment and ridiculed their guide. After experiencing bizarre incidents, the hikers realized their blunder, begged pardon, and atoned for their actions. Later on, John finished school as class Valedictorian. By some twist of fate, Angelica brought her friend Hannah, John’s long lost sibling, to the graduation ceremonies. Hannah didn’t immediately recognize John until he sings “Hiwaga,” the song taught to them by their departed mother. Their reunion was captured on video and went viral in social media. Princess, their youngest sibling who just returned from abroad, came across the video and immediately got in touch with John. They arranged to meet in his graduation party to surprise Hannah. The reunion of the siblings even became more emotional with the coincidental attendance of Lorraine, who was working for the catering company which hosted the party. As the saying goes, the right moment will come to those who are steadfast in hoping and believing. The four siblings separated by time and circumstances, were able to overcome challenges. That night, their destiny unfolded, they were reunited. This is ENIGMA, journey to the mystery of life!

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