Philippine News

January 16 ------ Hong Kong’s (HK) newest musical theater initiative, MusicalCon, opened in grand style with “The Magic of Musicals,” a concert that celebrated the genre’s past, present, and future, led by none other than Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga, alongside the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.   The evening began at precisely 7:45 p.m., with the orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga, who previously served as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philhar

January 16 ------ “P77,” top-billed by Barbie Forteza, has taken the No. 1 spot in Prime Video’s Top 10 Movies in the Philippines.   According to a post by GMA Pictures on Thursday, the horror film landed in the top spot six days after its release on the streaming platform on January 9. "P77," which stands for "Penthouse 77," is a horror film that follows Luna Caceres (Barbie), who takes up a cleaning job in a mysterious penthouse.   It’s directed by Derick Cabrido and produc

MANILA, Philippines, January 16 ------ For Kapuso actor Miguel Tanfelix, solo travel goes beyond a simple break from routine; it is a way to recharge, reflect, and nourish the soul. Following a recent solo journey through South America, with stops in Peru, Brazil, and Argentina, he cited the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Peru, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as his favorite destination. “It was a real adventure. Tiring, but for me, traveling nourishes my soul,” Miguel s

MANILA, Philippines, January 16 ------ Host-actress Kris Aquino is recovering following a minor operation as part of her treatment for several autoimmune diseases. "The Queen of All Media" shared what she dubbed a "short post" on Instagram, a picture of herself in the operating room as she expressed gratitude for everyone's prayers. Kris said she was initially going to have a minor PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line procedure, where a tube is inserted into a v

January 15 ------ Another former Miss International Queen winner is joining the first edition of MGI All Stars, Vietnam’s Nguyen Huong Giang, who also competed at the recent Miss Universe pageant with Ahtisa Manalo. The announcement was made at the Miss Grand International social media pages on Tuesday evening, Jan. 13. “[Nguyen] is a Vietnamese model, singer, television producer, and one of the most influential transgender figures in Southeast Asia,” the post said. Crowned i

MANILA, Philippines, January 15 ------ Revisiting her passion for essaying a role is Kris Bernal, who had a hiatus from the GMA afternoon and primetime drama. “House of Lies” is the Kapuso actress’ vehicle to tread on that creative familiar path. Kris will collaborate again with her fellow “Artikulo 247” co-star Mike Tan and work for the first time with Beauty Gonzalez, Martin del Rosario, and director Jerry Lopez Sineneng. Prior to starring in “House of Lies,” she did hostin

January 15 ------ Mikee Quintos took to Instagram to share snaps from her graduation, including her official graduation photo from the University of Santo Tomas’ College of Architecture. The Kapuso actress also included photos with the “people motivated me through the hard college all-nighters.” “Feels wrong to not have these pics on my feed,” the “Sang’gre” star said. “And though it took longer than expected, a promise is a promise!” “No regrets, cause i’ve never seen my mom

January 15 ------ Beauty queens Nicole Cordoves and Rabiya Mateo will once again grace the stage of the Miss Iloilo pageant for this year’s edition of the annual competition, held as part of the “Dinagyang” Festival. Cordoves is coming back for a fourth time to host the contest, while Mateo will be one of the judges. The two shared hosting chores in the 2024 pageant. Miss Iloilo made the announcements in separate posts on the pageant’s official social media pages while also r

January 14 ------ The Filipino coming-of-age sports drama “Sunshine,” starring Maris Racal, has earned recognition in Letterboxd’s 2025 Year in Review, ranking across three community-voted categories. According to the annual wrap-up of ratings released on Tuesday, Jan. 13, “Sunshine” placed as the 5th Highest Rated Film by a Woman Director, the 6th Highest Rated Asian Film, and the 7th Highest Rated Drama of the Year. The three rankings include highly acclaimed and award-winn

January 14 ------ Reigning Miss Philippines Earth Joy Barcoma sheds her comical persona to speak up about farmers’ welfare, a plea that has earned the support of many netizens who voiced their agreement with the beauty queen’s position. The sustainability consultant and event host shared a social media post from “The Breeder’s Eye” showing an aging farmer population, along with a call for a younger generation of farmers. “We must first dignify farming and not romanticize it a

MANILA, Philippines, January 14 ------ Last Christmas, Rabin Angeles and Angela Muji, fondly dubbed RabGel by fans, exchanged special gifts and spent the holiday season celebrating with their respective families. Angela recently gave Rabin her present this January. “Her gift is super sweet,” Rabin shared during the media conference for their first movie together, “A Werewolf Boy.” “That’s always been one of my concerns. For example, when I don’t have my glam team with me duri

January 14 ------ Kuh Ledesma and the 1980s show band Music & Magic will reunite for an intimate two-night concert in Cavite, with the veteran artist saying that the upcoming show is a celebration of their friendship. Ledesma and Music & Magic’s concert was announced in a press release, where it will be held at the A.R.T.E. Theater, Hacienda Isabella in Indang, Cavite, on January 31 and February 1. Joining the “Till I Met You” singer in the show are Fe De Los Reyes, Jet Monte

January 13 ------ The 11th edition of the Wish Music Awards was undeniably TJ Monterde‘s night, who was declared Artist of the Year and KDR Icon of Breaking Boundaries. The awards followed the continued success of his smash hit, “Palagi,” the successful “Sariling Mundo” tour, and collaborations with various artists. Other artists who also won big at the ceremony were Cup of Joe and SB19, winning Group of the Year and Wishers’ Choice, among other awards. Despite the P-pop powe

January 13 ------ Lea Salonga performed fairytale classics such as “A Whole New World” and “Reflection” at a concert in celebration of Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th anniversary. Salonga was the headline act of the concert called the “Disney Legend Live in Concert Presents Lea Salonga” held on Saturday, January 10, at the magical Castle of Magical Dreams in the Hong Kong-based theme park. Among the songs included in the Broadway star’s set were “Almost There,” “Someday My Prince

BEVERLY HILLS, California, January 13 ------ Paul Thomas Anderson’s ragtag revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” took top honors at the 83rd Golden Globes in the comedy category, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespeare drama “Hamnet” pulled off an upset over “Sinners” to win best film, drama. “One Battle After Another” won best film, comedy, supporting female actor for Teyana Taylor, and best director and best screenplay for Anderson. He became just the second filmmaker to swe

MANILA, Philippines, January 13 ------ Alden Richards is among the local tinseltown’s eligible bachelors and resident dreamboats. It doesn’t limit him in what roles to take on. He can disappear in and “deglamorize” himself for a portrayal. The Sparkle GMA Artist Center actor will be seen as a medical practitioner in the primetime TV series “Code Gray.” What also complements his charming personality on- and off-screen, besides his kind heart, on the other hand, is that bedimpl

January 12 ------ Aspiring P-pop stars have a chance to showcase their singing and dancing prowess, as SB19’s 1Z Entertainment opened auditions for male and female trainees with the potential to make it in the industry. 1Z announced that it’s looking for a new set of trainees on its social media platforms and website, saying that aspiring “dancers, singers, rappers, or visual artists” are open to join. “Are you ready to unleash your creativity and take your artistic self to t

January 12 ------ Just days after announcing the return of the SexBomb Girls for rAWnd 3 and rAWnd 4 of their GET GET AW! The SexBomb Concert, the iconic OPM girl group, has added yet another show to their growing list. Responding to the nonstop clamor from fans, rAWnd 5 has officially been confirmed. The announcement was made by SexBomb’s powerhouse leader, Rochelle Pangilinan, through her social media accounts, immediately igniting excitement among longtime supporters of th

January 12 ------ The gripping performances of Benedix Ramos in “Bar Boys: The Musical,” “Next to Normal,” and “Dagitab” were recognized by the inaugural Manila Society of Theater Reviewers (MSTR) Awards, where he brought home the Emerging Artist plum. The MSTR Awards, composed of reviewers from the local theater scene and was founded in 2025, announced the winners chosen from 66 eligible productions that were held in the past year. According to the awards-giving body, winner

January 12 ------ Maris Racal has navigated a career that spans acting, music, and live performance while maintaining a notably pared-back personal routine. In recent appearances, she has spoken less about trends and more about consistency, confidence, and choosing practices that fit the realities of daily life. Her approach was evident in a recent appearance at Watsons Mall of Asia in Pasay City, where she was the featured guest at “InstaGlam with Vitress,” an interactive sh