MANILA, Philippines — Hollywood writer/actor/director/producer Ace Cruz is currently in Boracay laying the groundwork for this year’s filming of a Hollywood movie entitled “Boracay, Life Is Good.” This will be Ace’s seventh movie and he is excited and really so proud of this his latest project.

“Actually, I’d like to shoot two films in Boracay. It’s a beautiful place, a paradise and I’d like to help promote it to the world. After ‘Boracay, Life Is Good!’ I’ll be doing ‘The Wishing Well,’” Ace told this writer in the recent interview at Midas Hotel.

Casting will be done in Los Angeles and Manila in February. “From here (Boracay), I’ll be going back to Los Angeles to do the casting for the major roles. I will also audition local talents who will play important roles in the film.”

“Boracay, Life is Good!” is produced by businessman Ariel Abriam who owns BBC Beach Resort, Ariel’s Bar/Rest. and Ariel’s Point Cliff Diving Resort. He is also president of the Chamber of Commerce in Boracay Island.

“Ariel is a smart and intuitive businessman who can create from a simple vision and turn it into a successful business endeavor like what he did with Ariel’s Point Cliff Diving Resort,” Ace said.

Ace and Ariel share the same philosophy in doing business and this made them decide to be partners in the production of “Boracy, Life Is Good!” The title, by the way, was Ace’s idea upon seeing that at the bottom of the swimming pool at Ariel’s bean resort was written “Life Is Good!”

“Boracay, Life Is Good!” is the story of two American tourists who came to Boracay for a vacation and ended up being chased by armed amazon women. The movie will be shot almost in its entirety in Boracay.

Ace said they are also looking for models who can act out some of the roles in the movie. Ariel, on his part, said he is looking for sponsors to participate in the filming of “Boracay, Life Is Good!” which will be shown initially in the Philippines before it goes to international film festivals and film markets.

Ace is a Filipino who was raised in California. Since his teens, he has envisioned himself to be a filmmaker. He studied at the University of Southern California Theater School where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts major in Drama. He has made six indie films so far, the most successful of which was “Outrage,” which won the Best Picture in the Action International Film Festival in Hollywood in 2009. The action flick starred Michael Madsen (“Sin City,” “Kill Bill”).

Ace has worked with Lee Majors (“Six Million Dollar Man”), Michael Pares (“Streets of Lie”), Natasha Lyonne (“American Pie”), and Michael Berryman (“Hills Have Eyes”).

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Araneta celebrates Dragon year

The Araneta Center welcomes the Year of the Water Dragon with Chinese New Year festivities at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall and the Farmers Plaza.

Exhibits about fortune and luck will be up until Jan. 28.

Your luck may also just be hanging from the money/fortune trees at the Gateway Mall, Ali Mall and the Farmers Plaza. For a minimum purchase of P500, pick your ang pao from the 13-foot trees at any of the malls’ activity areas.

Also, join the lion and dragon dancers as they parade around the malls on Jan. 22 (Farmers Plaza, Shopwise Arcade, Automatic Centre Superstore, and Farmers Market) to 23 (Ali Mall, Gateway Mall’s ground floor stores, Coliseum Circle, Rustan’s Department Store, and SM and Telus arcade).

A grand fireworks display will follow at 7 p.m.

Visit www.aranetacenter.com and like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/AranetaCenter for more details.

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Something refreshingly magical at Enchanted Kingdom

Enchanted Kingdom paints the city of Sta. Rosa red this month of January as the theme park transforms into a red letter day with a refreshing ensemble of events starting with the launch of its newest official beverage sponsor: Coca Cola. Event happens on Jan. 22, 2 p.m.

Eldar the Wizard also celebrates the Chinese New Year with the lively parade of EK mascots, Dragon and Lion Dances, pandas, terracota soldiers and Wushu Exhibitions.

EK and Coca Cola will be giving away free Coke products to the first 200 park guests. Lucky guests shall get the chance to catch the grand celebration at the Bandstand area in their VIP seats.

By 4 p.m., kids are invited to live their pirate (or even Sherlock Holmes) dreams for a day as they take a journey inside the seven themed zones of the park with the Eldar’s Coca Cola Treasure Hunt. Each team shall be tasked to search far and wide for elusive clues and lost dragon eggs.

Magical fireworks display happens 8:30 p.m.

For more information visit www.enchantedkingdom.ph or like Enchanted Kingdom on Facebook.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Sunday, Jan. 22, go to songstress Eva Eugenio, Jose Sarmiento, Betty Roxas Chua, Rannie Raymundo, US-based Miguel Vera and Jessica Rodriguez, Jing-Jing Romero, Inya Macaraeg, Nellie S. Belen, Liling Sta. Maria, Arnel Morato, Janina Patricia Aligayo-Angeles, Angelica Amor Hilarion, Leah Soliman, Beng Buenviaje, Rich Escudero, and former MB lifestyle editor Ethel S. Timbol… Happy wedding anniversary to Joey Recio and Che Bernal…