PASSERBY:

Despite a whiff of controversy surrounding the December 27 awards night, the 49^th Metro Manila Film Festival deserves commendation for several reasons.

The choice of 10 competing films is sound.

The movies are making money, especially those in the Top 5, namely Rewind, Mallari, Gomburza, Firefly, and Family of Two, in that order.

Good to note that awards won by Gomburza (7 trophies) and Firefly (3, including Best Picture) have propelled them to becoming hits as well.

These types of films - historical, experimental, indie-spirited - normally finish last at the box office. But not anymore, thank goodness, indicating that our audiences are maturing and have upped their tastes in film viewing.       

 xxx

“I like doing things that scare me,” thus declared Ryan Gallagher, American singer and former leading contestant on The Voice USA.

Ryan is currently in Manila to launch his single, "The Feeling of Christmas." He likes it that we have the longest Christmas season in the world, stretching from September to January.

"The Feeling of Christmas" is part of a 16-song Christmas album backed by a 100-piece orchestra to be launched in 2024. The song is now available on all streaming platforms.

"I wanted to capture the feeling of Christmas when people are usually kinder and warmer. My message is that worldwide, every boy and girl deserves to be loved. If you see somebody down, try and help him. That's what Christmas is all about.”

Has he always been a singer? Now comes the scary part.

Ryan told a recent media con that while growing up as a teen in Michigan, he loved ice hockey too much that he dreamt of pursuing a career in sports.

An accident, a bad fall, nipped in the bud that ambition.

“What am I gonna do? That’s when I told my father I could try singing,” he said.

His father had never heard him sing before.

Ryan feels so much at home in the Philippines, having visited the country many times in the past following his 2019 stint on The Voice.

He was a standout in season 19 of “The Voice” as part of Team Kelly Clarkson. 

Since then, he has done shows in hotels and private parties.

“I thought of launching my Christmas song in the Philippines, where I know Filipinos love Christmas.

The 35-year-old singer-songwriter considers Manila his second home.

A classically trained baritone-tenor, Ryan studied under George Gibson in Washington, D.C.

Ryan is represented in the Philippines by Liza Dino and Ice Seguerra of Fire & Ice Productions.