Focus on the Philippines: Nadine Lustre and James Reid returning to Dubai

Plus: K-Pop star Kriesha Tiu to release debut single in South Korea; Darren Espanto collaborates with Malaysian pop star Nik Qistina; Filipino short film Jodilerks dela Cruz, Employee of the Month to compete in International Critics’ Week at Cannes.

James Reid and Nadine Lustre. Courtesy ABS-CBN Entertainment

Popular Filipino on-screen tandem Nadine Lustre and James Reid will be appearing in concert at the Dubai World Trade Centre on May 5.

In a show titled Always Jadine Live, Lustre and Reid will be returning to the UAE after a sold-out concert at Al Nasr Leisureland in March of last year.

Their Dubai stop follows a month-long concert tour across North America.

Lustre and Reid are one of the most successful on-screen couples in the Philippines. They recently wrapped up their popular romantic-comedy television series Till I Met You.

The two stars are also chart-topping recording artists. Last month, Lustre won the Favourite Pinoy Star award at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

During their visit to Dubai last year, Lustre and Reid were welcomed by a horde of Filipino fans at the Dubai International Airport at 3am. The couple were also able to explore Dubai, stopping by the Burj Khalifa and going on a skydiving trip.

Always Jadine Live will be held at Zabeel Hall 6 of the Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets are priced Dh125 (general admission) and Dh175 (VIP). The limited VVIP tickets that come with a dinner meal and a meet-and-greet with the stars, priced at Dh350, are already sold out. Tickets can be purchased at Virgin Megastore branches and on www.tickets.virginmegastore.me.

Doors open at 6pm, with Lustre and Reid expected to appear on stage at 8pm.

Kriesha Tiu to release debut single in South Korea

After her appearance on the South Korean reality talent programme K-Pop Star, 17-year-old Filipino singer Kriesha Tiu is preparing to release her debut single under the Korean production company Urban Works Entertainment.

Born and raised in the central Philippine province of Cebu, Tiu was scouted for K-Pop Star while she was in San Francisco, where she was recently based with her family. She finished second in the K-Pop Star competition, losing to the Korean duo Boyfriend.

On the show, she said she learned the Korean language in preparation for her appearance on the talent programme. Tiu was previously eliminated from the singing contest back in January but was eventually brought back by the judges as a wildcard contestant.

Since the show wrapped earlier this month, Tiu has temporarily moved to South Korea after signing with Urban Works Entertainment. Her debut single is scheduled to be released in May. According to reports on several Korean entertainment websites, Urban Works Entertainment is planning to produce an album for Tiu later this year.

Darren Espanto collaborates with Malaysian pop star

From one teenage singing sensation to another: Filipino pop star Darren Espanto has collaborated with the Malaysian singer Nik Qistina for a stripped-down version of her popular coming-of-age track Young Hearts.

In a statement, Qistina said: "I just felt the need to release an acoustic version of Young Hearts with someone who appreciates the song — and I was honoured to find Darren."

Qistina said she contacted Espanto's team after hearing his chart-topping single Stuck.

Espanto, 15, rose to fame after appearing on the first edition of The Voice Kids Philippines in 2014, where he finished as runner-up. His debut album, titled Darren, was produced later that year by Universal Music Group. It charted at No 1 on iTunes and was certified platinum. His most recent album, titled Be With Me, was released last year.

Filipino film to compete in Cannes Critics’ Week

The Filipino short film Jodilerks dela Cruz, Employee of the Month, directed by Carlo Francisco Manatad, will compete in the forthcoming International Critics' Week of this year's Cannes Film Festival, to be held from May 18 to 26.

Now on its 56th edition, the International Critics’ Week is a parallel section to the main programme of Cannes, dedicated to discover new talents in cinema.

Manatad’s short film features actors Angeli Bayani, Ogie Tiglao and Ross Pesigan.

“It’s an incredible honour to be the only film representing the Philippines in Cannes this year,” Manatad told the Philippine Daily Inquirer earlier this week. “It still feels surreal.”

No other Filipino film has been selected for the other sections of the Cannes festival, which is celebrating its 70th edition this year.