Entertainment

By Alvin I. Dacanay A 20-year-old college student who has written stories on the online reading platform Wattpad and a 32-year-old business writer have emerged as the top winners at the 65th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards (CPMA) for Literature, which saw 55 other creative writers, including two previous Hall of Fame inductees and an independent filmmaker, clinch prizes. 

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo’s celebration of its opening to the public continues as it extends its offering of special introductory rates—P3,500 net for single occupancy and P3,800 net for double occupancy in a Deluxe Room, with buffet breakfast and wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) Internet access included—until September 13. 

Review by Jake Coyle / The Associated Press Not since Saigon in the 1970s has an American operation in Southeast Asia been as ill-conceived as No Escape, a taut, well-made and entirely dubious thriller. 

Twenty-three films from 18 countries, including a recent Academy Award winner and a Golden Globe nominee, are set to entertain audiences as part of the 18th edition of the Cine Europa film festival, which unreels from September 10 to 20 at Shangri-La Plaza’s Shang Cineplex in Mandaluyong City. 

The world’s most popular culinary competition finally comes to the Philippines, and the rest of Asia, when MasterChef Asia premieres on the Lifetime cable channel on September 3 at 9 p.m. 

By Monika Scislowska / The Associated Press Warsaw, Poland—Almost every month brings something new in Warsaw. With nearly 2 million people, Poland’s capital has been developing fast ever since the once-communist nation joined the European Union in 2004. From skate parks and roof gardens to historic palaces and some of the continent’s most modern buildings, visitors will find plenty to see …

Wondering how to spend a extraordinarily fun and relaxed weekend with your family, special someone or friends, or even by your fabulous self? Stay at Richmonde Hotel Ortigas (RHO) and choose from among its wonderful Weekend Packages. 

Review by Sandy Cohen / The Associated Press The idea of the high-tech, emotionless supersoldier is so popular in movies, it’s practically a convention. The Terminator and Bourne franchises, and even last year’s animated Big Hero 6, imagine characters programmed to kill and the would-be world destroyers who want to control them. 

Los Angeles—At 75, Lily Tomlin is loving the roles coming her way, but not necessarily the spotlight. 

By Alvin I. Dacanay A radio-show host, a recent inductee to the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Fame, a veteran journalist, and a former director of the oldest writers’ workshop in Asia are among the writers chosen to receive this year a lifetime achievement award from the Philippines’s largest organization of Filipino writers, it was learned recently.