Christopher Nolan on choosing modern language for dialogues in ‘THE ODYSSEY’
"People tend to view the ancient world in weird ways and there’s a lot of cultural prejudice… elevating it just because it's old. But the original poem is actually very earthy, grounded, and accessible. I wanted to make the world feel fresh, credible, and exciting for modern audiences."
(Via @C4TheFourcast)
Robert Pattinson explains why he has loved playing villains in ‘THE ODYSSEY’ and ‘DUNE: PART 3’.
“I like lowering people’s expectations; that’s always my favorite, that’s always my place to be. Undersell and overdeliver, that’s my motto.”
(Source: https://t.co/yVtCMMKunY)
Tom Holland when asked why his character Telemachus says "Dad" instead of "Father" in ‘THE ODYSSEY’
"I wouldn't have said "Father" back then anyway, it would've been in greek."
(Via @C4TheFourcast)
🚨 SIOMAI KING DUO'S 353 BANK ACCOUNTS AND 33 LAND TITLES FROZEN
On February 7, 2026, following a petition from the AMLC, the Court of Appeals (CA) issued a freeze order covering the bank accounts and properties of So and Macadangdang.
The scale of the freeze is extensive, reportedly covering 353 bank accounts and 33 land assets.
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✳️ Involvement of Relatives and Associates
The investigation revealed a complex "layering" of funds through family members:
• Elizabeth So (Jonathan's Mother): Described as an unemployed senior citizen, she was found to maintain 56 bank accounts, mostly joint with her son.
• Shane So (Jonathan's Sister): A joint account held by Elizabeth and Shane So reportedly received over ₱2 billion from Galang and One Frame.
• Gian Carlo Galang (Cousin): His personal transactions surged from ₱316 million in 2023 to ₱1.9 billion in 2024, mirroring the timeline of the alleged ghost projects.
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✳️ Background: The Rise of the "Siomai King" Duo
Jonathan So and Carlito Macadangdang, childhood friends and founders of the Siomai King franchise, built a public image as successful "rags-to-riches" entrepreneurs.
However, the AMLC began monitoring them after observing a "dramatic" and "violent" surge in their financial activity.
While they recorded ₱119.56 billion in transactions over two decades, the vast majority of this activity (including ₱18.5 billion in investment sales) occurred between 2021 and 2025.
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✳️ The Alleged Flood Control Scheme
Investigators allege that the duo's fortune exploded not from siomai, but from a pivot into DPWH flood-control contracting.
According to sworn affidavits from former DPWH engineers, So acted as a "proponent" who colluded with DPWH officials to secure kickbacks (often called "SOPs") from projects.
The alleged scheme involved:
• Receiving advance lists of projects from the DPWH.
• Working with "friendly" politicians to include these projects in the NEP.
• Awarding contracts to preferred builders and splitting the proceeds among officials and proponents.
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✳️ Corporate Vehicles and "Ghost" Projects
The AMLC identified several companies used as conduits for these funds:
• JC Premiere Business International: Incorporated in 2019 with a meager capital of ₱31,249.50, it saw transactions balloon to ₱6.5 billion by 2021 despite reporting net losses.
• One Frame: Formed in 2023 by So’s cousin, Gian Carlo Payawal Galang, this firm allegedly worked with Topnotch Catalyst Builders to corner 15 projects in Bulacan worth ₱1.482 billion.
• Ghost Projects: Three of these Bulacan projects, totaling nearly ₱297 million, were tagged by the AMLC as "ghost projects," with funds siphoned directly into One Frame's accounts and then quickly moved to private commercial banks.
The freezing of their bank accounts and land assets was executed under the legal framework of G.R. No. 222312, which allows the state to freeze "materially linked" accounts to prevent the dissipation of proceeds from illegal activities while the investigation is ongoing.
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Sources:
Bilyonaryo - https://t.co/FG7EZrBmWp
Politiko - https://t.co/x9qprKcsw7
Abante - https://t.co/HlcWGqFyZg
Supreme Court - https://t.co/uMxUD7IJ4h