Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser are in talks to reunite for a new installment of ‘The Mummy’ franchise, 26 years after the first film hit theaters.

Deadline reported on Tuesday, Nov. 4, that Universal Pictures is developing ‘The Mummy 4,’ with Weisz, who played Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan, and Fraser, who portrayed adventurer Rick O’Connell, in discussions to return.

The outlet noted that directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett – collectively known as Radio Silence – will be at the helm. The pair is known for their work in the horror hits ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘Scream VI.’

The project is said to be a ‘legacy sequel’ that could pick up after ‘The Mummy Returns’ (2001), disregarding the events of ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ (2008).

‘The Mummy’ franchise began with Stephen Sommers’ 1999 film, a modern reimagining of the 1932 Universal monster classic. The first film grossed over $418 million worldwide.

Its 2001 sequel, ‘The Mummy Returns,’ expanded the franchise’s mythology and earned more than $435 million globally. The third film, ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,’ released in 2008, earned $403 million.

Universal later attempted a reboot in 2017 starring Tom Cruise, which grossed $410 million worldwide but was widely regarded as a ‘commercial and critical disappointment.’

Meanwhile, Weisz was last seen in the 2021 Marvel film ‘Black Widow.’ She is expected to be seen next in the Netflix limited series ‘Vladimir.’

Fraser, on the other hand, recently experienced a major career resurgence after winning the 2023 Academy Award for Best Actor for the psychological drama film ‘The Whale.’

A family of nine who sought shelter in their home in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, was swept away by raging floodwaters at the height of Typhoon Tino on Tuesday night.

Seven members of the Espora family were later found buried under thick mud and large rocks, while two others remain missing as of press time.

According to Seth Bariga of the Canlaon Public Information Office (PIO), the family likely did not expect flash flooding in their area, which had never experienced such an event before.

‘During our rescue and retrieval operations, their neighbors told us that during the onslaught of the flash flood, the family tried to climb up to the roof of their house to avoid being swept away. But when they got on the roof, it suddenly collapsed,’ Bariga said.

The family’s home was located along the national road, with a river stream directly behind it. The stream, which had never overflowed in the past, burst its banks during the storm.

Rescue teams said the water overflowed from the stream and surged into the Esporas’ home. As the family struggled to escape the rising waters at the back of their house, another flash flood hit from the front, trapping them between two strong currents.

‘They were literally sandwiched by two powerful water currents,’ one rescuer said.

On November 5, retrieval teams recovered the bodies of the seven victims buried under mud and boulders. The fatalities were identified as Ruditha Espora, 60; Reyno Espora, 60; Thea Sandra Espora, 20; Lady Grace Espora; Amarath Espora, 3; Indigho Espora, 10 sand John Nathan Espora, 10

Search and rescue operations for the two remaining missing family members are still ongoing

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said on Wednesday that it is investigating the alleged death threat made by whistleblower Julie ‘Dondon’ Patidongan to a news reporter in relation to his coverage of the ‘missing sabungeros’ case.

PTFoMS said it has already reached out to News5 reporter Gary de Leon, who reported receiving death threats over his report of the case.

The incident was first brought to the attention of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, which has condemned the incident and warned that the issue underscores the continuing dangers faced by journalists in the Philippines.

Patidongan allegedly made the threat on October 27, when de Leon contacted him and his lawyers for a comment on a story he was preparing about the case.

According to PTFoMS, citing de Leon’s report, Patidongan accused the reporter of being ‘biased and paid,’ which de Leon has denied.

PTFoMS said it expects to receive further details of de Leon’s testimony once he formally submits his affidavit on the incident.

Higher prices of edible oil continued to take a bite out of the core profit of food manufacturing giant Monde Nissin Corp., with its first nine months showing a 3.5-percent earnings decline.

In a disclosure Wednesday, Monde Nissin said its core net income attributable to shareholders fell to P7.19 billion from P7.45 billion a year earlier.

Production costs during the period rose 6 percent to P42.23 billion from last year’s P39.79 billion.

Its Asia-Pacific branded food and beverage (APAC BFB), however, booked higher revenues reaching P53.3 billion, up 4.4 percent from a year ago.

For the third quarter alone, the segment realized a 4-percent growth.

A 39-year-old teacher was shot dead by motorcycle-riding assailants in Barangay San Juan on Tuesday afternoon.

Police identified the victim as Mark Christian Malaca, a resident of Barangay San Fernando in the same town.

According to initial reports, two suspects wearing black jackets, helmets, and face masks approached and shot the victim with an unknown caliber of firearm before fleeing east toward Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive for the killing. A dragnet operation was launched, and forensic teams were dispatched to the crime scene.

SINGAPORE – Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, chairman of the board of Inquirer Interactive, Inc., formally opened here Wednesday the Asian Media Leaders Summit (AMLS) attended by about 200 journalism industry leaders and media professionals from Asia.

Organized by the World Association of News Publishers, or WAN-IFRA – of which Prieto-Romualdez is Asia-Pacific chair – the AMLS is the Asian counterpart of the WAN-IFRA’s World Congress.

According to Prieto-Romualdez, news leaders’ concerns worldwide as captured by WAN-IFRA’s own industry outlook include:

lack of trust in news media

global geopolitical economic uncertainty

creating sustainability of business models

platform power and unpredictability

aging audiences

user habit and expectations

‘But the outlook will show you also that there’s a general sense of optimism because of opportunities that have come our way,’ she said, adding that these present new action points for the news industry.

‘It’s important to build direct relationships with our readers and consumers, double down on our journalism, collaborate like never before, and develop other revenue streams,’ she said.

These will be key themes at the two-day conference, which has gathered attendees from 41 countries representing 106 companies.

Many speakers and session moderators are senior editors and news industry leaders. But there are headline sessions that tackle AI and news content creators, and how these affect publishing content and business, and some best cases and practices on these worldwide.

AMLS is ‘Asian-centric and aligns closely with the business environment that Asian media operates in. It is a compact but intense conference, with plenty of learning and networking opportunities,’ WAN-IFRA says on its website.

With a first defeat staring ZUS Coffee dead in the eyes, the Thunderbelles on Tuesday night showed what stuff they are made of.

And the Thunderbelles, with a come-from-behind 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-12, 15-7 victory over Akari behind Anna DeBeer, just showed that they are for real as they completed a five-game sweep of Pool B play in the PVL Reinforced Conference at Mall of Asia Arena.

‘We’re just adjusting to whatever the opponent gives us, and we’ll take what we can get,’ said coach Jerry Yee in Filipino after the marathon win for a 5-0 card. ‘We were lucky in this game, because we managed to adjust and pull off the win.’

After what looked like deflating defeats in the first two sets, DeBeer didn’t stop from leading another thunderous offense for ZUS Coffee and went on to hammer 32 kills for 33 points.

The American import may be thriving in her first overseas stint as ZUS Coffee’s leader. But she was the first to point out that it was all about working together as one unit.

‘It’s a total team effort,’ said DeBeer. ‘We didn’t have a good start, but we turned it around for our first five-set win of the season. That’s pretty exciting.’

True enough, every local has been ready to contribute every game for the Thunderbelles, like Riza Nogales, who stepped up and spelled the difference coming off the bench with 11 points that included four blocks.

Nogales, who was selected by ZUS Coffee in the third round, believes it’s the trust of all the coaches and every teammate that made her perform that way and help the franchise to this moment-from being a cellar dweller to the lone unbeaten team here.

‘The trust that the coaches and my senior teammates give me really means a lot, especially during times when I make mistakes,’ Nogales said. ‘They lift me up on the court. That’s where I draw my strength to perform.’

Clo Mondoñedo paced the Thunderbelles with 27 excellent sets. Jovelyn Gonzaga had 11 points, 13 digs and 13 receptions, while Chinnie Arroyo added 10.

It was actually a repeat win for the Thunderbelles, who beat the Chargers, also in five sets, in the supposed opener on Oct.7, only for the match to be ordered replayed following the absence of imports due to International Transfer Certificate issues.

‘Definitely, it was hard sitting out the first one,’ said DeBeer. ‘So just being able to play and have such a cool environment here was really fun.’

ZUS Coffee leads its new group in the second round with the Pool A bottom placers, Nxled (0-5), Cignal (2-3) and the loser of the Choco Mucho-Capital1 game at press time. Akari and Creamline will also be in that group.

The next round opens on Thursday, with the top eight advancing to the knockout quarterfinals. I

‘If her fight then was against colonizers, her fight now is against the possibility of being forgotten.’ Thus said Lovi Poe, who plays Ka Oriang in the meta-docu-fiction film ‘Lakambini: Gregoria de Jesús,’ out in theaters starting November 5, timed perfectly with Gregoria de Jesús’ 150th birth anniversary.

Directed by Arjanmar H. Rebeta and Jeffrey Jeturian, the film revisits Oriang’s life, her role in the Katipunan, and her relationships with Andres Bonifacio and Julio Nakpil. It blends history and fiction to explore memory, legacy, and identity.

‘Thank you for giving space to Ka Oriang in your stories,’ Poe said in a video message during the film’s special screening at the UP Film Institute. ‘Her struggle still feels close to home today, when truth is often challenged.’

That struggle, Poe added, continues to inspire, especially with the recent filing of the Lakambini Bill (House Bill 5332), which seeks to institutionalize the study of female Filipino heroes in schools nationwide. ‘That’s why the bill is so meaningful and timely,’ she said. ‘It’s a form of justice for those whom justice has overlooked.’

‘To our leaders,’ Poe continued, ‘sana’y patuloy nating bantayan ang ating collective memory as fiercely as we guard our freedom. May we remember what Ka Oriang and the Katipunan stood for: truth, dignity, and equality for all. Let’s keep her story alive.’

Heroism isn’t just for men

For Rocco Nacino, who portrays Andres Bonifacio, working on the film left a deep personal impact.

‘You’ll see the nuances in how he looked at Ka Oriang. It’s like he’s saying, ‘Okay, ‘di lang pala lalaki ang kayang gumawa nito.’ His admiration for his partner, and for women in general, is clear,’ he shared.

‘Heroism isn’t just for men,’ he added. ‘We all see it now; the movement for women empowerment is strong. We should respect that.’ The role, he said, also changed how he views his own relationships. ‘Kayang lumevel ng mga babae. Now that I’m a husband and a father, nagbago din ang tingin ko sa asawa ko. Hindi tayo aabot dito kung wala tayong partner na tumutulong sa atin. It goes both ways.’

How the past shapes the present

Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, who produced the film under Pelikulove, said ‘Lakambini’ isn’t just a tribute to a female hero. It is also a reflection on how the past shapes the present. ‘Much has been said about the fight for women, but through Ka Oriang, we also revisit the past,’ she said.

Citing National Artist Ricky Lee, she shared: ‘He always tells his students, ‘Kapag may problema kayo sa kasalukuyan, tumingin kayo sa nakaraan para mahanap ninyo ang solution.’ I hope this film becomes a gateway to that kind of reflection.’

Ongkeko-Marfil added that the film reframes familiar narratives. ‘We often see Andres as mayabang, but here, you’ll see a different side of him. It’s really about reframing the past-and asking, what is the truth there?’

She believes this message is crucial for the youth. ‘Many young people today feel lost,’ she said. ‘Maybe they’ll find inspiration here, after seeing that there was greatness in the past, that they can draw strength from it.’

‘Lakambini’ also attempts to ask: what makes a hero? ‘We know Andres Bonifacio, but how well do we know Oriang? Is heroism about going to war-or is it about vision, compassion, and values? Women bring different experiences, and they complete the story,’ she pointed out.

And with ‘Lakambini,’ Ongkeko-Marfil hopes audiences finally remember Oriang not just as Bonifacio’s wife, but as a hero in her own right

Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser are in talks to reunite for a new installment of ‘The Mummy’ franchise, 26 years after the first film hit theaters.

Deadline reported on Tuesday, Nov. 4, that Universal Pictures is developing ‘The Mummy 4,’ with Weisz, who played Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan, and Fraser, who portrayed adventurer Rick O’Connell, in discussions to return.

The outlet noted that directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett – collectively known as Radio Silence – will be at the helm. The pair is known for their work in the horror hits ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘Scream VI.’

The project is said to be a ‘legacy sequel’ that could pick up after ‘The Mummy Returns’ (2001), disregarding the events of ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’ (2008).

‘The Mummy’ franchise began with Stephen Sommers’ 1999 film, a modern reimagining of the 1932 Universal monster classic. The first film grossed over $418 million worldwide.

Its 2001 sequel, ‘The Mummy Returns,’ expanded the franchise’s mythology and earned more than $435 million globally. The third film, ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor,’ released in 2008, earned $403 million.

Universal later attempted a reboot in 2017 starring Tom Cruise, which grossed $410 million worldwide but was widely regarded as a ‘commercial and critical disappointment.’

Meanwhile, Weisz was last seen in the 2021 Marvel film ‘Black Widow.’ She is expected to be seen next in the Netflix limited series ‘Vladimir.’

Fraser, on the other hand, recently experienced a major career resurgence after winning the 2023 Academy Award for Best Actor for the psychological drama film ‘The Whale.’

Alamat – a P-pop boy group composed of Taneo, Mo, Jao, Tomas, R-Ji and Alas – is returning to the music scene with their new album ‘Destino,’ which is slated for a Nov. 21 release.

‘Destino’ was first announced during Alamat’s appearance at the MassKara Festival in October, where the members performed an unreleased track with their faces covered with masks. It was then revealed that the song is the album’s ‘hero track.’

Weeks later, glimpses of the album’s concept including concept photos featuring Alamat in a kalye-like setting, mini documentaries showing the album’s creative process, lyric spoilers, and a behind-the-scenes look at the group’s dynamic have been released to the public.

Aside from the full album, a pre-release single called ‘LuzViMinda’ will drop on Nov. 7.

Known for incorporating Filipino culture and literature, as well as regional languages in their music and overall concept, Alamat is one of the leading P-pop groups that built a loyal following through the years.

The P-pop group originally debuted as a nine-piece act in February 2014. Their notable hits include ‘Maharani,’ ‘Dayang,’ ‘Dagundong’ and ‘Day and Night,’ to name a few.