Tanikala Brings You Stories of Hope and Healing with Stars Lara Quigaman-Alcaraz, Karen Timbol

Wazzup Pilipinas!

CBN Asia brings you two brand-new films about hope and healing amid the pandemic on its much-awaited Holy Week special – Tanikala presents Habang May Ngayon and Isa Pang Hiling, airing this Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on GMA.

In Habang May Ngayon, seasoned actress Karen Timbol tells the true-to-life story of Carla Manas who battled the deadly virus. As she fell seriously ill, Carla faced harrowing experiences and fear of death in the shadow of COVID-19.

“Compared to my previous roles, this is something different. What I liked about this character is that, in the middle of the storm, she saw hope,” Karen said.

Thrilled about her first Tanikala role, the actress shared that she could relate to Carla’s journey, “I see myself in her. Whatever happened to her in the past, she used it for good. Many people went through a lot of challenges during the pandemic, I hope that they will be inspired through this story.”

Meanwhile, actress and beauty queen Lara Quigaman-Alcaraz takes on another challenging role as a mother in Isa Pang Hiling. Lara plays Jarolyn Moulder, whose world turned upside down when her husband and son suffered from COVID-19.

In utter desperation, Jarolyn pleaded with God to allow her to be infected too so she can stay in the hospital and take care of her son, Vincent. Sandro Muhlach portrays Vincent.

Lara felt the deep connection to her character right off the bat, “We are both mothers who are willing to do everything for our children, to the point that we’ll pray, ‘Lord, let me bear this, please spare my child.’ That’s where I pulled all the raw emotions from. When it’s about our child, we will really cry to God.”

The actress continued, “I was in awe after shooting the scenes because I realized that the story and character I portray happened in real life. So prepare your tissues not only because the scenes are quite tearful, but because you will see how good our God is–how He wants to heal and save us. And you should look forward to that!”

Habang May Ngayon is directed by Joash Bermejo while Isa Pang Hiling is directed by Timmy Yee.

 

Witness stories of hope and healing in Tanikala presents Habang May Ngayon on Maundy Thursday, April 1, and Isa Pang Hiling on Good Friday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on GMA.

 

Lara Alvarez stands up to competition; fights on for young son

Wazzup Pilipinas!


Lara Pearl Alvarez knew that joining The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition would push her to her boundaries.

But never did she imagine that this early in the competition, she'll be in a sink-or-swim situation.

Alvarez was one of the first three candidates to be sent to The Boardroom, alongside fellow Team Conquest members Alvin Ang and Nazee Sajedi as they defended their positions from the get-go in front of ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong and ONE Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy Niharika Singh.

"During that moment, I felt like I was fighting for my life," she said. "In my mind, I'm saying I didn't go all the way here to be eliminated this way."

It sent a shock to the spine of the single mother as she found herself as one of the first to be on the chopping block in the toughest edition of The Apprentice in history.

But it also served as an eye-opener for Alvarez, knowing that for one to be named as The Apprentice, one must really want the title so bad. "I should have spoken more and made sure that they heard me," she said, echoing Sityodtong's sentiments inside The Boardroom.

In hindsight, Alvarez thought that she could've been more firm in pushing what she believed in the first business challenge, where the candidates were asked to build a "ONE at Home" essentials kit, a marketing plan, and a product prototype to be pitched to the hosts. After all, she understood the target audience well given her background in mixed martial arts.

But her decision to shy away from the background may have been her undoing, a brutal realization she came to terms when they faced the music in The Boardroom.

"Chatri asked us, 'Who else thinks that the product is crap?' And I raised my hand and explained that Roman [Wilson] and I were insisting on putting other items in the box since I also made a research on the Singapore market. Also, on the night before the pitch, I tried to present to the team how I could be presenting on the pitch and they liked it, but the team said that it's already too late since the pitch is only a few hours away," she said.

"I knew I had the least contribution, not because I didn't want to but because I didn't get the chance. And that's partly my fault for not insisting."

Luckily, the challenge was a non-elimination one and Alvarez, alongside Ang and Sajedi, remain alive in the toughest here, living to fight for another day.

Still, Alvarez is intent on learning from these mistakes as she vows to "never let other people out you to the side."

"It's not bad to talk about yourself and what you can do so that people would trust your ability. It's a bit of culture shock because here in my country, you would be branded arrogant if you talk too much about yourself and your achievements, but I realize that in the bigger world where there's a mix of culture and views, it 's important to give facts about yourself so that people wouldn't underestimate you," she said. "When Chatri spoke in the boardroom saying that I'm the most experienced martial artist, that's the only time that my team found out about me."

And with those lessons at hand, Alvarez vows to not be in this situation again, more motivated than ever to win this high-stakes game of business competitions and physical challenges.

"After that near-elimination, I told myself I wouldn't be coming back to that chopping block in the next challenge. I had to do much better and speak more. I was more motivated because I already felt how it was to defend yourself before Chatri and Niharika, and it's not easy to be in that position," she said.

All of this hard work, after all, is for her baby boy back home.

"Thinking of my son gives me more fire to overcome all my self-doubt and bring out what I'm good at in the next challenge. I just keep on thinking about the possible changes that I can bring to my son and family's life if I win the competition and that motivates me," she said, her desire burning more than ever to claim that US$250,000 job offer to work as Sityodtong's protégé at the ONE Championship Global Headquarters in Singapore for a year.

Truly, Alvarez didn't come this far just to be given the first boot.

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition is showing across Asia on AXN, the show’s official Asian broadcast partner, with markets to include Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.



The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition is also available on other platforms and TV networks across Asia, including MediaCorp (Singapore), Abema (Japan), KompasTV (Indonesia), Amarin TV (Thailand), LINE TV (Thailand), One Sports (Philippines), and HTV (Vietnam).

Marrok Force MMA Coach Will Aranguiz: Denice and Drex Zamboanga Destined to Be World Champions

Wazzup Pilipinas!


Denice and Drex Zamboanga are two names MMA fans need to become familiar with, if they aren’t already. The brother-sister fighting tandem competing under the ONE Championship banner are two of the most exciting athletes in the promotion.


Denice is the #1-ranked women’s atomweight in ONE, and Drex is a former regional champion chasing a ONE World Title.


One man who has had a hand in their recent rise is Chilean fighter William Marcelo Aranguiz Lubies. Aranguiz is the Director for Mixed Martial Arts at Marrok Force in Bangkok, where Denice and Drex currently train and hone their skills.


Aranguiz has been impressed by the siblings’ work ethic since joining his gym, and believes they possess the right mindset required to reach immense success in their respective careers.

“Denice and Drex are some of the most humble and committed athletes, with a substantial focus on achieving their goal as professional fighters. They are both great team players. As an MMA director and a fighter myself, I am very proud to have them as team members, and as friends. I am grateful to have known them and that I can get to work with them,” said Aranguiz.


“They have that championship mentality. They never miss training. They follow the program thoroughly. They never let success get to their heads, nor let failure get to their hearts. They are always working very hard.”


Denice is currently hard at work, training for the upcoming ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix, of which she is one of eight women competing to become the true #1-ranked contender to the atomweight throne, and to earn the right to challenge ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee later this year.


The tournament is set to commence at ONE: EMPOWER, a historic all-female fight card scheduled for Friday, 28 May.


Drex, on the other hand, is trying to stay as sharp as possible, while waiting for his next fight assignment in a stacked flyweight division.


Aranguiz has no doubt Denice and Drex can achieve their dreams because they draw strength from each other, and help each other become better fighters.


“Obviously, the biggest strength they have is each other. And they’re both willing to accept their weaknesses, as well as do everything to turn them into strengths. They listen to instruction well, and are good at being creative,” said Aranguiz.


As the siblings’ head coach, the most important part for Aranguiz is that Denice and Drex continue to improve themselves on a daily basis. Only then can they realize their full potential.


“My honest opinion is the sky’s the limit for them. They’ve already been through so much, that no matter how hard life hits them, they’ll still keep knocking down challenges, one at a time. I have no doubt they will become world champions,” Aranguiz concluded.


“As someone who has been in the game for over 10 years, I’ll be the first to say that there’s always something new to learn and improve on every day in the fight game. As part of the Marrok Force values, we are always looking for a way to improve ourselves dynamically in every aspect.”