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| (Image Source: GMA Network) |
GMA Network, the country's leading media company, takes another step in expanding its global footprint through a new maritime distribution partnership with Maritime Mobile Communications. This latest collaboration, through which the Network’s flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, “The Heart Of Global Pinoys”, will reach more Filipinos at sea, underscoring its commitment in bringing more Filipino content through technology-driven solutions worldwide.
The partnership ensures reliable access to GMA Pinoy TV through advancements in satellite and IP connectivity, bringing beloved Kapuso programs along major international maritime routes and also in remote offshore locations. Filipino seafarers can enjoy the latest episodes of favorite programs and also trusted news and updates, keeping them connected to home while onboard sea vessels. “Following our recent expansion into maritime distribution, this new partnership allows us to reach even more Filipino seafarers across different vessels and routes. We know that life at sea can be isolating, and even the simplest connection to home can make a meaningful difference. By bringing GMA Pinoy TV onboard, we hope to offer not just news and entertainment but also a sense of comfort, familiarity, and shared Filipino experiences wherever their journey takes them. This is how we continue to live out our commitment to being ‘The Heart of Global Pinoys’, steadily and purposefully reaching our kababayan, even in the most distant waters,” says GMA Network First Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia.
GMA Pinoy TV brings seafarers closer to home through a diverse array of programs that inform, inspire, and entertain: the Network's award-winning flagship newscast “24 Oras”, the must-watch game show “Family Feud Philippines”, the long-running comedy program “Bubble Gang”, heartwarming real-life stories in “Magpakailanman”, touching narratives in “Tadhana”, and the beloved magazine program “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho”. The latest collaboration of GMA Network with Maritime Mobile Communications is a testament to the Network's commitment to serving and providing further platforms for Filipino seafarers and more Filipino communities across the globe, bridging the distance between home and navigating life at sea.
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Hollywood-Filmed Filipino Series “Nurse The Dead” Heads To Season Finale On iWant
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
“Nurse The Dead” amps up the spooks, laughter, and drama as main characters Noa and Tess confront their greatest fears in the season finale, now streaming on iWant. As the first Filipino-produced series shot in Hollywood wraps up its debut season, showrunner and creator Mark Labella expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support and acclaim the series has received from Filipino viewers worldwide, stating, “I was on the frontlines during the pandemic. And I knew, for the longest time, that I wanted to write a show on Filipino nurses… I wanted to ensure that my goal is to put Filipino faces and stories in Hollywood. This is our best chance to do it because this series speaks to us all Filipinos.”
Its lead star, Jelynn Malone, also voiced delight in becoming a part of the series. For her, it is an honor to bring life to Noa’s journey that further reflects the hardships of overseas Filipino nurses — also, noting that her portrayal is a tribute to the sacrifices of her relative to provide a comfortable life for their family. Jelynn shared, “This is the greatest honor of my life to be able to play this role. I get to represent so many Filipinos. This has also been a love letter for me to thank and honor my dad’s sister. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have this life.” Aside from Jelynn, “Nurse The Dead” stars an ensemble of Filipino talent including Anthony Jennings, Princess Punzalan, Ruby Rodriguez, Gigette Reyes, and Tootsie Guevara. Heading into the season finale, Noa (Jelynn), alongside her colleagues and the spirit of her late mother Tess (Gigette), keeps the Ward 5 medical facility thriving. However, Noa’s greatest fear of losing her mother’s presence may soon become a reality as Tess’ time on Earth draws to a close. Despite Grim (Anthony) growing his empathy for humanity and his efforts to prolong Tess’ stay, his ordeal with the spirit of Noa’s mother comes to a halt as the Archangel himself takes the unfinished task into his hands.
Before the season finale, the showrunners also held a red carpet screening of “Nurse The Dead” in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with audiences praising the show’s blend of supernatural comedy and heartwarming drama, the prowess of Filipino creatives in full display, and how it resonated with viewers’ personal experiences. Catch the season finale of “Nurse the Dead” now on iWant — accessible through its subscription plans starting at Php35/month in the Philippines and US$4.99/month in the US (until October 31, 2026) and for the rest of the world.
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Singapore-Based Filipino Artist bloo! Releases Debut EP “in moments of stillness”
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| (Image Source: Starmometer/Titus Madrideo) |
bloo!, the recording project of Singapore-based Filipino artist Thea Madrideo, has released her debut EP “in moments of stillness” on all major streaming platforms worldwide. “in moments of stillness” is a five-track collection written entirely by Madrideo over two years in the quiet, disorienting aftermath of a life that changed overnight and in the slow, uneven work of returning to herself. The EP does not perform healing. It documents the act, honestly and in the order it actually happened.
Deeply entrenched in singer-songwriter intimacy and pop rock energy, bloo!’s sound carries the emotional directness of early 2000s lyricism, drawing from artists like Kitchie Nadal, Alanis Morissette, and Michelle Branch. Her lyrics move between English and Filipino, reflecting the natural texture of how she thinks and feels. The five tracks move through a complete emotional arc. “soup” opens the EP in a state of sabaw, the Filipino slang for a mind running on autopilot, surviving but not processing, until the weight compounds and overflows. “back2me” is the anger that finally gets permission to exist: petty on the surface, cathartic underneath, ending in the realization that running back to yourself is more freeing than running back to the source of pain. “that’s why” is the record’s turning point: a vulnerable admission of self-blame and the courage it takes to finally place it somewhere real. “blue’s clues” is the reminder that healing is not linear, the song for the 3:00 am moment when stillness creeps back in and you appeal to choose yourself again. “dramatic” closes the EP not with romance, but with gratitude, written for every friend and family member who stayed patient and didn’t think she was too much while she found her way back.
“They’re not perfect. Some of them are messy and petty and unresolved, in the way that real feelings tend to be. But they’re honest. And I think that’s the thing that matters most when you’re making music for the moments that are hard to name,” says Madrideo. bloo! is named after the safe space where Madrideo wrote the EP’s first song and the ones that followed. The project is produced in collaboration with a close circle of Manila-based musicians and producers.
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Jade Riccio Brings “Nurse The Dead” OST To Life In “The Denial Song” Music Video
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
Jade Riccio recently released the music video for “The Denial Song”, the official soundtrack of the iWant original series “Nurse The Dead”, on the ABS-CBN Star Music YouTube channel. The MV weaved together memorable scenes from the supernatural comedy – the first Filipino-produced series filmed in Hollywood – with Jade’s heartfelt performance, offering audiences another way to experience the story beyond the series itself.
Jade is the sole Hall of Fame recipient of the 37th Aliw Awards, an honor earned after five consecutive wins, including Best Classical Performer of the Year and Best Female Crossover Performer of the Year. She continues to shape the next generation of artists as the founder of RMA Studio Academy whose student roster includes Kapamilya singer-actress Maymay Entrata. “The Denial Song” was composed by “Nurse The Dead” creator Mark Labella, capturing the emotional weight behind the series, where loss, love, and the struggle to let go become just as haunting as the supernatural world surrounding it. Centering on a Filipino family navigating grief and the journey of moving forward, the core of “Nurse The Dead” served as the inspiration for the song. “Heaven can wait, I’m not ready yet” becomes more than a refrain — it becomes a quiet plea from someone who cannot bear to say goodbye. Likewise, the line “I’d rather keep your ghost than learn to love you less” captures the impossible choice grief often presents, between accepting loss and holding on to the memory of someone deeply loved.
“The Denial Song” MV was directed by Wesley Villarica and produced by Birns & Sawyer Studios Canada, Parallax Studios, and RMA Studio Academy.
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Celeste Cortesi Shares Her Truth In 8-Part Docuseries 'Celeste Unscripted'
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| (Image Source: Business Mirror/Goat Creative Studios) |
After a challenging journey in Philippine pageantry, Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Celeste Cortesi is now ready to reclaim her voice and speak her truth in the reality docuseries Celeste Unscripted. Making its free TV premiere on GTV on August 8 and a global premiere on August 15 via GMA Life TV, Celeste Unscripted follows her as she redirects her life toward love, business, motherhood, and her journey from beauty queen to beauty mogul behind the brand ASUL.
As a celebrity, Celeste is not new to criticisms and speculations. She has chosen to leave the limelight for some time, but not until now. Braver, bolder, more candid, and unscripted, Celeste is opening a part of her life to the public to show who she really is. In an Instagram reel posted by Celeste Unscripted Official, she expresses her excitement about this project. Celeste says, “It’s sort of a documentary about my life, most especially after Miss Universe. We’re filming many aspects of my life — work leading my brand ASUL my relationship — everyone will know now.” The docuseries also teased interesting and juicy conversations with some of the most important people in Celeste’s life — Benj, her best friend, and Marky, her right-hand man at ASUL. Fans must also stay tuned as Celeste and British businessman Jonathan Sterling finally put an end to the controversies surrounding their relationship. Together, they share their love story, work and leisure travels, and their journey to parenthood. In a teaser clip from the show, Jonathan explains why he agreed to open up about their lives, stating, “I’d rather they see it for themselves than hear it secondhand from somebody else who doesn’t know, and then a bunch of rumors will spread.”
The series is created by Emmy-winning producer Michael Carandang, President and CEO of Goat Creative Studios that develops reality series, documentaries, and formats built to travel. Get ready for real and inspiring talks and catch Celeste Unscripted every Saturday starting August 8 at 10:30 pm on GTV and starting August 15 at 7:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CT/4:30 pm PT on GMA Life TV.
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Maki, James Reid Join Forces On New Single “luck”
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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
OPM hitmaker Maki teams up with singer-actor James Reid for the first time through the single “luck”. Blending alternative and indie-pop influences, “luck” compares falling in love to placing a bet — where there are no guarantees, only the hope that taking the risk will be worth it.
Maki co-wrote the track with top international songwriters and producers Gaby Ramirez, Pontus Kalm, Greg Shilling, and Shintaro Yasuda whose credits include collaborations with global acts such as Ariana Grande, BTS, LE SSERAFIM, aespa, and BINI. The latest Tarsier Records release also marks the continuation of Maki’s “pink era” which began with his previous single “habangbuhay pansamantala”, further expanding the colorful and emotionally driven world he continues to build through his music. Maki recently brought his music to fans in Indonesia and Singapore through the “KOLORCOASTER” tour, performing crowd favorites such as “Dilaw”, “Namumula”, and “kahel na langit”. During his Indonesia stop, he also appeared on the country’s hit comedy program “Lapor Pak!”, introducing his humor and personality to a wider international audience.
Meanwhile, James continues to push the boundaries of his music through his signature blend of alternative pop, R&B, and modern OPM. After more than a decade in the industry, he has established himself as an artist known for his creative vision and evolving sound. Early this year, he released the single “Richest Man Alive” and currently stars in the ABS-CBN primetime series “Someone, Someday”.
