THE paths of friends diverge as one is now Glinda the Good, and the other The Wicked Witch of The West in Wicked: For Good. The final chapter in the global cinematic sensation sees Cynthia Erivo and Ariana reprise their roles as the witches of Oz, along with Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Jonathan Bailey

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/0QMma6Y3m84

It’s off to the Land of Oz once more as Wicked: For Good arrives in Philippine theaters on November 19. Check out Universal Pictures PH (FB), UniversalPicturesPH (IG), and UniversalPicsPH (TikTok) for the latest news and updates.

About Wicked: For Good:
And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend
Last year’s global cinematic cultural sensation, which became the most successful Broadway film adaptation of all time, now reaches its epic, electrifying, emotional conclusion in Wicked: For Good.
Directed once again by award-winning director Jon M. Chu and starring the spectacular returning cast, led by Academy Award® nominated superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices.
The film is produced by returning Tony and Emmy winning powerhouse Marc Platt p.g.a. and by multiple Tony winner David Stone. The executive producers are Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox. The first film, Wicked, released in November 2024, earned 10 Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Oscars® for Costume Design and Production Design. To date, the film has grossed $750 million worldwide.
Wicked: For Good is based on the generation-defining musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire. The screenplay is by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox. The film score is by John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

(ROHN ROMULO0

NAGBUNYI ang mga Pinoy sa iba’t-ibang panig ng mundo nang itanghal na grand winner ang Fil-Am singer na si Jessica Sanchez sa “America’s Got Talent” Season 20.
Naka-one on one niya ang improv rapper na si Chris Turner, tinalo niya ito matapos makakuha ng pinakamataas na boto mula sa viewers ng programa.
Pinahanga nang husto ni Jessica ang mga judge ng “AGT” na sina Sofia Vergara, Simon Cowell, Mel B, at Howie Mandel, ganun din ang milyung-milyong manonood sa buong mundo, nang kantahin niya ang “Golden Hour” ng JVKE kasabay ang makapigil-hiningang aerial performance ng Sirca Marea.
Una na ngang pinabilib ni Jessica ang manonood nang kantahin niya ang “Die With A Smile” nina Bruno at Lady Gaga sa finals night.
At sa pagkapanalo niya bilang grand champion “AGT Season 20”, nakapag-uwi rin si Jessica ng $1-million prize.
Matatandaan na noong 2012, nag-join na rin si Jessica sa Season 11 ng “American Idol” kung saan nabigo siyang magwagi at nakuha niya ang second place.
Samantala, bago siya mag-perform para sa finals night, inamin ni Jessica na grabe ang nararamdaman niyang nerbiyos.
“I think I’m feeling all the feels. I’m definitely a little nervous. I am so close to my due date, so that’s a little crazy but I’m also super excited.”
Pagkatapos ng manalo sa AGT at mga interview, nag-post naman si Jessica na kanyang vlog at labis na pasasalamat sa lahat ng sumuporta sa kanya.
Panimula niya, “Oh my goodness, I can’t believed what just happened. This is crazy.
“I just want to thank you guys for everything, for voting for me and for believing in me. I love you guys so much.
“I also want to thank all the staff that has been helping me on AGT. They really took care of me, I’m nine months pregnant and they are so kind to me.”
Dagdag pasasalamat pa ni Jessica, “to the judges, and to Sophia, I feel like she really helps me get this far, with the golden buzzer. She really made that moment for me and I can’t thank her enough.
“And then Simon, I always to want to sing in front of Simon, ever since I was a little girl.
And tonight, he just showed me so much love, I mean through out the whole season. But tonight, he came to me and said, if I need I’m here for you and that means so much.”
Matatandaan nagkaroon ng grand comeback si Jessica sa AGT last July, na kung saan kinanta niya ang “Beautiful Things” ng Benson Boone at pinindot nga si Sofia ang golden buzzer.
Aabangan naman ang pagsisilang ni Jessica ng kanilang baby girl, kaya babalik muna sila ng asawa sa Texas.
Itutuloy pa rin niya ang singing career at kare-release lang ang single na “Two Lines” na tungkol sa kanyang pagbubuntis.
Congrats Jessica!

***

MTRCB naglunsad ng isang pagsasanay tungkol sa Data Privacy

MATAGUMPAY na natapos ng Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) ang Data Privacy Management Program nito noong Martes, Setyembre 23, na nagpapatunay sa matibay na pangako ng Ahensiya na pangalagaan ang personal na impormasyon at isulong ang responsableng pamamahala ng datos sa panahon ng digitalisasyon.
Nagbunga ang programa ng 23 bagong Data Privacy Champions.
Sa bilang na yan, lima ay lalaki at 18 ang babae. Sinanay sila para ipatupad ang mga pamantayan sa data privacy at matiyak ang pagsunod sa umiiral na Data Privacy Act of 2012 at iba pang mga polisiya.
Sa kanyang mensahe, binigyang-diin ni MTRCB Chairperson and CEO Lala Sotto ang mahalagang papel ng mga Data Privacy Champions para mapanatiling ligtas, maaasahan at mapagkakatiwalaang Ahensiya ang MTRCB.
“Napakahalaga po para sa ating Ahensiya na tiyaking maayos, ligtas at protektado ang ating mga datos, lalo na’t karamihan sa ating mga transaksyon ay may kalakip na personal at sensitibong impormasyon,” sabi ni Sotto.
Pinuri naman ni KAT-C Business and Data Privacy Consulting Inc. CEO Atty. Krishna Aira Tana-Caguia ang inisyatiba ng MTRCB na palakasin ang data privacy ng Ahensiya.
“Ipinapaabot namin ang taos-pusong pagbati sa matagumpay na pagtatatag ng Data Privacy Management Program ng MTRCB,” sabi ni Tana-Caguia. “Ito ay isang malinaw na tagumpay sa MTRCB na nagpapakita ng kanilang pananagutan sa pagsunod sa Data Privacy Act of 2012 at ng kanilang pangako na protektahan ang personal na datos na kanilang pinoproseso habang ginagampanan ang kanilang mandato,” dagdag pa niya.
Kabilang sa programa ang presentasyon ng bawat Data Privacy Champions ng kanilang hakbang tungkol sa pagpapatupad ng mga risk treatment controls at mga pagpapabuti para mapalakas ang data privacy framework ng ahensya.
Ang inisyatiba ay nagpapakita ng dedikasyon ng Board na mailinya ang mga hakbang sa pambansa at pandaigdigang pamantayan pagdating sa pagprotekta ng datos.
“Ang maagap na hakbang ng MTRCB sa pagtatatag ng programang ito ay nagpapakita ng malalim na pag-unawa sa kahalagahan ng data privacy sa panahon ngayon. Isa itong patunay sa dedikasyon ng Board upang matiyak na ang mga karapatan ng mga data subject ay napangangalagaan,” diin ni Tana-Caguia.

(ROHN ROMULO)

ISANG buwang palang nag-stay sa bansang India si Beauty Gonzalez at nag-training ito sa yoga.
Nakumpleto nga ng Kapuso actress ang 200-hour yoga teacher training course na kinuha niya sa isang kilalang ashram.
“I studied yoga. Hopefully, someday, I’ll be a yoga teacher, but it was more for myself. I wanted to learn something new. Aside from that, taking care of myself, may pagka-retreat. Gusto ko may bago akong talent. I really love India and I love yoga,” sey ni Beauty.
First time daw niyang maging mag-isa sa isang foreign country. Noong patapos na raw siya sa kanyang training, sumunod din ang mister niyang si Norman Crisologo at anak nilang si Olivia sa India para magbakasyon.
Naghahanda rin si Beauty sa kanyang bagong passion project na isang online store para sa mga damit at accessories na idinisenyo niya at inspired ng kanyang mga biyahe.
“Everybody’s asking where I get my jackets, my pants. Not everyone knows, ako lang nagde-design noon.
“Mahilig talaga ‘kong bumili ng mga kakaibang bagay so sabi ko, gawin ko kayang negosyo ‘to,” sey ni Beauty na napapanood sa primetime action drama series na ‘Sanggang-Dikit FR.’
***
INAMIN ni Angel Guardian na pinilit niyang sampalin siya nang malakas ni Rhian Ramos sa Kapuso telefantasya na ‘Sang’gre.’
Gusto raw kasi ng Sparkle star na maging makatotohanan ang confrontation ng characters nila ni Rhian na sina Deia at Mitena.
Kuwento ni Angel, “To be honest nu’ng ginagawa namin ‘yon, ayaw talaga akong sampalin ni Rhian kasi raw naaawa siya sa mukha ko, parang ‘di n’ya raw ako masampal.
“Sabi ko, ‘Please, sampalin mo na ako. Don’t worry. Okay lang.”
Nagdadalawang-isip pa raw si Rhian sa hiling ni Angel dahil ayaw niyang masaktan ito. Pero dahil nag-usap sila ng maayos sa mangyayari sa eksena, pumayag din si Rhian.
Isang take lang daw ‘yung pagsampal ni Rhian may Angel. Ginalingan na raw nila para walang take two.
Nagyakapan pa raw sila noong good take ang ginawa nila sa mabigat na eksena.
***
HINDI nakarating si James Van Der Beek sa one-night-only reunion ng hit ‘90s series na ‘Dawson’s Creek’ sa New York City kamakailan.
Si James ang isa sa bida ng naturang series as Dawson Leery. Ang reunion na Dawson’s Creek Class Reunion ay isang charity event to benefit F Cancer and James, who has been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since last year.
Nagpadala ng pre-recorded video si James para sa mga fans na hinahanap siya sa reunion.
“I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together. I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person.
“And just I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world,” sey ni James na nagkaroon ng stomach flu sa araw ng reunion.
Dumating sa reunion sina Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Phillips sa Richard Rodgers Theatre for a live reading of the show’s iconic pilot episode.
Ang nagbasa para sa part ni James ay si Lin-Manuel Miranda.

(RUEL J. MENDOZA)

SA pagtatapos ng 5th Philippine Film Industry Month (PFIM), ilo-launch ng Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) ang JuanFlix Mobile App ngayong Sabado, September 27, 2025, sa Robinsons Place Manila.

Inilunsad ito noong 2020 as FDCP Channel and rebranded in 2022 as JuanFlix: The FDCP Channel, ang platform na ito ay nag-o-offer ng curated selection of classic and contemporary Filipino films, kasama ang international titles.

“Ngayon, may sarili nang app ang FDCP kung saan puwede nang manood ng pelikula gamit ang cellphone sa abot-kayang halagang 49 pesos kada buwan,” pahayag ni FDCP Chairman and CEO Jose Javier Reyes.

May campaign tagline na, “Nandito ang Kuwento Mo,” ang JuanFlix ay nanatiling committed to sharing Filipino stories centered on community, education, and culture to a wider audience.

Hosted by Milo Elmido Jr. and Inah Evans, the JuanFlix launch event will bring together music, film, and interactive experiences starting 11 AM, featuring ang live performances ng Autoteli at The Ridleys

Ang special program magpi-feature ng app countdown, the JuanFlix legacy reel, a 2025 JuanFlix montage, and a preview of new titles.

Following the daytime festivities, the evening program will present a live walkthrough of the JuanFlix Mobile App and the premiere of its official advertisements.

Sa mga subscribers, asahan ang over 100 titles, from fresh releases and student works to archival gems and international films: 10 fresh releases (classics and contemporary), 8 Short Films, Big Impact, 30 Sine Kabataan entries, 9 Student Film Assistance Program films by FDCP, 40+ archival films from the Philippine Film Archive (PFA) at 9 world cinema titles (available via subscription or pay-per-view).

Ang JuanFlix Mobile App ay magiging available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store simula September 27.

With JuanFlix, the FDCP continues to champion Filipino filmmakers while making Philippine cinema more accessible to audiences everywhere.

Stay updated sa JuanFlix, PFIM, and other FDCP programs I-follow lang ang FDCP and JuanFlix sa Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, at TikTok.

(ROHN ROMULO)