Blue, a1 and Timmons of 98 Degrees at Big Dome on Feb. 25

BREAKING NEWS: (See photo, from left) Blue, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees and a1, three of the hottest and best-selling boy bands, are together in one concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 25 next year.

An English pop group composed of Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Anthony Costa, Blue is behind the well-loved hits All Rise; Too Close; If You Come Back; Fly Back; One Love; Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word; Guilty; and Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours.

a1 started making a big splash when its first single, Be The First To Believe, entered the UK charts at No. 6 in early 1999. The group made two more No. 1 hits worldwide and 80 Top 10 hits including Like A Rose, Take On Me, Ready Or Not/Everytime, Same Old Brand New You, Caught In The Middle and Make It Good.

98 Degrees may have split up years ago but its unforgettable R&B, soul, urban and contemporary pop sounds live on in vocalist Jeff Timmons. As a group, a1 has sold over 15 million records worldwide and achieved eight Top 40 singles in the US. Timmons, the founding member of the group, will bring back the 98 Degrees hits such as Invisible Man, Because Of You, The Hardest Thing, I Do (Cherish You) and My Everything.

(Note: For more details about the 3-in-1 concert, contact Wilbros Lives at 374-2222 or Ticketnet at 911-5555.)

Bahay Bata competes in Marrakech filmfest

Diana Zubiri (right) and co-star in a scene from Bahay Bata

CONFIRMED: Bahay Bata (Baby Factory), directorial debut of Eduardo Roy Jr., will compete in the 11th Marrakech International Film Festival which starts on Dec. 2. An official selection at the 2011 Cinemalaya Independent Film festival, the movie stars Diana Zubiri, Sue Prado, Miles Kanapi, Peewee O’Hara, Jeoffrey Javier, Janna Tiango and Yul Servo (special participation). It’s produced by Almon, Demy and Marlo Derla and Ferdinand Lapuz for Found Films; and written by Roy and Jerome Zamora.

Brillante “Dante” Mendoza is a member of the jury chaired by Serbian director Emir Kusturica who won two Palme d’or at the Cannes Filmfest (in 1985 for When Father Was Away in Business and in 1995 for Underground). Sigourney Weaver who will preside over the Cinecoles Short Film Jury.

The competition includes 15 films from 15 countries, 10 of them by first-time directors.

The jury will vote on the Golden Star for Best Film, the Jury Prize, Best Actress and Best Actors on Dec. 10.

Bahay Bata director Roy and producer Almon are attending.

Ronnie Liang serenades Miss Earth beauties

Ronnie Liang on stage with some of the 2011 Miss Earth beauties and (right) up close with them backstage. ‘They are all beautiful,’ said Ronnie. ‘Para sa akin, winner silang lahat.’

Ronnie Liang serenaded some of the 2011 Miss Earth candidates during the pageant’s long-gown competition in Tarlac Thursday night, Nov. 24. “It was a great privilege,” said Ronnie who was introduced to the other girls by Philippine bet Athena Mae Imperial backstage. “They were all nice. Miss Malaysia Joyce Tay said that I look Korean or Taiwanese and that she saw me on TV in her country.” Incidentally, Ronnie will have a show on Nov. 30 at the Tutuban Mall as part of the Christmas Tree lighting, on Dec. 2 at Casino Filipino in Olongapo City and, Dec. 6 and 7 in the towns of Catanauan and Macalelon as part of a Quezon Province event.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)