Philippine News

November 20 ------ Ahtisa Manalo brought back her signature pivot move when she took the stage at the preliminary competition of the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand, Wednesday night, Nov. 19, as she delivered a finals-worthy performance. Manalo opened her swimsuit routine with the all too familiar hip thrust followed by a slow spin turn, only to quickly pivot back, a signature move of hers that went viral online with many netizens copying the move. She first introduced

November 20 ------ Singer-actor Ronnie Liang announced that his foundation, Project Ngiti, is now offering free cataract surgery for patients of all ages, expanding its existing medical assistance program that has long supported children with cleft lip and palate. Liang told select members of the press on Tuesday, Nov. 18, that the project has already provided free cataract operations to “more or less 100 patients” and has helped “500 children with cleft lip” since it began.

November 20 ------ Filipino artists continue to make their mark globally as groups BINI and BGYO took home honors at Brazil's BreakTudo Awards. BINI took home the International Women's Group award, according to the winners' list posted on the award show's website. The eight-member act bested seven other nominees, including K-pop acts BLACKPINK, TWICE, ITZY, aespa, and BABYMONSTER. The "Nation's Girl Group" also won International Collaboration of the Year for the Dos Veces rem

MANILA, November 20 ------ Actor Jericho Rosales said he emerged “calmer, wiser, more understanding” after facing controversy over his portrayal of former Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon in the recent film "Quezon." “There were a lot of big lessons, all good ones,” Rosales said at Esquire Philippines’ Man at His Best event Tuesday night, where he received the Actor of the Year award. “I’m happy to be part of a film that speaks about something important and entertains pe

November 19 ------ Jessica Soho has another feather on her cap as she is named one of the six inaugural inductees to the Rolling Stone Philippines Hall of Fame. In an exclusive interview with GMA News Online at the sidelines of “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho: The Gabi ng Lagim” movie press conference, the award-winning broadcast journalist said it is an honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. “Of course, it’s an honor. 'Rolling Stone' yan eh,” she told GMA News Online. According

LOS ANGELES, USA, November 19 ------ As Alex Woo’s In Your Dreams recently began streaming on Netflix, another Asian-American directed animation project was announced. DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures’ news of Forgotten Island, to be released in September next year, was impactful because not only is it being directed by Filipino-American Januel Mercado, along with Joel Crawford, the film’s voice cast also stars Filipino icon Lea Salonga and Fil-Ams Liza Soberano, M

November 19 ------ The artists of Sparkle GMA Talent Center — including Alden Richards, the lead stars of “Sang’gre,” Kapuso housemates of “Pinoy Big Brother, and Barbie Forteza — joined forces at the Sparkle Trenta: 30th anniversary concert to honor the agency’s legacy. The star-studded show, which was held at the Amphitheatre of SM Mall of Asia on Saturday, November 15, was a mix of dance performances, renditions of hit songs, and a display of Sparkle’s biggest names and st

November 19 ------ Filipino singer and TV host Louie Heredia will be joining the 74th Miss Universe selection committee, the pageant announced. “With countless concerts and years of performing around the world, his insight and experience will bring a meaningful perspective to this year’s competition,” Miss Universe said on Facebook. Louie previously served as a judge at the Miss Universe closed-door interviews, which were held last week. He was also a judge at Miss World Phil

November 18 ------ US actor Tom Cruise received an honorary Oscar, the first golden statue of his decades-long career, to a standing ovation from Hollywood’s elite. To the sound of the “Mission Impossible” theme tune, a hallmark of the 63-year-old actor’s career, Cruise took to the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to applause from peers including Colin Farrell and Emilio Estevez, with whom he has shared the screen, and the renowned Steven Spielberg, who directed him

November 18 ------ Five new Mutya ng Pilipinas queens were crowned during the conclusion of the national pageant’s 57th anniversary edition at the FilOil Center in San Juan City, and three of them will compete in international competitions. Miss Intercontinental second runner-up Alyssa Redondo relinquished her Mutya ng Pilipinas-Intercontinental crown to Christina Vanhefflin of Leyte, who will fly to Egypt in January next year for the international pageant. And just before sh

November 18 ------ Ahtisa Manalo, the Philippines’ delegate to the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, is all set for the high-stakes competitions ahead of the coronation show on November 21 in Thailand. One hundred and 20 ladies, including Manalo, competing in the international tilt are now all back in Bangkok after going on a tour of Phuket and Pattaya, where they took part in several pre-pageant activities. The closed-door interview with all 120 delegates had already been conducte

November 18 ------ ABS-CBN ushered in the holiday season with the launch of its star-studded 2025 Christmas ID, "Love, Joy, Hope: Sabay Tayo Ngayong Pasko," which celebrates the heartwarming tales of everyday heroes and the Filipino culture of togetherness and bayanihan. Inspired by the stories of real-life heroes such as "Pilipinas Got Talent" season seven winner Ricardo “Cardong Trumpo” Cadavero who will do anything for his family; Dumagat tribal chieftain Perlita Guerrero

MANILA, November 17 ------ Noon-time concert show ASAP united Kapamilya artists and viewers for a cause, as they mounted a special benefit concert and telethon to help families devastated by the recent earthquake and the onslaught of Typhoons Tino and Uwan. Originally scheduled to air its Vancouver episode, the production quickly shifted gears following the widespread destruction brought by the calamities, pulling together an all-star lineup in just hours. Concert King Martin

November 17 ------ GMA Public Affairs’ The Atom Araullo Specials: POGOLAND has been named Best Documentary under Domestic Affairs at the 2025 Association for International Broadcasting or AIB Awards held in London last November 14. This marks another global victory for the program, following its Gold Medal win at the 2025 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards earlier this year. The multi-awarded documentary, hosted by Atom Araullo, investigated the underworld of Philippine Offs

MANILA, November 17 ------ The Nation’s Girl Group BINI bagged multiple honors at the 38th Awit Awards powered by Vibe at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City. BINI was voted the People’s Voice Favorite Group Artist, while their album “Talaarawan” won People’s Voice Fa, Suvorite Album of the Year. The group’s hit “Salamin, Salamin” took home the Best Dance/Electronic Recording, while their fanbase, the Blooms, earned the Vibe Stan Award. Other Kapamilya artists recognized at the

November 17 ------ At 78 years old, director and star-maker Johnny Manahan — better known in the industry as Mr. M — shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, he has embarked on a new chapter in his storied career, signing a contract with MQuest Ventures and MQuest Artists Agency (MQAA) as part of a shared vision to develop and champion world-class Filipino talent. The contract signing, held on Nov. 6 at the TV5 Media Center, brought together a powerhouse group led by Manny V.

November 16 ------ On Nov. 16, the Philippine Association of Record Industry (PARI) will confer on Vic del Rosario Jr., or VRJ, the Lifetime Achievement award. It is in recognition of VRJ’s massive contribution to Filipino music. And in this situation, the word “lifetime” is most appropriate. After all, he has been in the music business, and continually at that, for 60 years. It was in 1966 when the 20-year-old VRJ accepted his cousin Orly Ilacad’s invitation they put up a re

PARIS, France, November 16 ------ It has become nearly impossible for people to tell the difference between music generated by artificial intelligence and that created by humans, according to a survey released. The polling firm Ipsos asked 9,000 people to listen to two clips of AI-generated music and one of human-made music in a survey conducted for France-based streaming platform Deezer. "Ninety-seven percent could not distinguish between music entirely generated by AI and h

November 15 ------ Singer-songwriter Zia Quizon made her musical comeback with the single “Reto Na Naman” at the Dolphy Theater — a “bittersweet, full-circle” moment at the venue named after her late father, Comedy King Dolphy. “Not meaning to, it was just the most logical place to have it logistically. There is a sense of finality. We are moving into a new chapter. This physical space won’t be here for much longer, so it is nice we got to do it while it is here,” she said, m

November 15 ------ Chadwick Boseman is set to be honored with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on November 20. Variety reported Boseman will be awarded the 2,828th star in the Motion Pictures category next week, as part of 2024’s class of honorees. Boseman’s widow, Simone Ledward-Boseman, will accept the honor on his behalf. The morning ceremony will include speeches from “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler and actress Viola Davis, the actor’s