PLAYING board games is a cherished pastime among family and friends, especially now that people taking time away from screens is rare. There are various tabletop gaming clubs, organizations, and informal groups that cater to everyone from casual hobbyists and social players, to serious board game enthusiasts, who meet up weekly to sit down and spend hours at the tabletop.
\nWhile the likes of Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue continue to be the most popular games, modern strategy games are also in demand. In the Philippines, local and localized titles provide a unique experience \u2014 the latest of which is Modern Art, a highly acclaimed international board game which now has a Philippine edition.
\nFollowing a collaboration between the Gaming Library and Fundacion Sans\u00f3, the art auction board game Modern Art by Dr. Reiner Knizia has been adapted locally to feature works by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Abdulmari Imao, Larry Alcala, Raul Lebajo, and Juvenal Sans\u00f3.
\n\u201cThe game is played by three to five players. Basically, you guys will be playing as museums and participating in auctions to sell and to collect paintings, and, depending on the season or the market, be given a return of value based on which artist is trending,\u201d said Gaming Library Chief Executive Officer Hans Kenner Fernandez, at the media preview held at Fundacion Sans\u00f3 in San Juan City.
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s exciting is that there are different types of auctions that you can participate in,\u201d he added.
\nGaming Library, aside from being a board game shop, is the organizer of All Aboard Expo, a tabletop gaming convention which is now in its second year. From May 28 to 31, it will be the venue for various board game tournaments and new title launches, including Modern Art.
\nOther local titles to be launched at the event are Sinigang (a card game of bluffing and timing where the goal is to cook the perfect pot of sinigang) and Kalikasan (a localized version of the habitat-building game Cascadia, featuring Philippine animals like tarsiers and tamaraws).
\nFINDING COMMON GROUND
\nWhile one would think there isn\u2019t much overlap between art enthusiasts and board game enthusiasts, Mr. Fernandez noted that the gap need not be too wide.
He explained that reaching out to Fundacion Sans\u00f3 was the perfect move, as it happens to have the Initiative for the Continuation of Artist\u2019s Estate, a program to help manage artists\u2019 estates (not just Mr. Sans\u00f3\u2019s) through legacy-building, skill transfer, and copyright management.
\n\u201cWhat we\u2019ve learned last year was we shouldn\u2019t just focus on people who already play games,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we can find similarities and common ground together, especially now when our political climate is trying to divide people, I feel like we can do the opposite. So, Modern Art came to be because we believe that art is really a big component of board games.\u201d
\nConsidered by gaming enthusiasts as a masterclass in game design, Modern Art is a classic board game centered on the dynamics of the art market. The Philippine Edition introduces works by five contemporary Philippine artists \u2014 National Artists Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Larry Alcala, and Abdulmari Imao, Filipino surrealist Raul Lebajo, and Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee Juvenal Sans\u00f3 \u2014 with works ranging from comics to classic oil paintings, from sculptures to tapestries.
\nThe board game\u2019s layout and visual design were led by graphic artist Tanya Mallillin, in collaboration with Mr. Fernandez and Duane Galang from the Gaming Library. Select releases of Modern Art: Philippine Edition will include a limited-edition archival print of Juvenal Sans\u00f3\u2019s Fat Cat, produced in strictly limited quantities.
\nThe original creator of Modern Art, mathematics whiz Dr. Reiner Knizia, is revered among game designers with over 900 published games and books.
\n\u201c\u2018Monopoly but for art\u2019 is the easiest way to grasp what Modern Art is about,\u201d said Tenie Santos, Fundacion Sans\u00f3\u2019s assistant director, at the preview. \u201cNot a lot of people know how big the gaming community is in the Philippines. We actually have the biggest gaming community in Southeast Asia. And we\u2019re so happy because board games are actually a form of art, with visual components, storytelling, culture, and even math.\u201d
\nShe added that the project will help the five artists\u2019 estates gain visibility among younger generations.
\n\u201cMany of them don\u2019t know these artists anymore, so we need to do something about it. We have to be flexible to the changes, trends happening outside the museums,\u201d Ms. Santos said.
\nPart of proceeds from the sales of the game will go to Strays Worth Saving, which Fundacion Sans\u00f3 donated to for the first time last month from the deluxe preorders of the board game.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll keep doing it while we still have stocks of the game and of the Fat Cat archival prints. We hope to reach out to the entire Filipino community, to support local and to support arts and culture,\u201d she said. \u201cHopefully this will encourage people to be into art and not be intimidated.\u201d
\nBIGGEST GAMING CONVENTION IN SEA
\nThe official launch of Modern Art: Philippine Edition will take place at All Aboard Expo 2026, to be held at the MICE Center inside the Quezon City Hall complex from May 28 to 31. Representatives from the five artists\u2019 estates will be present.
Mr. Fernandez said that, since it is the biggest tabletop gaming convention in Southeast Asia (SEA), they are expecting 15,000 attendees throughout the weekend. Last year, they had 10,500 attendees.
\n\u201cWe have 40 international brands flying over and visitors from Poland, Portugal, Vietnam, South Korea \u2014 about 30 countries in total,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople have volunteered to teach the new board games, so a demo team will guide you if you want to try to play some.\u201d
\nGames will be labeled from Stages 1 to 5, indicating increasing level of difficulty, with Modern Art: Philippine Edition assigned to Stage 2.
\n\u201cIt will only have 100 copies at All Aboard Expo, so come and try it and get yours when you can!\u201d Mr. Fernandez said.
\nEntrance to the event is free for Quezon City residents and priced at P150 for everyone else. More details can be found here: https://www.gaminglib.com/pages/all-aboard-expo-2026. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 4\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nNew and localized titles to launch at tabletop gaming convention\nPLAYING board games is a cherished pastime among family and friends, especially now that people taking time away from screens is rare. There are various tabletop gaming clubs, organizations, and informal groups that cater to everyone from casual hobbyists and social players, to serious board game enthusiasts, who meet up weekly to sit down and spend hours at the tabletop.\nWhile the likes of Scrabble, Monopoly, and Clue continue to be the most popular games, modern strategy games are also in demand. In the Philippines, local and localized titles provide a unique experience \u2014 the latest of which is Modern Art, a highly acclaimed international board game which now has a Philippine edition.\nFollowing a collaboration between the Gaming Library and Fundacion Sans\u00f3, the art auction board game Modern Art by Dr. Reiner Knizia has been adapted locally to feature works by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Abdulmari Imao, Larry Alcala, Raul Lebajo, and Juvenal Sans\u00f3.\n\u201cThe game is played by three to five players. Basically, you guys will be playing as museums and participating in auctions to sell and to collect paintings, and, depending on the season or the market, be given a return of value based on which artist is trending,\u201d said Gaming Library Chief Executive Officer Hans Kenner Fernandez, at the media preview held at Fundacion Sans\u00f3 in San Juan City.\n\u201cWhat\u2019s exciting is that there are different types of auctions that you can participate in,\u201d he added.\nGaming Library, aside from being a board game shop, is the organizer of All Aboard Expo, a tabletop gaming convention which is now in its second year. From May 28 to 31, it will be the venue for various board game tournaments and new title launches, including Modern Art.\nOther local titles to be launched at the event are Sinigang (a card game of bluffing and timing where the goal is to cook the perfect pot of sinigang) and Kalikasan (a localized version of the habitat-building game Cascadia, featuring Philippine animals like tarsiers and tamaraws).\nFINDING COMMON GROUND\nWhile one would think there isn\u2019t much overlap between art enthusiasts and board game enthusiasts, Mr. Fernandez noted that the gap need not be too wide.\nHe explained that reaching out to Fundacion Sans\u00f3 was the perfect move, as it happens to have the Initiative for the Continuation of Artist\u2019s Estate, a program to help manage artists\u2019 estates (not just Mr. Sans\u00f3\u2019s) through legacy-building, skill transfer, and copyright management.\n\u201cWhat we\u2019ve learned last year was we shouldn\u2019t just focus on people who already play games,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we can find similarities and common ground together, especially now when our political climate is trying to divide people, I feel like we can do the opposite. So, Modern Art came to be because we believe that art is really a big component of board games.\u201d\nConsidered by gaming enthusiasts as a masterclass in game design, Modern Art is a classic board game centered on the dynamics of the art market. The Philippine Edition introduces works by five contemporary Philippine artists \u2014 National Artists Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Larry Alcala, and Abdulmari Imao, Filipino surrealist Raul Lebajo, and Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee Juvenal Sans\u00f3 \u2014 with works ranging from comics to classic oil paintings, from sculptures to tapestries. \nThe board game\u2019s layout and visual design were led by graphic artist Tanya Mallillin, in collaboration with Mr. Fernandez and Duane Galang from the Gaming Library. Select releases of Modern Art: Philippine Edition will include a limited-edition archival print of Juvenal Sans\u00f3\u2019s Fat Cat, produced in strictly limited quantities.\nThe original creator of Modern Art, mathematics whiz Dr. Reiner Knizia, is revered among game designers with over 900 published games and books.\n\u201c\u2018Monopoly but for art\u2019 is the easiest way to grasp what Modern Art is about,\u201d said Tenie Santos, Fundacion Sans\u00f3\u2019s assistant director, at the preview. \u201cNot a lot of people know how big the gaming community is in the Philippines. We actually have the biggest gaming community in Southeast Asia. And we\u2019re so happy because board games are actually a form of art, with visual components, storytelling, culture, and even math.\u201d\nShe added that the project will help the five artists\u2019 estates gain visibility among younger generations.\n\u201cMany of them don\u2019t know these artists anymore, so we need to do something about it. We have to be flexible to the changes, trends happening outside the museums,\u201d Ms. Santos said.\nPart of proceeds from the sales of the game will go to Strays Worth Saving, which Fundacion Sans\u00f3 donated to for the first time last month from the deluxe preorders of the board game.\n\u201cWe\u2019ll keep doing it while we still have stocks of the game and of the Fat Cat archival prints. We hope to reach out to the entire Filipino community, to support local and to support arts and culture,\u201d she said. \u201cHopefully this will encourage people to be into art and not be intimidated.\u201d\nBIGGEST GAMING CONVENTION IN SEA\nThe official launch of Modern Art: Philippine Edition will take place at All Aboard Expo 2026, to be held at the MICE Center inside the Quezon City Hall complex from May 28 to 31. Representatives from the five artists\u2019 estates will be present.\nMr. Fernandez said that, since it is the biggest tabletop gaming convention in Southeast Asia (SEA), they are expecting 15,000 attendees throughout the weekend. Last year, they had 10,500 attendees.\n\u201cWe have 40 international brands flying over and visitors from Poland, Portugal, Vietnam, South Korea \u2014 about 30 countries in total,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople have volunteered to teach the new board games, so a demo team will guide you if you want to try to play some.\u201d\nGames will be labeled from Stages 1 to 5, indicating increasing level of difficulty, with Modern Art: Philippine Edition assigned to Stage 2.\n\u201cIt will only have 100 copies at All Aboard Expo, so come and try it and get yours when you can!\u201d Mr. Fernandez said.\nEntrance to the event is free for Quezon City residents and priced at P150 for everyone else. More details can be found here: https://www.gaminglib.com/pages/all-aboard-expo-2026. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-22T00:06:05+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-21T19:03:58+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Board-game-2.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "PLAYING board games is a cherished pastime among family and friends, especially now that people taking time away from screens is rare. There are various tabletop gaming clubs, organizations, and informal groups that cater to everyone from casual hobbyists and social players, to serious board game enthusiasts, who meet up weekly to sit down and spend hours at the tabletop." }, { "id": "/?p=751294", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/22/751294/content-creator-jemay-santiago-opens-up-through-music/", "title": "Content creator Jemay Santiago opens up through music", "content_html": "FOR Filipino R&B artist Jemay Santiago, who is also a prominent online content creator, making music allows her to reveal a more vulnerable side that is different from her more jovial public persona. So, it is not a surprise that her latest single, \u201c1A,\u201d which was released this month, presents a laidback sound and an inner depth.
\n\u201cThe context is that I came to a point where I had self-doubt and suicidal thoughts. I felt like a failure as a daughter, as a content creator, as a public figure,\u201d Ms. Santiago said at an interview on May 18 in Makati City. \u201cI\u2019m able to express it in song when I\u2019m in the recording studio. Doon lang ako nagiging totoo sa nararamdaman ko (That\u2019s the only place where I get real about my feelings).\u201d
\nTo further challenge the glamorized narratives often associated with mainstream exposure and music culture, the song is set to be the first single to be released from her upcoming EP, Depresyon.
\n\u201cI used to be scared to express myself as a public figure because people might take my weaknesses against me, but I thought it\u2019s better to be authentic, raw, and vulnerable for people to understand who you are and what you\u2019re going through \u2014 and for others to relate and realize they\u2019re not alone,\u201d the singer said.
\nThe track showcases hazy textures thanks to the mixing and mastering of Icy D. of Got Name? Collective, and the nocturnal beats care of Mark Arganda\u2019s production. Originally titled \u201cMARY1A,\u201d it was later shortened to \u201c1A,\u201d a metaphorical concept representing prioritizing oneself and personal healing.
\nAccording to Ms. Santiago, the number one signifies mental health being first, while the letter A represents beginning. Thus, \u201c1A\u201d openly addresses \u201cthe emotional realities hidden behind the smiles, confidence, and success often projected online.\u201d
\nBeing part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual plus (LGBTQIA+) community also motivates the artist, who identifies as pansexual, or someone attracted to all genders. \u201cI\u2019ve seen hate comments about my identity, about how they think my music is bad, about how I\u2019m just a clout chaser,\u201d she said.
\nMs. Santiago explained that people don\u2019t bother to understand once they\u2019ve made judgments about you, adding that she had become a content creator to help with her mother\u2019s medical bills.
\n\u201cShe passed away two years ago,\u201d she said. \u201cWala man lang akong nagawa. Kaya nagawa ko \u2019yong kanta ngayon na palipat na ako mula sa pamilya papunta sa sarili ko. Kasi pakiramdam ko rin na nagkulang ako (I wasn\u2019t able to do anything. That\u2019s why I made this song, now that I\u2019m shifting from family to myself, because I felt I didn\u2019t do enough).\u201d
\nFor her, the pressure felt among LGBTQIA+ Filipinos who are trying to find themselves while also facing dangerous thoughts of failure and self-doubt, is quite common.
\n\u201cWe can be the most genuine and very happy, but we\u2019re also carrying our own struggles,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have to deal with it alone.\u201d
\nMs. Santiago added that music was the best way she found to tap into these unspoken feelings in the community.
\n\u201cI was 15 years old when I first found out I could compose my own songs. I loved to sing,\u201d she said. \u201cLittle did I know, being a musician could be my profession.\u201d
\n\u201c1A\u201d is out now on digital music streaming platforms. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "New single confronts failure, self-doubt\nFOR Filipino R&B artist Jemay Santiago, who is also a prominent online content creator, making music allows her to reveal a more vulnerable side that is different from her more jovial public persona. So, it is not a surprise that her latest single, \u201c1A,\u201d which was released this month, presents a laidback sound and an inner depth.\n\u201cThe context is that I came to a point where I had self-doubt and suicidal thoughts. I felt like a failure as a daughter, as a content creator, as a public figure,\u201d Ms. Santiago said at an interview on May 18 in Makati City. \u201cI\u2019m able to express it in song when I\u2019m in the recording studio. Doon lang ako nagiging totoo sa nararamdaman ko (That\u2019s the only place where I get real about my feelings).\u201d\nTo further challenge the glamorized narratives often associated with mainstream exposure and music culture, the song is set to be the first single to be released from her upcoming EP, Depresyon. \n\u201cI used to be scared to express myself as a public figure because people might take my weaknesses against me, but I thought it\u2019s better to be authentic, raw, and vulnerable for people to understand who you are and what you\u2019re going through \u2014 and for others to relate and realize they\u2019re not alone,\u201d the singer said.\nThe track showcases hazy textures thanks to the mixing and mastering of Icy D. of Got Name? Collective, and the nocturnal beats care of Mark Arganda\u2019s production. Originally titled \u201cMARY1A,\u201d it was later shortened to \u201c1A,\u201d a metaphorical concept representing prioritizing oneself and personal healing.\nAccording to Ms. Santiago, the number one signifies mental health being first, while the letter A represents beginning. Thus, \u201c1A\u201d openly addresses \u201cthe emotional realities hidden behind the smiles, confidence, and success often projected online.\u201d\nBeing part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual plus (LGBTQIA+) community also motivates the artist, who identifies as pansexual, or someone attracted to all genders. \u201cI\u2019ve seen hate comments about my identity, about how they think my music is bad, about how I\u2019m just a clout chaser,\u201d she said.\nMs. Santiago explained that people don\u2019t bother to understand once they\u2019ve made judgments about you, adding that she had become a content creator to help with her mother\u2019s medical bills.\n\u201cShe passed away two years ago,\u201d she said. \u201cWala man lang akong nagawa. Kaya nagawa ko \u2019yong kanta ngayon na palipat na ako mula sa pamilya papunta sa sarili ko. Kasi pakiramdam ko rin na nagkulang ako (I wasn\u2019t able to do anything. That\u2019s why I made this song, now that I\u2019m shifting from family to myself, because I felt I didn\u2019t do enough).\u201d\nFor her, the pressure felt among LGBTQIA+ Filipinos who are trying to find themselves while also facing dangerous thoughts of failure and self-doubt, is quite common.\n\u201cWe can be the most genuine and very happy, but we\u2019re also carrying our own struggles,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have to deal with it alone.\u201d\nMs. Santiago added that music was the best way she found to tap into these unspoken feelings in the community.\n\u201cI was 15 years old when I first found out I could compose my own songs. I loved to sing,\u201d she said. \u201cLittle did I know, being a musician could be my profession.\u201d\n\u201c1A\u201d is out now on digital music streaming platforms. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-22T00:05:05+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-21T19:04:37+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Jemay-Santiago.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "FOR Filipino R&B artist Jemay Santiago, who is also a prominent online content creator, making music allows her to reveal a more vulnerable side that is different from her more jovial public persona. So, it is not a surprise that her latest single, \u201c1A,\u201d which was released this month, presents a laidback sound and an inner depth." }, { "id": "/?p=750695", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/20/750695/revisiting-a-literary-legacy/", "title": "Revisiting a literary legacy", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nIT ALWAYS began with narratives scribbled down on folded sheets of 8-1/2 by 11 paper, then typed out on a battered old typewriter, said Melissa \u201cMimi\u201d Nolledo, describing how her father, writer Wilfrido D. Nolledo, worked. Now, 16 of the many short stories he created have become accessible to a new generation of readers and writers.
\nRe-published in a collection called Canticles for Dark Lovers by local press Exploding Galaxies, these stories represent Mr. Nolledo\u2019s body of work between 1955 and 1971. After reprinting many forgotten Filipino classics \u2014 the publishing house specializes in out-of-print works by Filipino authors \u2014 this collection holds special meaning for Exploding Galaxies. Mr. Nolledo\u2019s 1970 novel But for the Lovers was Exploding Galaxies\u2019 first project, released in 2023.
\nPublisher Mara Coson explained at the May 9 launch that their goal was to focus on the acclaimed author\u2019s writing in the 15 years leading up to But for the Lovers.
\n\u201cWe went over a year, with \u2018Moratorium est finie\u2019 originally published in 1971, but we noted it as key because it\u2019s such a departure. He did something that was sci-fi,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cIn this short story collection, you\u2019ll discover a lot of characters that will stay with you,\u201d Ms. Coson continued. \u201cThese are characters, or lovers, actually, who lust, who long to find something, and who, I guess, in a way, get so caught up in the hope and heartbreak that these Nolledo stories provide.\u201d
\nAt the launch held at WHYNoT in Karrivin Plaza, Makati, Mr. Nolledo\u2019s writings were displayed in installations that evoked how they once appeared in vintage magazines, while visual timelines and old photos of the writer and his family provided context for his colorful life.
\nUp front was a portrait of Mr. Nolledo painted by his dear friend, artist Danilo Dalena, who later recounted memories they shared in a recorded video message. Toward the back of the space was a projector screening excerpts of films which Mr. Nolledo contributed to as a screenwriter.
\nActors Pablo Fabregas and Miren Alvarez-Fabregas delivered readings of three of the short stories in the collection \u2014 \u201cMoratorium est finie,\u201d \u201cKayumanggi, Mon Amour,\u201d and the titular \u201cCanticle for Dark Lovers.\u201d Sound artist Mudskipper elevated the prose with ambient sonic tracks to accompany the readings.
\nNOLLEDO FAN CLUB
\nFor Exploding Galaxies managing editor Sam Marcelo, publishing Canticles soon after But for the Lovers is their way to grow a fan club of sorts.
\u201cCanticles for Dark Lovers continues our commitment to growing the Nolledo fan club. During the launch of the short story collection, Krip Yuson riffed on how intoxicating Nolledo\u2019s writing is and how it made a huge impact on him when he first read Nolledo when he was young,\u201d she told 大象传媒 via e-mail. \u201cWe hope to provide that same experience to today\u2019s readers.\u201d
\nTo be more precise, in Mr. Yuson\u2019s impromptu message at the launch, he talked about the legacy of \u201clanguage writing\u201d that he was impressed by, but which may or may not resonate with today\u2019s readers.
\n\u201cI wonder if the new generations will also abide by it\u2026 So-called \u2018language writers\u2019 were really looked down upon. There was always a danger with language writing because if you go over the edge, it becomes \u2018purple prose,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see if the new generation will think that this is \u2018purple prose.\u2019 I don\u2019t think so. I still remain impressed and intoxicated by the prose of Ding Nolledo.\u201d
\nThose who already read But for the Lovers may also find something of interest in the new collection\u2019s first story, \u201cOf Things Guadalupe,\u201d which is actually an early version of the novel.
\n\u201cThat might add an extra layer of interest for those who are curious about the writing process and about form,\u201d Ms. Marcelo said.
\n\u2018SOMETHING ALIVE\u2019
\nMr. Nolledo, born in 1933, was a celebrated novelist, short story writer, playwright, screenwriter, and journalist. For Mimi Nolledo, who could only hear bits of his writing process at home, it remained a mystery to her for much of her life.
\u201cWhen I think of Papa writing, what I hear first is the typewriter. Growing up, we would all hear it throughout our house on Champagne Street in Marikina \u2014 that staccato rhythm, trippingly like music, then moments when you could hear him as he quietly read passages aloud to himself,\u201d she recalled. \u201cLike he was checking for the cadence, the poetry, the heft and feel of a certain word, a certain syllable,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cGrowing up inside that sound, I didn\u2019t always understand what he was building. I just knew something alive was happening in that room. That\u2019s the way literature is, I think. It happens in rooms we don\u2019t fully enter until later,\u201d she continued. \u201cAnd then one day, we walk right in and there it is \u2014 a story, just waiting there for us. Literature is a kind of coming home.\u201d
\nCanticles for Dark Lovers is available in Fully Booked, National Bookstore, and select bookstores including Everything\u2019s Fine in Makati and Mt. Cloud Bookshop in Baguio, as well as in online marketplaces Shopee and Lazada. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 5\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n EXPLODING GALAXIES has released \na compilation of Wilfrido D. Nolledo\u2019s\nshort stories called Canticles for Dark Lovers (right) as a companion piece to its earlier release of his re-published novel But for the Lovers. \u2013 BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n nolledo portrait by danilo dalena \u2014 BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n nolledo display at whynot \u2014 BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nIT ALWAYS began with narratives scribbled down on folded sheets of 8-1/2 by 11 paper, then typed out on a battered old typewriter, said Melissa \u201cMimi\u201d Nolledo, describing how her father, writer Wilfrido D. Nolledo, worked. Now, 16 of the many short stories he created have become accessible to a new generation of readers and writers.\nRe-published in a collection called Canticles for Dark Lovers by local press Exploding Galaxies, these stories represent Mr. Nolledo\u2019s body of work between 1955 and 1971. After reprinting many forgotten Filipino classics \u2014 the publishing house specializes in out-of-print works by Filipino authors \u2014 this collection holds special meaning for Exploding Galaxies. Mr. Nolledo\u2019s 1970 novel But for the Lovers was Exploding Galaxies\u2019 first project, released in 2023.\nPublisher Mara Coson explained at the May 9 launch that their goal was to focus on the acclaimed author\u2019s writing in the 15 years leading up to But for the Lovers.\n\u201cWe went over a year, with \u2018Moratorium est finie\u2019 originally published in 1971, but we noted it as key because it\u2019s such a departure. He did something that was sci-fi,\u201d she said.\n\u201cIn this short story collection, you\u2019ll discover a lot of characters that will stay with you,\u201d Ms. Coson continued. \u201cThese are characters, or lovers, actually, who lust, who long to find something, and who, I guess, in a way, get so caught up in the hope and heartbreak that these Nolledo stories provide.\u201d\nAt the launch held at WHYNoT in Karrivin Plaza, Makati, Mr. Nolledo\u2019s writings were displayed in installations that evoked how they once appeared in vintage magazines, while visual timelines and old photos of the writer and his family provided context for his colorful life. \nUp front was a portrait of Mr. Nolledo painted by his dear friend, artist Danilo Dalena, who later recounted memories they shared in a recorded video message. Toward the back of the space was a projector screening excerpts of films which Mr. Nolledo contributed to as a screenwriter. \nActors Pablo Fabregas and Miren Alvarez-Fabregas delivered readings of three of the short stories in the collection \u2014 \u201cMoratorium est finie,\u201d \u201cKayumanggi, Mon Amour,\u201d and the titular \u201cCanticle for Dark Lovers.\u201d Sound artist Mudskipper elevated the prose with ambient sonic tracks to accompany the readings.\nNOLLEDO FAN CLUB\nFor Exploding Galaxies managing editor Sam Marcelo, publishing Canticles soon after But for the Lovers is their way to grow a fan club of sorts.\n\u201cCanticles for Dark Lovers continues our commitment to growing the Nolledo fan club. During the launch of the short story collection, Krip Yuson riffed on how intoxicating Nolledo\u2019s writing is and how it made a huge impact on him when he first read Nolledo when he was young,\u201d she told 大象传媒 via e-mail. \u201cWe hope to provide that same experience to today\u2019s readers.\u201d\nTo be more precise, in Mr. Yuson\u2019s impromptu message at the launch, he talked about the legacy of \u201clanguage writing\u201d that he was impressed by, but which may or may not resonate with today\u2019s readers.\n\u201cI wonder if the new generations will also abide by it\u2026 So-called \u2018language writers\u2019 were really looked down upon. There was always a danger with language writing because if you go over the edge, it becomes \u2018purple prose,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see if the new generation will think that this is \u2018purple prose.\u2019 I don\u2019t think so. I still remain impressed and intoxicated by the prose of Ding Nolledo.\u201d\nThose who already read But for the Lovers may also find something of interest in the new collection\u2019s first story, \u201cOf Things Guadalupe,\u201d which is actually an early version of the novel.\n\u201cThat might add an extra layer of interest for those who are curious about the writing process and about form,\u201d Ms. Marcelo said.\n\u2018SOMETHING ALIVE\u2019\nMr. Nolledo, born in 1933, was a celebrated novelist, short story writer, playwright, screenwriter, and journalist. For Mimi Nolledo, who could only hear bits of his writing process at home, it remained a mystery to her for much of her life.\n\u201cWhen I think of Papa writing, what I hear first is the typewriter. Growing up, we would all hear it throughout our house on Champagne Street in Marikina \u2014 that staccato rhythm, trippingly like music, then moments when you could hear him as he quietly read passages aloud to himself,\u201d she recalled. \u201cLike he was checking for the cadence, the poetry, the heft and feel of a certain word, a certain syllable,\u201d she said.\n\u201cGrowing up inside that sound, I didn\u2019t always understand what he was building. I just knew something alive was happening in that room. That\u2019s the way literature is, I think. It happens in rooms we don\u2019t fully enter until later,\u201d she continued. \u201cAnd then one day, we walk right in and there it is \u2014 a story, just waiting there for us. Literature is a kind of coming home.\u201d\nCanticles for Dark Lovers is available in Fully Booked, National Bookstore, and select bookstores including Everything\u2019s Fine in Makati and Mt. Cloud Bookshop in Baguio, as well as in online marketplaces Shopee and Lazada. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-20T00:06:17+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-19T19:02:11+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260509_161249.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=750382", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/19/750382/cine-europa-screens-full-length-films-documentaries-for-free/", "title": "Cine Europa screens full-length films, documentaries for free", "content_html": "THE 29TH EDITION of Cine Europa is set to kick off on May 28 and will run until July 4 in Metro Manila, Tacloban, and Cagayan de Oro. Twenty European films will be screened for free over the course of the festival.
\nThe festival films are being presented by the embassies and cultural institutes of 18 European Union (EU) member states, organized by the Delegation of the EU to the Philippines.
\n\u201cThese films reflect the richness and diversity of European culture and showcase the strength of European storytelling and filmmaking,\u201d said Agata Nowicka, the EU Delegation\u2019s deputy head of mission to the Philippines, at a press conference on May 14.
\n\u201cWe are also proud that Cine Europa continues its outreach screening beyond Metro Manila, bringing European cinema and cultural exchange to more communities across the whole country,\u201d she added.
\nSeventeen full-length feature films and three documentaries will be screened at Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City, from May 28 to June 3, and in Rizal Park, Manila, from June 15 to 20.
\nScreenings will also be held at the Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban from June 11 to 15, and the Liceo Cagayan de Oro University in Cagayan de Oro from June 29 to July 4.
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t need to convince Europeans how great our culture is, so that is why we want to go to the public. We want to engage with Filipinos everywhere and show our culture,\u201d said Ms. Nowicka.
\nThe film lineup covers historical drama, adventure, comedy, and many others. Austria and Poland have two films each in the lineup, while Cyprus offers some resonance with their entry that revolves around a Filipina domestic worker.
\nA change this year is that the EU Delegation is presenting its own film, Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier\u2019s family drama Sentimental Value, which had a strong awards season from Cannes to the Oscars.
\nMeanwhile, the festival\u2019s three documentary entries cover a range of realities \u2014 one traces the journey of artist Andy Warhol\u2019s family from Slovakia to the US; another looks into why Romanian tennis player Ilie Nastase rose to fame as \u201cNasty\u201d; and the third presents the struggles of a simple Ukrainian soldier amid the ongoing war.
\n\u201cWe are united in diversity, and this is what we try to show to find a common ground with the Philippines,\u201d said Ms. Nowicka, on whether there was a theme to help each institution pick a film to represent them.
\n\u201cThe goal is to promote our culture through different themes, events, and characters that could be the most interesting for you, that would resonate with you.\u201d
\nFor more information and screening schedules, visit Cine Europa\u2019s social media pages.
\nThe festival films are: Austria\u2019s Sleeping with a Tiger and Peacock; Belgium\u2019s Head or Fails; Cyprus\u2019 Maricel; the Czech Republic\u2019s The Waves; Finland\u2019s Summer is Crazy; France\u2019s Un Ours Dans La Jura; Germany\u2019s Afire; Hungary\u2019s How Can I Live Without You; Ireland\u2019s Four Mothers; Italy\u2019s Gloria; Poland\u2019s Lampo the Travelling Dog and Loss of Balance; Romania\u2019s Nasty; Slovakia\u2019s Andy Warhol: American Dream; Slovenia\u2019s Hidden People; Spain\u2019s Bear Claw Clamp; Sweden\u2019s The Dance Club; Ukraine\u2019s A Simple Soldier; and the EU Delegation\u2019s Sentimental Value. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "20 films to represent European cinema\nTHE 29TH EDITION of Cine Europa is set to kick off on May 28 and will run until July 4 in Metro Manila, Tacloban, and Cagayan de Oro. Twenty European films will be screened for free over the course of the festival.\nThe festival films are being presented by the embassies and cultural institutes of 18 European Union (EU) member states, organized by the Delegation of the EU to the Philippines.\n\u201cThese films reflect the richness and diversity of European culture and showcase the strength of European storytelling and filmmaking,\u201d said Agata Nowicka, the EU Delegation\u2019s deputy head of mission to the Philippines, at a press conference on May 14.\n\u201cWe are also proud that Cine Europa continues its outreach screening beyond Metro Manila, bringing European cinema and cultural exchange to more communities across the whole country,\u201d she added.\nSeventeen full-length feature films and three documentaries will be screened at Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City, from May 28 to June 3, and in Rizal Park, Manila, from June 15 to 20. \nScreenings will also be held at the Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban from June 11 to 15, and the Liceo Cagayan de Oro University in Cagayan de Oro from June 29 to July 4.\n\u201cWe don\u2019t need to convince Europeans how great our culture is, so that is why we want to go to the public. We want to engage with Filipinos everywhere and show our culture,\u201d said Ms. Nowicka.\nThe film lineup covers historical drama, adventure, comedy, and many others. Austria and Poland have two films each in the lineup, while Cyprus offers some resonance with their entry that revolves around a Filipina domestic worker.\nA change this year is that the EU Delegation is presenting its own film, Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier\u2019s family drama Sentimental Value, which had a strong awards season from Cannes to the Oscars.\nMeanwhile, the festival\u2019s three documentary entries cover a range of realities \u2014 one traces the journey of artist Andy Warhol\u2019s family from Slovakia to the US; another looks into why Romanian tennis player Ilie Nastase rose to fame as \u201cNasty\u201d; and the third presents the struggles of a simple Ukrainian soldier amid the ongoing war.\n\u201cWe are united in diversity, and this is what we try to show to find a common ground with the Philippines,\u201d said Ms. Nowicka, on whether there was a theme to help each institution pick a film to represent them.\n\u201cThe goal is to promote our culture through different themes, events, and characters that could be the most interesting for you, that would resonate with you.\u201d\nFor more information and screening schedules, visit Cine Europa\u2019s social media pages.\nThe festival films are: Austria\u2019s Sleeping with a Tiger and Peacock; Belgium\u2019s Head or Fails; Cyprus\u2019 Maricel; the Czech Republic\u2019s The Waves; Finland\u2019s Summer is Crazy; France\u2019s Un Ours Dans La Jura; Germany\u2019s Afire; Hungary\u2019s How Can I Live Without You; Ireland\u2019s Four Mothers; Italy\u2019s Gloria; Poland\u2019s Lampo the Travelling Dog and Loss of Balance; Romania\u2019s Nasty; Slovakia\u2019s Andy Warhol: American Dream; Slovenia\u2019s Hidden People; Spain\u2019s Bear Claw Clamp; Sweden\u2019s The Dance Club; Ukraine\u2019s A Simple Soldier; and the EU Delegation\u2019s Sentimental Value. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-19T00:08:48+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-18T18:19:56+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Cine-Europa-29-documentaries.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "THE 29TH EDITION of Cine Europa is set to kick off on May 28 and will run until July 4 in Metro Manila, Tacloban, and Cagayan de Oro. Twenty European films will be screened for free over the course of the festival." }, { "id": "/?p=750381", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/19/750381/pop-band-alyson-releases-sophomore-album/", "title": "Pop band ALYSON releases sophomore album", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nFILIPINO city pop band ALYSON is set to drop their latest album, AFTER OURS, later this week. It marks their sophomore effort and further blends their major musical influences \u2014 Japanese city pop and the Manila Sound.
\nA week ahead of its release on digital platforms, the group held a listening party and press conference on May 15.
\nWhile their first album, Definitely Love!, is about the enthusiasm and excitement of being in love, the follow-up record \u201ctakes us on a journey to discover what happens after that,\u201d said the members of the five-piece band, composed of Pio Ligot on vocals, Luis Uy on lead guitar, Marcus Mababangloob on drums, Miguel Erfe on bass, and Easel Manes on keyboard.
\nIts first song, \u201cIkaw Lagi,\u201d jumps off from the feeling of the first album, which is festive and reminiscent of \u201cseeing the person that you love on the dancefloor of a tropical club.\u201d Conceptually, it eases the listener into the complexities of the new album.
\n\u201cIt culminates what came before. Then, we move into the second track, \u2018Landi,\u2019 which is less of a 5 p.m. beachside vibe and becoming a 7 to 9 p.m. \u2018the night has begun\u2019 kind of thing,\u201d said drummer Mr. Mababangloob, who was the producer of the album.
\nHe added that this is their \u201cmost ambitious album yet,\u201d with a narrative that threads the eight tracks and very cinematic and vivid scenes inspiring each composition.
\nThe song \u201cBighani\u201d evokes the middle of the night, complete with temptations. The lead single, \u201cKung Sakaling Tanawin,\u201d leans the most into 1970s and \u201980s Manila Sound ballad influences, with trumpeter David Jorvina responsible for the orchestral arrangement befitting a pivotal telenovela moment.
\n\u201cI was inspired by \u2018Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka\u2019 for the piano part. I channeled Ryan Cayabyab,\u201d said keyboardist Mr. Manes. \u201cSinulat ko ito nang nakadungaw sa labas ng bintana (I wrote it while looking out the window) overlooking Antipolo.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, the track \u201cTalaga\u201d features fellow Filipino city pop artist Paprikka.
\nVocalist and lyricist Mr. Ligot said that, while it\u2019s a playful, \u201clovey-dovey,\u201d and tongue-in-cheek duet, it blends both the \u201cMartin Nievera-Regine Velasquez synthy \u201980s Manila Sound and cutesy Japanese city pop found in vintage anim\u00e9.\u201d
\nThe music video for the song will come out alongside the album\u2019s release. \u201cThis album really is our most ambitious creative effort so far, so we want to get it out both locally and internationally,\u201d he said.
\nIn keeping with the timeline, \u201cGoodbye Summer\u201d takes listeners to 4 a.m. in a brooding mood, supported by a full jazz band with horns. \u201cThe feeling of frustration is very authentic to the sound. We\u2019re excited to play this live because of how big the production is,\u201d Mr. Ligot explained.
\nThe penultimate track, \u201c24/7 Love and Care,\u201d evokes the soft early morning before sunrise and serves as the breather of the album, while the final track, \u201cDi Makapaniwala,\u201d takes place in the movie\u2019s end credits with the characters driving off into the sunrise.
\nMr. Mababangloob said that they wanted the album to showcase \u201cthe direct middle of all of our city pop influences.\u201d
\n\u201cWe wanted to close in the morning after spending a crazy night. It\u2019s the resolute conclusion of love,\u201d he said.
\nHe also noted that, while they\u2019re usually known as a city pop act, it only represents one part of the broad range of music that inspires them.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re influenced by Japanese city pop like ANRI, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Taeko Onuki, but parallel to that are Manila Sound artists like Ryan Cayabyab, Basil Valdez, and Rico J. Puno,\u201d he explained. \u201cThere\u2019s always been a cross-cultural exchange in how music is made. We wanted to draw from that and contribute to that.\u201d
\nThe band even got to work with Eiji Hirano, the music engineer for Japanese city pop band Ryusenkei, with Mr. Mababangloob flying out to Tokyo as the songs were being mastered.
\n\u201cCity pop is seen as a nostalgic, gimmicky thing, but we don\u2019t think it\u2019s a set of clich\u00e9s. We don\u2019t subscribe to making it sound one way or another. Whether it\u2019s city pop or Manila Sound, in our eyes, it\u2019s all the same. It\u2019s a melting pot,\u201d he said, when asked how they view their mix of genres.
\nHe quoted Ryusenkei frontman, Kunimondo Takiguchi, who once said that \u201ccity pop is an approach, combining pop, music, soul, and funk where the lines blur, because that\u2019s what living in a city is like.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s inevitable that music will come out that way,\u201d Mr. Mababangloob.
\nAFTER OURS will be out on all digital music streaming platforms worldwide on May 22 via Offshore Music, along with the official music video for the song \u201cTalaga\u201d featuring Paprikka. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nFILIPINO city pop band ALYSON is set to drop their latest album, AFTER OURS, later this week. It marks their sophomore effort and further blends their major musical influences \u2014 Japanese city pop and the Manila Sound.\nA week ahead of its release on digital platforms, the group held a listening party and press conference on May 15.\nWhile their first album, Definitely Love!, is about the enthusiasm and excitement of being in love, the follow-up record \u201ctakes us on a journey to discover what happens after that,\u201d said the members of the five-piece band, composed of Pio Ligot on vocals, Luis Uy on lead guitar, Marcus Mababangloob on drums, Miguel Erfe on bass, and Easel Manes on keyboard. \nIts first song, \u201cIkaw Lagi,\u201d jumps off from the feeling of the first album, which is festive and reminiscent of \u201cseeing the person that you love on the dancefloor of a tropical club.\u201d Conceptually, it eases the listener into the complexities of the new album.\n\u201cIt culminates what came before. Then, we move into the second track, \u2018Landi,\u2019 which is less of a 5 p.m. beachside vibe and becoming a 7 to 9 p.m. \u2018the night has begun\u2019 kind of thing,\u201d said drummer Mr. Mababangloob, who was the producer of the album.\nHe added that this is their \u201cmost ambitious album yet,\u201d with a narrative that threads the eight tracks and very cinematic and vivid scenes inspiring each composition.\nThe song \u201cBighani\u201d evokes the middle of the night, complete with temptations. The lead single, \u201cKung Sakaling Tanawin,\u201d leans the most into 1970s and \u201980s Manila Sound ballad influences, with trumpeter David Jorvina responsible for the orchestral arrangement befitting a pivotal telenovela moment.\n\u201cI was inspired by \u2018Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka\u2019 for the piano part. I channeled Ryan Cayabyab,\u201d said keyboardist Mr. Manes. \u201cSinulat ko ito nang nakadungaw sa labas ng bintana (I wrote it while looking out the window) overlooking Antipolo.\u201d\nMeanwhile, the track \u201cTalaga\u201d features fellow Filipino city pop artist Paprikka.\nVocalist and lyricist Mr. Ligot said that, while it\u2019s a playful, \u201clovey-dovey,\u201d and tongue-in-cheek duet, it blends both the \u201cMartin Nievera-Regine Velasquez synthy \u201980s Manila Sound and cutesy Japanese city pop found in vintage anim\u00e9.\u201d\nThe music video for the song will come out alongside the album\u2019s release. \u201cThis album really is our most ambitious creative effort so far, so we want to get it out both locally and internationally,\u201d he said.\nIn keeping with the timeline, \u201cGoodbye Summer\u201d takes listeners to 4 a.m. in a brooding mood, supported by a full jazz band with horns. \u201cThe feeling of frustration is very authentic to the sound. We\u2019re excited to play this live because of how big the production is,\u201d Mr. Ligot explained.\nThe penultimate track, \u201c24/7 Love and Care,\u201d evokes the soft early morning before sunrise and serves as the breather of the album, while the final track, \u201cDi Makapaniwala,\u201d takes place in the movie\u2019s end credits with the characters driving off into the sunrise. \nMr. Mababangloob said that they wanted the album to showcase \u201cthe direct middle of all of our city pop influences.\u201d\n\u201cWe wanted to close in the morning after spending a crazy night. It\u2019s the resolute conclusion of love,\u201d he said. \nHe also noted that, while they\u2019re usually known as a city pop act, it only represents one part of the broad range of music that inspires them.\n\u201cWe\u2019re influenced by Japanese city pop like ANRI, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Taeko Onuki, but parallel to that are Manila Sound artists like Ryan Cayabyab, Basil Valdez, and Rico J. Puno,\u201d he explained. \u201cThere\u2019s always been a cross-cultural exchange in how music is made. We wanted to draw from that and contribute to that.\u201d\nThe band even got to work with Eiji Hirano, the music engineer for Japanese city pop band Ryusenkei, with Mr. Mababangloob flying out to Tokyo as the songs were being mastered.\n\u201cCity pop is seen as a nostalgic, gimmicky thing, but we don\u2019t think it\u2019s a set of clich\u00e9s. We don\u2019t subscribe to making it sound one way or another. Whether it\u2019s city pop or Manila Sound, in our eyes, it\u2019s all the same. It\u2019s a melting pot,\u201d he said, when asked how they view their mix of genres.\nHe quoted Ryusenkei frontman, Kunimondo Takiguchi, who once said that \u201ccity pop is an approach, combining pop, music, soul, and funk where the lines blur, because that\u2019s what living in a city is like.\u201d\n\u201cIt\u2019s inevitable that music will come out that way,\u201d Mr. Mababangloob.\nAFTER OURS will be out on all digital music streaming platforms worldwide on May 22 via Offshore Music, along with the official music video for the song \u201cTalaga\u201d featuring Paprikka. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-19T00:07:48+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-18T18:19:10+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ALYSON-1.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=749690", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/15/749690/jessica-sanchez-returns-home/", "title": "Jessica Sanchez returns home", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Jessica-Sanchez-concert.jpg\")
AFTER winning America\u2019s Got Talent season 20 last year, it\u2019s time for US-born Filipino-Mexican singer Jessica Sanchez to return home to the Philippines, where she seeks to give back to the Filipinos who supported her throughout her journey.
With a concert slated for May 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Ms. Sanchez is looking forward to revisiting key songs in her career and performing with a slew of major Filipino artists.
\nGuests to look out for are Vice Ganda, Morrissette, Darren Espanto, James Reid, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, and Regine Velasquez.
\n\u201cTo come back and do this kind of homecoming concert, this big solo concert with so many amazing artists, it\u2019s really special to me. It\u2019s going to be a very special night,\u201d said Ms. Sanchez during a press conference in Quezon City on May 11.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to give back to everybody that has supported me throughout the years. I feel just kind of on cloud nine,\u201d she added.
\nMs. Sanchez said that the setlist would highlight her journey \u2014 from being a runner-up in American Idol in 2012 to last year\u2019s big win in America\u2019s Got Talent. There will also be songs from her recently released album titled Season (stylized as SZN) and a performance of \u201cStronger Than Before,\u201d her new collaboration single with Morrissette.
\nBecause she is also a new mother, Ms. Sanchez said she\u2019s looking forward to introducing her child, Eliana, to the Philippine side of her heritage.
\nAccording to her, people can expect a shift in her music direction because of all the recent life changes. Her album, for example, navigates genres like soulful pop and R&B.
\n\u201cI feel like I really truly understand who I am, what I want. I\u2019m more confident as a woman, [after] becoming a new mom, and Eliana is just my biggest inspiration,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m very excited that I have released my new album and I really hope you guys enjoy it, but I\u2019m also excited to release so much more music. I\u2019m also working on releasing a Tagalog EP.\u201d
\nThough she couldn\u2019t spoil any more details about the EP, Ms. Sanchez told the press that it\u2019s easy to have love for the Filipino audience.
\n\u201cWhen people approach me and say I represent Pinoy pride, it really overwhelms me and shocks me because sometimes I feel like I\u2019m just a girl from Texas, now a mom,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat people haven\u2019t seen is the phone calls and behind-the-scenes over the years of people telling me I couldn\u2019t do things because I was Filipino-Mexican.\u201d
\nThese days, Filipino talent can fare better on the global stage, she explained, with \u201cmore chances in every area, like singing, dancing, acting, and sports.\u201d
\n\u201cIt makes me proud of my culture and my people,\u201d she said.
\nMs. Sanchez added that she has explored a lot of genres, ranging from country to pop to ballads.
\n\u201cNow, I\u2019m into the soulful R&B vibe, but please stay tuned for more because I love to experiment!\u201d she said.
\nJessica Sanchez Live in Manila is presented by Wilbros Live. Tickets are available via Ticketnet. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "Holding concert this weekend to thank her fans\nAFTER winning America\u2019s Got Talent season 20 last year, it\u2019s time for US-born Filipino-Mexican singer Jessica Sanchez to return home to the Philippines, where she seeks to give back to the Filipinos who supported her throughout her journey.\nWith a concert slated for May 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Ms. Sanchez is looking forward to revisiting key songs in her career and performing with a slew of major Filipino artists.\nGuests to look out for are Vice Ganda, Morrissette, Darren Espanto, James Reid, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, and Regine Velasquez.\n\u201cTo come back and do this kind of homecoming concert, this big solo concert with so many amazing artists, it\u2019s really special to me. It\u2019s going to be a very special night,\u201d said Ms. Sanchez during a press conference in Quezon City on May 11.\n\u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to give back to everybody that has supported me throughout the years. I feel just kind of on cloud nine,\u201d she added.\nMs. Sanchez said that the setlist would highlight her journey \u2014 from being a runner-up in American Idol in 2012 to last year\u2019s big win in America\u2019s Got Talent. There will also be songs from her recently released album titled Season (stylized as SZN) and a performance of \u201cStronger Than Before,\u201d her new collaboration single with Morrissette.\nBecause she is also a new mother, Ms. Sanchez said she\u2019s looking forward to introducing her child, Eliana, to the Philippine side of her heritage.\nAccording to her, people can expect a shift in her music direction because of all the recent life changes. Her album, for example, navigates genres like soulful pop and R&B.\n\u201cI feel like I really truly understand who I am, what I want. I\u2019m more confident as a woman, [after] becoming a new mom, and Eliana is just my biggest inspiration,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m very excited that I have released my new album and I really hope you guys enjoy it, but I\u2019m also excited to release so much more music. I\u2019m also working on releasing a Tagalog EP.\u201d\nThough she couldn\u2019t spoil any more details about the EP, Ms. Sanchez told the press that it\u2019s easy to have love for the Filipino audience.\n\u201cWhen people approach me and say I represent Pinoy pride, it really overwhelms me and shocks me because sometimes I feel like I\u2019m just a girl from Texas, now a mom,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat people haven\u2019t seen is the phone calls and behind-the-scenes over the years of people telling me I couldn\u2019t do things because I was Filipino-Mexican.\u201d\nThese days, Filipino talent can fare better on the global stage, she explained, with \u201cmore chances in every area, like singing, dancing, acting, and sports.\u201d\n\u201cIt makes me proud of my culture and my people,\u201d she said.\nMs. Sanchez added that she has explored a lot of genres, ranging from country to pop to ballads.\n\u201cNow, I\u2019m into the soulful R&B vibe, but please stay tuned for more because I love to experiment!\u201d she said.\nJessica Sanchez Live in Manila is presented by Wilbros Live. Tickets are available via Ticketnet. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-15T00:06:11+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-14T17:27:25+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Jessica-Sanchez-concert-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "AFTER winning America\u2019s Got Talent season 20 last year, it\u2019s time for US-born Filipino-Mexican singer Jessica Sanchez to return home to the Philippines, where she seeks to give back to the Filipinos who supported her throughout her journey." }, { "id": "/?p=749113", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/13/749113/self-reflexive-theater-ang-babae-sa-septic-tank-hits-the-stage/", "title": "Self-reflexive theater: Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank hits the stage", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nFIFTEEN YEARS after the film Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank took the indie film landscape by storm with its satire of the industry\u2019s fixation on poverty-centered cinema, a theatrical adaptation marks the razor-sharp franchise\u2019s fourth installation. Now in the form of a play, it is set to run at the PETA Theater Center from June 19 to Aug. 16.
\nThe 2011 film starred Eugene Domingo as a histrionic version of herself, an ambitious actress determined to win awards by playing a poor woman in an indie film. The 2016 sequel saw her take on mainstream romantic comedy drivel, then the third iteration in 2019 \u2014 a seven-episode digital series \u2014 illustrated the absurdity of historical revisionism.
\nLike the previous installations of this multi-platform franchise, the play will be a satire with a purpose, this time turning its focus to the Philippines\u2019 active theater scene.
\nTitled Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It\u2019s Live Sa Cheter!, it is helmed by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).
\n\u201cThis \u2018golden age\u2019 of theater is really quite interesting. From the pandemic, all of a sudden, it boomed. The ticket prices are so high, but people are buying,\u201d said director Maribel Legarda, at a press conference in Quezon City on May 4. \u201cWe\u2019re happy but it also has its own set of challenges and problems. Maybe it\u2019s also a cautionary tale \u2014 just because we\u2019re in a golden age doesn\u2019t mean everything\u2019s okay. We have to keep on reflecting and seeing ourselves in larger contexts so that we keep growing.\u201d
\nShe added that Septic Tank 4 will have an \u201cintergenerational quality\u201d appealing to theatergoers both young and old, seasoned and new. \u201cWe should be able to poke fun at ourselves, be self-reflexive, and laugh, especially because we have a lively scene,\u201d she said.
\nSupporting Ms. Legarda in the creative team are writer Chris Martinez, assistant director Johnnie Moran, set and costume designer Gino Gonzales, lighting designer Barbie Tan-Tiongco, choreographer Raflesia Bravo, and video designer Bene Manaois, with sound and music by Angel Dayao and lyrics by Michelle Ngu Nario.
\nReturning as herself is Eugene Domingo, a non-negotiable presence since she has been the anchor of the entire franchise.
\nThis time, she is accompanied by a lineup of theater practitioners playing both \u201carchetypes and hyper-real versions of themselves\u201d: Melvin Lee, Andoy Ranay, Meann Espinosa, JC Santos, Stella Ca\u00f1ete-Mendoza, Joshua Lim So, and Marlon Rivera.
\nEVOLUTION OF SATIRE
\nStructured as a \u201cplay within a play,\u201d Septic Tank 4 will explore \u201cthe process of theater-making \u2026 blurring the line between reality and performance.\u201d Audiences can expect an irreverent tone and a meta narrative filled with humor, spectacle, and social commentary, which are the bread and butter of PETA productions.
For Mr. Rivera, who directed the indie cult classic and its two sequels crossing film to digital, it was only right that he join the project as an actor this time, since he is not a theater director.
\n\u201cThis is supposed to be fun and a love letter to the Philippine theater. I know there\u2019s a lot of vitriol, but it\u2019s really a love letter to everyone,\u201d he said.
\nHe and writer Chris Martinez, who was the screenwriter for all the previous installments and is the playwright for this one, agreed that Septic Tank has always been about \u201csatirizing institutions.\u201d
\n\u201cIn spirit it has always been self-referential. It has always referred to what is happening at the moment so, for me, the most exciting part is that we know all these people,\u201d Mr. Rivera added. \u201cI have been off theater for the longest time, since the \u201990s. It\u2019s my first time back and I\u2019m just excited to be here, to perform and namedrop all our friends in theater.\u201d
\nAs for Ms. Domingo, as the star of the show, a major hurdle is that they will mount 50 shows in total over the play\u2019s run \u2014 and she and the other leads have no alternates.
\n\u201cWe need vitamins, supplements, prayers,\u201d she said, \u201cAnd we are studying each other\u2019s parts.\u201d
\nShe explained that while she is best known for her film work, she does theater every few years and makes sure each play is totally different \u2014 and this one is possibly the most challenging so far.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to show you what, how, to be a theater person. So, everybody\u2019s required to be a triple threat,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to sing, we\u2019re going to dance, we\u2019re going to act. We\u2019re fighting, we\u2019re making you laugh, we\u2019re making you cry, and most of all, you get out of the theater a little smarter, a little prouder, and a little more nationalistic.\u201d
\nSeptic Tank 4 will be both a celebration and a commentary. The excerpt shown to the press early in May offered theater insider jokes. There were jabs at jukebox musicals being mounted left, right, and center; at playwright Rody Vera not being available; at distinct schools of acting ranging from Dulaang UP to Repertory Philippines to PETA itself; and at new theater audience members watching shows just to look sophisticated.
\nTHE FUTURE OF THEATER
\nMr. Rivera pointed out that poking fun doesn\u2019t have to be malicious, as it can lead to more meaningful discussions.
\u201cAudience development is critical. The audiences now came from so many places, like Ang Huling El Bimbo and recently One More Chance the Musical with Ben&Ben,\u201d he said. \u201cIt brought in new audiences to the theater. The point is to grow as a community as much as we can.\u201d
\nThe process they underwent to choose which theater-makers would appear as themselves was rigorous, said playwright Mr. Martinez.
\nHe conducted in-depth interviews, asking questions like \u201cWhat does theater really mean for you? Why are you still in the theater when you already have all these options in front of you?\u201d
\nPETA artistic director J-Mee Katanyag added that doing it helped them \u201cask questions about where today\u2019s theater landscape will go.\u201d
\n\u201cBecause it\u2019s a contemporary or new work, it will be constantly updated throughout the run,\u201d she explained, on whether the material will shift depending on what\u2019s happening in the real world of theater. \u201cMore seasoning will be added, but of course we\u2019ll have to make sure each issue is put in responsibly.\u201d
\nFor Mr. Rivera, even the choice of Aurelio Tolentino\u2019s Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas as the \u201cplay within a play\u201d that the characters will mount is relevant.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s a very important choice done for this production because if you read it, it\u2019s a very seditious play. It should remind us that theater has always been at the forefront of protest,\u201d he said.
\nSeptic Tank 4 will not provide answers, said Ms. Katanyag, but it will hopefully give everyone ideas that may inform future actions regarding Philippine theater, \u201cwhether as actors, creators, reviewers, or audience.\u201d
\nAng Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It\u2019s Live Sa Cheter! is set to run from June 19 to Aug. 16 at the PETA Theater Center, Eyrnard Drive, in Quezon City. Tickets, ranging in price from P1,800 to P3,500, are now available via TicketWorld. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n THE CAST of Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nFIFTEEN YEARS after the film Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank took the indie film landscape by storm with its satire of the industry\u2019s fixation on poverty-centered cinema, a theatrical adaptation marks the razor-sharp franchise\u2019s fourth installation. Now in the form of a play, it is set to run at the PETA Theater Center from June 19 to Aug. 16.\nThe 2011 film starred Eugene Domingo as a histrionic version of herself, an ambitious actress determined to win awards by playing a poor woman in an indie film. The 2016 sequel saw her take on mainstream romantic comedy drivel, then the third iteration in 2019 \u2014 a seven-episode digital series \u2014 illustrated the absurdity of historical revisionism.\nLike the previous installations of this multi-platform franchise, the play will be a satire with a purpose, this time turning its focus to the Philippines\u2019 active theater scene. \nTitled Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It\u2019s Live Sa Cheter!, it is helmed by the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).\n\u201cThis \u2018golden age\u2019 of theater is really quite interesting. From the pandemic, all of a sudden, it boomed. The ticket prices are so high, but people are buying,\u201d said director Maribel Legarda, at a press conference in Quezon City on May 4. \u201cWe\u2019re happy but it also has its own set of challenges and problems. Maybe it\u2019s also a cautionary tale \u2014 just because we\u2019re in a golden age doesn\u2019t mean everything\u2019s okay. We have to keep on reflecting and seeing ourselves in larger contexts so that we keep growing.\u201d\nShe added that Septic Tank 4 will have an \u201cintergenerational quality\u201d appealing to theatergoers both young and old, seasoned and new. \u201cWe should be able to poke fun at ourselves, be self-reflexive, and laugh, especially because we have a lively scene,\u201d she said.\nSupporting Ms. Legarda in the creative team are writer Chris Martinez, assistant director Johnnie Moran, set and costume designer Gino Gonzales, lighting designer Barbie Tan-Tiongco, choreographer Raflesia Bravo, and video designer Bene Manaois, with sound and music by Angel Dayao and lyrics by Michelle Ngu Nario.\nReturning as herself is Eugene Domingo, a non-negotiable presence since she has been the anchor of the entire franchise.\nThis time, she is accompanied by a lineup of theater practitioners playing both \u201carchetypes and hyper-real versions of themselves\u201d: Melvin Lee, Andoy Ranay, Meann Espinosa, JC Santos, Stella Ca\u00f1ete-Mendoza, Joshua Lim So, and Marlon Rivera.\nEVOLUTION OF SATIRE\nStructured as a \u201cplay within a play,\u201d Septic Tank 4 will explore \u201cthe process of theater-making \u2026 blurring the line between reality and performance.\u201d Audiences can expect an irreverent tone and a meta narrative filled with humor, spectacle, and social commentary, which are the bread and butter of PETA productions.\nFor Mr. Rivera, who directed the indie cult classic and its two sequels crossing film to digital, it was only right that he join the project as an actor this time, since he is not a theater director.\n\u201cThis is supposed to be fun and a love letter to the Philippine theater. I know there\u2019s a lot of vitriol, but it\u2019s really a love letter to everyone,\u201d he said.\nHe and writer Chris Martinez, who was the screenwriter for all the previous installments and is the playwright for this one, agreed that Septic Tank has always been about \u201csatirizing institutions.\u201d\n\u201cIn spirit it has always been self-referential. It has always referred to what is happening at the moment so, for me, the most exciting part is that we know all these people,\u201d Mr. Rivera added. \u201cI have been off theater for the longest time, since the \u201990s. It\u2019s my first time back and I\u2019m just excited to be here, to perform and namedrop all our friends in theater.\u201d\nAs for Ms. Domingo, as the star of the show, a major hurdle is that they will mount 50 shows in total over the play\u2019s run \u2014 and she and the other leads have no alternates.\n\u201cWe need vitamins, supplements, prayers,\u201d she said, \u201cAnd we are studying each other\u2019s parts.\u201d\nShe explained that while she is best known for her film work, she does theater every few years and makes sure each play is totally different \u2014 and this one is possibly the most challenging so far.\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to show you what, how, to be a theater person. So, everybody\u2019s required to be a triple threat,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to sing, we\u2019re going to dance, we\u2019re going to act. We\u2019re fighting, we\u2019re making you laugh, we\u2019re making you cry, and most of all, you get out of the theater a little smarter, a little prouder, and a little more nationalistic.\u201d\nSeptic Tank 4 will be both a celebration and a commentary. The excerpt shown to the press early in May offered theater insider jokes. There were jabs at jukebox musicals being mounted left, right, and center; at playwright Rody Vera not being available; at distinct schools of acting ranging from Dulaang UP to Repertory Philippines to PETA itself; and at new theater audience members watching shows just to look sophisticated.\nTHE FUTURE OF THEATER\nMr. Rivera pointed out that poking fun doesn\u2019t have to be malicious, as it can lead to more meaningful discussions.\n\u201cAudience development is critical. The audiences now came from so many places, like Ang Huling El Bimbo and recently One More Chance the Musical with Ben&Ben,\u201d he said. \u201cIt brought in new audiences to the theater. The point is to grow as a community as much as we can.\u201d\nThe process they underwent to choose which theater-makers would appear as themselves was rigorous, said playwright Mr. Martinez.\nHe conducted in-depth interviews, asking questions like \u201cWhat does theater really mean for you? Why are you still in the theater when you already have all these options in front of you?\u201d\nPETA artistic director J-Mee Katanyag added that doing it helped them \u201cask questions about where today\u2019s theater landscape will go.\u201d\n\u201cBecause it\u2019s a contemporary or new work, it will be constantly updated throughout the run,\u201d she explained, on whether the material will shift depending on what\u2019s happening in the real world of theater. \u201cMore seasoning will be added, but of course we\u2019ll have to make sure each issue is put in responsibly.\u201d\nFor Mr. Rivera, even the choice of Aurelio Tolentino\u2019s Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas as the \u201cplay within a play\u201d that the characters will mount is relevant.\n\u201cThat\u2019s a very important choice done for this production because if you read it, it\u2019s a very seditious play. It should remind us that theater has always been at the forefront of protest,\u201d he said.\nSeptic Tank 4 will not provide answers, said Ms. Katanyag, but it will hopefully give everyone ideas that may inform future actions regarding Philippine theater, \u201cwhether as actors, creators, reviewers, or audience.\u201d\nAng Babae Sa Septic Tank 4: Oh Sh*t! It\u2019s Live Sa Cheter! is set to run from June 19 to Aug. 16 at the PETA Theater Center, Eyrnard Drive, in Quezon City. Tickets, ranging in price from P1,800 to P3,500, are now available via TicketWorld. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-13T00:10:21+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-12T19:21:00+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Septic-Tank-4-Cast-1.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=749112", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/13/749112/a-jcs-newbies-first-view-of-the-superstar/", "title": "A JCS newbie\u2019s first view of the Superstar", "content_html": "By Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana, Reporter
\nTheater Review
\nJesus Christ Superstar
\nPerformances run until May 31
\nThe Theatre at Solaire in Para\u00f1aque City
![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/jcs-poster.jpg\")
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR explores the events in the final week leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot.
Told entirely through song, it\u2019s the personal relationships and struggles among Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, Jesus\u2019 disciples, his followers, and the Roman Empire that make this musical particularly interesting.
\nDisclosure: I approach this review as a JCS newbie, never having seen it in full before.
\nLike this international touring production\u2019s resident director Richard Pitt said (See the sidebar. – Ed.), the unique combination of talents for this Manila stop resulted in a completely different flavor of the show. This one was mostly clean and sharp, with key moments of impact, though ultimately it played things safe.
\nThe vocals were great, electrifying in parts and accompanied by a solid live band, led by musical director Harry Haden Brown. Meanwhile, the ensemble choreography let the material live and breathe in its own world filled with both worship and unrest.
\nThe costuming was interesting, with everyone in modern active wear save for the eye-catching Sanhedrin, dressed in their sweeping robes and holding imposing staffs, which also doubled as microphones. Another awesome detail is in the staging, with a cross-shaped runway which the actors walked on, and used again later as the Last Supper table in a picture-perfect moment.
\nAmong the cast, understudy Joshua Bess (subbing for Luke Street who had not arrived in Manila yet) and Javon King\u2019s rapport as Jesus and Judas was electric. At times it may have seemed like King edged out in terms of vocals and depth of emotion, as he bared his soul and stained his hands with silver, but Bess\u2019 rocker wailing came through at the height of certain showstoppers, namely \u201cGethsemane.\u201d
\nThe angelic voice of Gab Pangilinan, who plays Mary Magdalene in the Manila leg of the tour, made \u201cEverything\u2019s Alright\u201d quite memorable and tinged her rendition of \u201cI Don\u2019t Know How to Love Him\u201d with bittersweet emotion. Her addition was a source of vocal stability in a rock opera filled with such contrasting voices.
\nThe most striking contrast would be within the Sanhedrin troupe, with Grant Hodges\u2019 Caiaphas in a bass baritone and Kodiak Thompson\u2019s Annas in a countertenor. Every scene with them in it held people\u2019s attention.
\nTwo powerful scenes that left an impact were the scourging of Jesus, with Hardy Benson\u2019s Pilate counting down the lashes laid on Jesus\u2019 back in an explosive buildup of energy; and Erich Schleck\u2019s campy song and dance number as the drag queen-ified King Herod strutting in high heels around a beaten Jesus.
\nThe final number, the titular \u201cJesus Christ Superstar,\u201d ends in a triumphant, tragic, and thought-provoking note, all rolled in one, and it\u2019s a good introduction for those who aren\u2019t huge fans of the show and only know some of the songs.
\nChalk it up to personal preference, but some people may be underwhelmed, especially those who prefer their rock musicals rawer and grittier than the clean look, sound, and feel of this production. But this iteration of Jesus Christ Superstar deserves a warm welcome, with a strong cast and crew that have imbued the material with their own identity.
\n", "content_text": "By Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana, Reporter\nTheater Review\nJesus Christ Superstar\nPerformances run until May 31\nThe Theatre at Solaire in Para\u00f1aque City\nJESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR explores the events in the final week leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot.\nTold entirely through song, it\u2019s the personal relationships and struggles among Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, Jesus\u2019 disciples, his followers, and the Roman Empire that make this musical particularly interesting.\nDisclosure: I approach this review as a JCS newbie, never having seen it in full before.\nLike this international touring production\u2019s resident director Richard Pitt said (See the sidebar. – Ed.), the unique combination of talents for this Manila stop resulted in a completely different flavor of the show. This one was mostly clean and sharp, with key moments of impact, though ultimately it played things safe. \nThe vocals were great, electrifying in parts and accompanied by a solid live band, led by musical director Harry Haden Brown. Meanwhile, the ensemble choreography let the material live and breathe in its own world filled with both worship and unrest.\nThe costuming was interesting, with everyone in modern active wear save for the eye-catching Sanhedrin, dressed in their sweeping robes and holding imposing staffs, which also doubled as microphones. Another awesome detail is in the staging, with a cross-shaped runway which the actors walked on, and used again later as the Last Supper table in a picture-perfect moment.\nAmong the cast, understudy Joshua Bess (subbing for Luke Street who had not arrived in Manila yet) and Javon King\u2019s rapport as Jesus and Judas was electric. At times it may have seemed like King edged out in terms of vocals and depth of emotion, as he bared his soul and stained his hands with silver, but Bess\u2019 rocker wailing came through at the height of certain showstoppers, namely \u201cGethsemane.\u201d\nThe angelic voice of Gab Pangilinan, who plays Mary Magdalene in the Manila leg of the tour, made \u201cEverything\u2019s Alright\u201d quite memorable and tinged her rendition of \u201cI Don\u2019t Know How to Love Him\u201d with bittersweet emotion. Her addition was a source of vocal stability in a rock opera filled with such contrasting voices.\nThe most striking contrast would be within the Sanhedrin troupe, with Grant Hodges\u2019 Caiaphas in a bass baritone and Kodiak Thompson\u2019s Annas in a countertenor. Every scene with them in it held people\u2019s attention.\nTwo powerful scenes that left an impact were the scourging of Jesus, with Hardy Benson\u2019s Pilate counting down the lashes laid on Jesus\u2019 back in an explosive buildup of energy; and Erich Schleck\u2019s campy song and dance number as the drag queen-ified King Herod strutting in high heels around a beaten Jesus.\nThe final number, the titular \u201cJesus Christ Superstar,\u201d ends in a triumphant, tragic, and thought-provoking note, all rolled in one, and it\u2019s a good introduction for those who aren\u2019t huge fans of the show and only know some of the songs.\nChalk it up to personal preference, but some people may be underwhelmed, especially those who prefer their rock musicals rawer and grittier than the clean look, sound, and feel of this production. But this iteration of Jesus Christ Superstar deserves a warm welcome, with a strong cast and crew that have imbued the material with their own identity.", "date_published": "2026-05-13T00:09:21+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-12T19:20:06+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/jcs-poster-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR explores the events in the final week leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot." }, { "id": "/?p=749111", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/13/749111/whats-the-buzz-tell-me-whats-a-happening/", "title": "What\u2019s the buzz, tell me what\u2019s a-happening", "content_html": "IT WAS the first time in a long time that Gab Pangilinan got to enter a rehearsal room knowing absolutely no one inside, which set up the Manila leg of Jesus Christ Superstar\u2019s world tour as her reintroduction to her love for theater.
\n\u201cThe Philippine theater industry is small and we know everyone. Every single time I enter a room, there\u2019s someone to latch on to, so this was very different. It took a lot of mental preparation,\u201d Ms. Pangilinan told the media during a press conference preceding the Manila premiere of Jesus Christ Superstar in the Theatre at Solaire in Para\u00f1aque City on May 5.
\n\u201cYou have to be open and vulnerable, and it\u2019s been great and wonderful,\u201d she said. \u201cThis production is reintroducing me to my love for theater. Every time we step on stage, it feels like home even though I just met these people.\u201d
\nAndrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice\u2019s Jesus Christ Superstar is a worldwide phenomenon, first staged on Broadway in 1971. This time, as an international production, its cast features actors from the US, the UK, and Australia. Just for the Manila stop, there\u2019s Ms. Pangilinan taking on the role of Mary Magdalene.
\nFor a nation whose traditions include dramatizations of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the rock opera is a familiar one. What makes it unique in comparison, aside from the obvious musical, cultural, and aesthetic upgrades from the typical Passion play, are the humanized characters.
\n\u201cI try to remove the pressure of having to fill in the shoes of an iconic role,\u201d Ms. Pangilinan said. \u201cWe approach any role as the truth of that character, so it\u2019s about what she stands for, what she believes in, which is Jesus.\u201d
\nThe principal cast members come from previous tours of the production: Luke Street (Jesus), Javon King (Judas), Ethan Hardy Benson (Pilate), Grant Hodges (Caiaphas), Kodiak Thompson (Annas), and Erich Schleck (King Herod).
\nBecause Mr. Street is not yet in Manila, his understudy Joshua Bess filled in for the time being. Not a stranger to the role, he explained that the key to playing it is to not think about the history.
\n\u201cI try not to think of him as the religious figure, but as the man. It keeps me grounded,\u201d he said.
\nFor Mr. King, who steps into the role of Judas, the goal is to humanize the characters so that audiences \u201clet go of all their preconceived notions.\u201d
\n\u201c[Judas] is misunderstood. The thing I always try to do with him is to lead with love because, if I don\u2019t do that, it\u2019s easy for the audience not to like him,\u201d he said. \u201cI want them to think a little bit harder about him.\u201d
\nRichard Pitt, resident director for this production, added that \u201ceach individual brings their personality,\u201d which in turn gives the overall show its own personality as well compared to previous iterations.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got people from different countries, so we have different cultures coming in. But when you watch, you won\u2019t recognize who\u2019s from where. They\u2019re all just people,\u201d he said. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "IT WAS the first time in a long time that Gab Pangilinan got to enter a rehearsal room knowing absolutely no one inside, which set up the Manila leg of Jesus Christ Superstar\u2019s world tour as her reintroduction to her love for theater.\n\u201cThe Philippine theater industry is small and we know everyone. Every single time I enter a room, there\u2019s someone to latch on to, so this was very different. It took a lot of mental preparation,\u201d Ms. Pangilinan told the media during a press conference preceding the Manila premiere of Jesus Christ Superstar in the Theatre at Solaire in Para\u00f1aque City on May 5.\n\u201cYou have to be open and vulnerable, and it\u2019s been great and wonderful,\u201d she said. \u201cThis production is reintroducing me to my love for theater. Every time we step on stage, it feels like home even though I just met these people.\u201d\nAndrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice\u2019s Jesus Christ Superstar is a worldwide phenomenon, first staged on Broadway in 1971. This time, as an international production, its cast features actors from the US, the UK, and Australia. Just for the Manila stop, there\u2019s Ms. Pangilinan taking on the role of Mary Magdalene.\nFor a nation whose traditions include dramatizations of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the rock opera is a familiar one. What makes it unique in comparison, aside from the obvious musical, cultural, and aesthetic upgrades from the typical Passion play, are the humanized characters.\n\u201cI try to remove the pressure of having to fill in the shoes of an iconic role,\u201d Ms. Pangilinan said. \u201cWe approach any role as the truth of that character, so it\u2019s about what she stands for, what she believes in, which is Jesus.\u201d\nThe principal cast members come from previous tours of the production: Luke Street (Jesus), Javon King (Judas), Ethan Hardy Benson (Pilate), Grant Hodges (Caiaphas), Kodiak Thompson (Annas), and Erich Schleck (King Herod).\nBecause Mr. Street is not yet in Manila, his understudy Joshua Bess filled in for the time being. Not a stranger to the role, he explained that the key to playing it is to not think about the history.\n\u201cI try not to think of him as the religious figure, but as the man. It keeps me grounded,\u201d he said.\nFor Mr. King, who steps into the role of Judas, the goal is to humanize the characters so that audiences \u201clet go of all their preconceived notions.\u201d\n\u201c[Judas] is misunderstood. The thing I always try to do with him is to lead with love because, if I don\u2019t do that, it\u2019s easy for the audience not to like him,\u201d he said. \u201cI want them to think a little bit harder about him.\u201d\nRichard Pitt, resident director for this production, added that \u201ceach individual brings their personality,\u201d which in turn gives the overall show its own personality as well compared to previous iterations.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got people from different countries, so we have different cultures coming in. But when you watch, you won\u2019t recognize who\u2019s from where. They\u2019re all just people,\u201d he said. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-13T00:08:20+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-12T19:19:36+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/jcs-cast-press-con.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=748776", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/12/748776/the-return-of-white-party-manila/", "title": "The return of White Party Manila", "content_html": "AMID RISING cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Philippines, film and events production company Mentorque Productions is bringing back the White Party Manila, an iconic Pride Month celebration that went into hibernation in 2014.
\nBack in 2001, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community came together and held the first edition of White Party Manila, which was meant to promote local businesses in Manila\u2019s district of Malate, fight for their advocacies, and educate people about gender equality. Over time, it became the largest annual gathering of LGBT+ Filipinos in Metro Manila.
\nHeld every June in time for Pride Month at the corner of Julio Nakpil and Maria Orosa Streets, it used to have dance floors, DJ sets, and live performances. Later iterations had it in clubs in Ortigas, until complications in organizing brought the event to a halt.
\nWith the theme \u201cReignite,\u201d White Party Manila will return in 2026, to take place on June 27 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
\nAt the media launch on May 9, Mentorque Productions and HIV advocacy group LoveYourself, Inc., revealed that the return of the iconic gathering will be \u201cgrounded in a deeper commitment to community care, health, wellness, and empowerment.\u201d
\nLoveYourself provides HIV testing and treatment services to Filipinos nationwide.
\n\u201cNone of our programs would be possible without those who share about us and use platforms to reach a bigger audience,\u201d said Dr. Ronivin G. Pagtakhan, LoveYourself founder, at the media launch.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s always an increase of HIV cases every year, every day, which is sad. When the cases of HIV are high, it\u2019s scary because it\u2019s an epidemic in the country and our surveillance here is passive,\u201d he explained. \u201cBut those who get tested get to be part of the statistic. Since it\u2019s rising, that means more and more people are actually getting tested and gaining access to life-saving programs.\u201d
\nIn addition to HIV treatments like pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis, LoveYourself has also been providing free treatments for tuberculosis. They also offer counseling for LGBT+ Filipinos facing mental health challenges, including transgender people who require transitioning counselling.
\nCHANGING COMMUNITY
\nMentorque Productions unveiled a lineup of White Party Manila ambassadors, each with their own spheres of influence in the local LGBT+ community, led by actress-comedienne Vice Ganda.
The ambassadors include vlogger Mimiyuuuh, celebrity couple Joey and Angie Mead King, actress-host Jervi Wrightson, actor John \u201cSweet\u201d Lapus, singer-songwriter Ice Seguerra, director and theater actor Andoy Ranay, actor Alex Diaz, and actresses Janella Salvador and Klea Pineda.
\nThere will also be a fashion collection by designer Bang Pineda, to complement the White Party Manila\u2019s aesthetic.
\nJohn Bryan Diamante, founder and chief executive officer of Mentorque Productions, told 大象传媒 that the party brings together \u201cworld-class production and inclusive programming at a time when community gatherings are needed the most.\u201d
\n\u201cTwelve years ago, the community was really strong. We all knew each other better,\u201d he said, on the sidelines of the media launch. \u201cI think in this chaotic social media landscape, this event harkens back to that. The Gen Zs especially can have real connections and meet people in their community.\u201d
\nBecause White Party Manila started out as a safe space, its role in today\u2019s fractured world is to be \u201ca vehicle for this sense of belonging.\u201d
\nTo reach the Gen Z crowd, performers that will grace the White Party stage include pop band Ben&Ben, singer-songwriter Maki, rapper Gloc-9, and drag performer Marina Summers. The organizers assured that many drag queens will be making an appearance, with Miss Jade So offering a taste of her magic at the media launch.
\n\u201cThe culture of rave parties, we\u2019ll bring that in as well. Overall, it will present a mixture of Pinoy pop culture,\u201d Mr. Diamante said.
\nHe added that they are hoping to have 15,000 to 20,000 attendees at the World Trade Center. In its peak years, the event always drew over 10,000.
\nFor Mr. Pagtakhan, guiding the younger generation in terms of both sexual identity and sexual health is the way to strengthen the LGBT+ community in the Philippines.
\nMr. Diamante said that the reason the White Party is white is because it\u2019s a coming together of all the colors of the rainbow, with no bias for anyone.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s to show that we\u2019re together, that we\u2019re united,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd when they see all the icons that will be there, it will show that the LGBTQIA+ community are also movers and shakers of this country.\u201d
\nThe full lineup of performers will be revealed soon. Tickets \u2014 priced at P1,500 for general admission, P2,000 for walk-ins, and P7,000 for VIP access \u2014 are available via Ticket2Me. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "AMID RISING cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Philippines, film and events production company Mentorque Productions is bringing back the White Party Manila, an iconic Pride Month celebration that went into hibernation in 2014.\nBack in 2001, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community came together and held the first edition of White Party Manila, which was meant to promote local businesses in Manila\u2019s district of Malate, fight for their advocacies, and educate people about gender equality. Over time, it became the largest annual gathering of LGBT+ Filipinos in Metro Manila.\nHeld every June in time for Pride Month at the corner of Julio Nakpil and Maria Orosa Streets, it used to have dance floors, DJ sets, and live performances. Later iterations had it in clubs in Ortigas, until complications in organizing brought the event to a halt.\nWith the theme \u201cReignite,\u201d White Party Manila will return in 2026, to take place on June 27 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.\nAt the media launch on May 9, Mentorque Productions and HIV advocacy group LoveYourself, Inc., revealed that the return of the iconic gathering will be \u201cgrounded in a deeper commitment to community care, health, wellness, and empowerment.\u201d\nLoveYourself provides HIV testing and treatment services to Filipinos nationwide.\n\u201cNone of our programs would be possible without those who share about us and use platforms to reach a bigger audience,\u201d said Dr. Ronivin G. Pagtakhan, LoveYourself founder, at the media launch.\n\u201cThere\u2019s always an increase of HIV cases every year, every day, which is sad. When the cases of HIV are high, it\u2019s scary because it\u2019s an epidemic in the country and our surveillance here is passive,\u201d he explained. \u201cBut those who get tested get to be part of the statistic. Since it\u2019s rising, that means more and more people are actually getting tested and gaining access to life-saving programs.\u201d\nIn addition to HIV treatments like pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis, LoveYourself has also been providing free treatments for tuberculosis. They also offer counseling for LGBT+ Filipinos facing mental health challenges, including transgender people who require transitioning counselling.\nCHANGING COMMUNITY\nMentorque Productions unveiled a lineup of White Party Manila ambassadors, each with their own spheres of influence in the local LGBT+ community, led by actress-comedienne Vice Ganda.\nThe ambassadors include vlogger Mimiyuuuh, celebrity couple Joey and Angie Mead King, actress-host Jervi Wrightson, actor John \u201cSweet\u201d Lapus, singer-songwriter Ice Seguerra, director and theater actor Andoy Ranay, actor Alex Diaz, and actresses Janella Salvador and Klea Pineda.\nThere will also be a fashion collection by designer Bang Pineda, to complement the White Party Manila\u2019s aesthetic.\nJohn Bryan Diamante, founder and chief executive officer of Mentorque Productions, told 大象传媒 that the party brings together \u201cworld-class production and inclusive programming at a time when community gatherings are needed the most.\u201d\n\u201cTwelve years ago, the community was really strong. We all knew each other better,\u201d he said, on the sidelines of the media launch. \u201cI think in this chaotic social media landscape, this event harkens back to that. The Gen Zs especially can have real connections and meet people in their community.\u201d\nBecause White Party Manila started out as a safe space, its role in today\u2019s fractured world is to be \u201ca vehicle for this sense of belonging.\u201d\nTo reach the Gen Z crowd, performers that will grace the White Party stage include pop band Ben&Ben, singer-songwriter Maki, rapper Gloc-9, and drag performer Marina Summers. The organizers assured that many drag queens will be making an appearance, with Miss Jade So offering a taste of her magic at the media launch.\n\u201cThe culture of rave parties, we\u2019ll bring that in as well. Overall, it will present a mixture of Pinoy pop culture,\u201d Mr. Diamante said.\nHe added that they are hoping to have 15,000 to 20,000 attendees at the World Trade Center. In its peak years, the event always drew over 10,000.\nFor Mr. Pagtakhan, guiding the younger generation in terms of both sexual identity and sexual health is the way to strengthen the LGBT+ community in the Philippines.\nMr. Diamante said that the reason the White Party is white is because it\u2019s a coming together of all the colors of the rainbow, with no bias for anyone.\n\u201cIt\u2019s to show that we\u2019re together, that we\u2019re united,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd when they see all the icons that will be there, it will show that the LGBTQIA+ community are also movers and shakers of this country.\u201d\nThe full lineup of performers will be revealed soon. Tickets \u2014 priced at P1,500 for general admission, P2,000 for walk-ins, and P7,000 for VIP access \u2014 are available via Ticket2Me. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-12T00:05:47+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-11T17:53:09+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/white-party-manila-reignite-1.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=748166", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/08/748166/mass-based-organization-builds-slate-of-films/", "title": "Mass-based organization builds slate of films", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/i-remember-you.jpg\")
BENTE PRODUCTIONS, a film production outfit that is part of a group of companies that provides services to the poor, is set to finish its second film this year.
Bente Productions is the multimedia arm of CARD MRI (CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions), a group of initiatives directed at providing key services to the poor, including those in remote areas. Founded by Jaime Aristotle Alip in 1986, its network of companies spans banking, finance, insurance, information technology, education, and culture.
\n\u201cAll of the products and services of the different companies work toward the universal goal of the CARD MRI group, which is poverty eradication in the Philippines. Our entire network addresses the different facets of poverty,\u201d said Marilyn Manila, president of Bente Productions, in an exclusive Zoom interview with 大象传媒.
\n\u201cWe are documenting everything, telling the world about organizations like us and opportunities which Filipinos can use to elevate their lives. We are capturing that in films, YouTube videos, and online content like talent shows and talk shows, where we try to package the message of hope in a popular platform,\u201d she explained.
\nROMANCE IN BORACAY
\nBente Productions\u2019 first film was the romantic drama I Remember You, starring JC Santos and Valeen Montenegro. Released in 2025 and directed by Boboy Yonzon, it follows a bank manager sent to Boracay to help a struggling community and eventually finding love as well.
The production company was formally founded in 2024, but CARD MRI had been producing films and videos even before that, Ms. Manila said.
\n\u201cOur full-length films were preceded by our localized film festival for our clients and staff, which is now on our fifth year, called SineMaya,\u201d she said. By investing in groups of employees, clients, students, and others in order to make short films, SineMaya empowers grassroots filmmakers to highlight social development and community stories.
\n\u201cAfter two years, naisip namin na ang mga festival films, sa YouTube lang mapapanood (we realized that the festival films can only be seen on YouTube),\u201d she said. \u201cKapag full-length films, mas makikita na sa sinehan. Maraming maaabot na tao (Whereas full-length films can be seen more in the cinema. They will reach a lot of people).\u201d
\nBente Productions\u2019 current film project is Kusinerang Bulag (The Blind Chef), which recently wrapped up filming in Iloilo. The drama, starring Arra San Agustin and Jean Garcia, aims to showcase culinary heritage with a story about a chef who goes blind but continues to run her family\u2019s restaurant.
\nThe production outfit is also already developing the concept of its third film project, titled Sulat Para Kay Tatay (Letters for My Father), set to reflect the realities of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) with an emotional father-daughter story.
\nGRASSROOTS APPROACH
\nMs. Manila explained that Bente Productions is uniquely placed in the creative economy because of its ties to the CARD MRI network.
\u201cNation building and poverty eradication are our foremost goals, so we ensure that our films are very inclusive of the communities we work in. We hire a lot of non-actors that we train for key supporting roles, alongside the commissioned known actors,\u201d she said. \u201cWe hold auditions for clients, invest in them, build their capacity to act in front of the camera, and pay them talent fees.\u201d
\nThis decision to work with people in the communities they are depicting and filming in extends to everyone in the crew, all the way to the suppliers, caterers, and transport providers. The first film involved people in Boracay and Panay Island, while the second film involved people in Iloilo and Batanes, where they also shot some scenes.
\nAs for the creatives involved, Bente Productions only has a few in key positions, with major roles like directors, screenwriters, and cinematographers outsourced. The concepts are developed from pitches by CARD MRI staff and clients, who eventually shadow the professionals to learn the ropes of filmmaking themselves.
\nSulat Para Kay Tatay, for example, was submitted by a budding writer, Eduardo Pacquiao, and selected through CARD MRI\u2019s scriptwriting competition held last year. Because the group has 10 million clients all over the Philippines and a massive network on the ground, Bente Productions will continue employing a mass-based approach, said Ms. Manila.
\nWIDENING THEIR REACH
\nShe told 大象传媒 that they are constantly studying their impact on the creative economy. For example, they learned that their first film was seen more in the provinces rather than the cities.
\u201cWe\u2019re mass-based, so we have a strong presence on the ground. The campaign should also be like that, because that\u2019s the structure of CARD MRI. Social media and mainstream media are still there, but we\u2019ve proved that we work better by using our grassroots network,\u201d she said.
\nWith the third film, Bente Productions hopes to break into the film festival circuit, which would widen their reach \u2014 though they will still maintain their grassroots campaigns.
\n\u201cAfter the theatrical release of I Remember You, marami kaming clients sa mga lugar na walang sinehan (we had a lot of clients in places without cinemas) like Masbate or Marinduque or Lanao del Sur, who said they also wanted to watch [the film],\u201d Ms. Manila said. \u201cWhat we did is we screened the film in venues like basketball courts. We will continue that approach.\u201d
\nBecause the third film\u2019s subject matter will be the reality of OFWs, they also aim to tap the Filipino diaspora as a market for the film. Meanwhile, their long-term goal is to build a reputation as a film production company.
\n\u201cGusto namin gumawa ng mga pelikula na may saysay sa lipunang Pilipino, na entertaining and at the same time malalim ang mensahe (We want to make films that are relevant to Philippine society, that are both entertaining and with a deep message).\u201d \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "CARD MRI\u2019s production house aims for wider audience with films that are both entertaining and have deep messages\nBENTE PRODUCTIONS, a film production outfit that is part of a group of companies that provides services to the poor, is set to finish its second film this year.\nBente Productions is the multimedia arm of CARD MRI (CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions), a group of initiatives directed at providing key services to the poor, including those in remote areas. Founded by Jaime Aristotle Alip in 1986, its network of companies spans banking, finance, insurance, information technology, education, and culture.\n\u201cAll of the products and services of the different companies work toward the universal goal of the CARD MRI group, which is poverty eradication in the Philippines. Our entire network addresses the different facets of poverty,\u201d said Marilyn Manila, president of Bente Productions, in an exclusive Zoom interview with 大象传媒.\n\u201cWe are documenting everything, telling the world about organizations like us and opportunities which Filipinos can use to elevate their lives. We are capturing that in films, YouTube videos, and online content like talent shows and talk shows, where we try to package the message of hope in a popular platform,\u201d she explained.\nROMANCE IN BORACAY\nBente Productions\u2019 first film was the romantic drama I Remember You, starring JC Santos and Valeen Montenegro. Released in 2025 and directed by Boboy Yonzon, it follows a bank manager sent to Boracay to help a struggling community and eventually finding love as well.\nThe production company was formally founded in 2024, but CARD MRI had been producing films and videos even before that, Ms. Manila said.\n\u201cOur full-length films were preceded by our localized film festival for our clients and staff, which is now on our fifth year, called SineMaya,\u201d she said. By investing in groups of employees, clients, students, and others in order to make short films, SineMaya empowers grassroots filmmakers to highlight social development and community stories.\n\u201cAfter two years, naisip namin na ang mga festival films, sa YouTube lang mapapanood (we realized that the festival films can only be seen on YouTube),\u201d she said. \u201cKapag full-length films, mas makikita na sa sinehan. Maraming maaabot na tao (Whereas full-length films can be seen more in the cinema. They will reach a lot of people).\u201d\nBente Productions\u2019 current film project is Kusinerang Bulag (The Blind Chef), which recently wrapped up filming in Iloilo. The drama, starring Arra San Agustin and Jean Garcia, aims to showcase culinary heritage with a story about a chef who goes blind but continues to run her family\u2019s restaurant.\nThe production outfit is also already developing the concept of its third film project, titled Sulat Para Kay Tatay (Letters for My Father), set to reflect the realities of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) with an emotional father-daughter story.\nGRASSROOTS APPROACH\nMs. Manila explained that Bente Productions is uniquely placed in the creative economy because of its ties to the CARD MRI network.\n\u201cNation building and poverty eradication are our foremost goals, so we ensure that our films are very inclusive of the communities we work in. We hire a lot of non-actors that we train for key supporting roles, alongside the commissioned known actors,\u201d she said. \u201cWe hold auditions for clients, invest in them, build their capacity to act in front of the camera, and pay them talent fees.\u201d\nThis decision to work with people in the communities they are depicting and filming in extends to everyone in the crew, all the way to the suppliers, caterers, and transport providers. The first film involved people in Boracay and Panay Island, while the second film involved people in Iloilo and Batanes, where they also shot some scenes.\nAs for the creatives involved, Bente Productions only has a few in key positions, with major roles like directors, screenwriters, and cinematographers outsourced. The concepts are developed from pitches by CARD MRI staff and clients, who eventually shadow the professionals to learn the ropes of filmmaking themselves.\nSulat Para Kay Tatay, for example, was submitted by a budding writer, Eduardo Pacquiao, and selected through CARD MRI\u2019s scriptwriting competition held last year. Because the group has 10 million clients all over the Philippines and a massive network on the ground, Bente Productions will continue employing a mass-based approach, said Ms. Manila.\nWIDENING THEIR REACH\nShe told 大象传媒 that they are constantly studying their impact on the creative economy. For example, they learned that their first film was seen more in the provinces rather than the cities.\n\u201cWe\u2019re mass-based, so we have a strong presence on the ground. The campaign should also be like that, because that\u2019s the structure of CARD MRI. Social media and mainstream media are still there, but we\u2019ve proved that we work better by using our grassroots network,\u201d she said.\nWith the third film, Bente Productions hopes to break into the film festival circuit, which would widen their reach \u2014 though they will still maintain their grassroots campaigns. \n\u201cAfter the theatrical release of I Remember You, marami kaming clients sa mga lugar na walang sinehan (we had a lot of clients in places without cinemas) like Masbate or Marinduque or Lanao del Sur, who said they also wanted to watch [the film],\u201d Ms. Manila said. \u201cWhat we did is we screened the film in venues like basketball courts. We will continue that approach.\u201d\nBecause the third film\u2019s subject matter will be the reality of OFWs, they also aim to tap the Filipino diaspora as a market for the film. Meanwhile, their long-term goal is to build a reputation as a film production company.\n\u201cGusto namin gumawa ng mga pelikula na may saysay sa lipunang Pilipino, na entertaining and at the same time malalim ang mensahe (We want to make films that are relevant to Philippine society, that are both entertaining and with a deep message).\u201d \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-08T00:07:41+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-07T18:07:01+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/i-remember-you-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "BENTE PRODUCTIONS, a film production outfit that is part of a group of companies that provides services to the poor, is set to finish its second film this year." }, { "id": "/?p=747535", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/06/747535/understanding-artistic-excellence-through-maria-callas/", "title": "Understanding artistic excellence through Maria Callas", "content_html": "FOR THOSE who want to explore what it means to be great and to make sacrifices for art \u2014 and for opera fans who admire legendary opera diva Maria Callas \u2014 the Philippine Opera Company\u2019s (POC) upcoming production, Master Class, is a must-watch.
\nIt presents a fictionalized account of masterclasses led by the real-life opera singer \u2014 played by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo \u2014 in the 1970s.
\nPerformances will be held at RCBC Plaza\u2019s Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium from May 15 to 30.
\nWritten by playwright Terrence McNally, Master Class was originally performed at New York City\u2019s John Golden Theater in 1995, directed by Leonard Foglia and starring Zoe Caldwell as Maria Callas. It went on to win multiple awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play.
\nThe 2026 staging by POC, directed by Jaime del Mundo, comes at a time when art is devalued and overlooked in favor of digital-era trends and virality, and ultimately sanitized for political correctness.
\nTHE VALUE OF ART
\nMr. Del Mundo told the media at an April 21 preview that the audience can expect a play about love and passion, fueled by \u201cthe older generation of singers\u2019 desire to communicate to the younger generation.\u201d
While Master Class offers a behind-the-scenes perspective of opera, it is not a documentary. Playwright McNally wrote this after watching a masterclass by another singer and thought to combine that concept with Ms. Callas, the epitome of opera at the time, who was already getting old and teaching young singers.
\n\u201cHopefully, audiences realize through this the amount of work that goes into it, that\u2019s demanded. It adds to the value that art has,\u201d said Mr. Del Mundo. \u201cOne of the reasons art is glossed over is not because of a lack of exposure, but because a lot of people don\u2019t realize the value. This play shows the blood and guts an artist gives.\u201d
\nAn iconic line by Ms. Callas is \u201cho dato tutto a te\u201d (I gave everything to you), which encapsulates this mindset. \u201cThis play is for anyone who thinks art is important and anyone who thinks art is not important,\u201d he added.
\nMILESTONE
\nMaster Class also marks a milestone for POC, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary season. They had already staged it back in 2010, but this anniversary revival has a different goal \u2014 to \u201chonor the legends who shaped the operatic world while reaffirming its belief that true artistry demands courage, discipline, and soul.\u201d
\nMr. Del Mundo noted how opera was invented a long time ago and has been subject to many changes over the past several decades, from Ms. Callas\u2019 influence to the introduction of television and now to the digital age.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot we can learn about it now. Years ago, when I first attended a class where an opera singer was singing, I discovered for the first time that they perspire. You never realize that they work so hard that they perspire,\u201d he said.
\nB.C. AND A.C.
\nMaria Callas, hailed as the paramount dramatic soprano of her era, transcended boundaries in the world of opera. Born in New York City in 1923 to Greek parents, her performances in Italy earned her widespread acclaim, highlighting her remarkable versatility across a repertoire spanning Wagner, Verdi, and Puccini.
For Ms. Lauchengco-Yulo, who doesn\u2019t have operatic training, playing the aged version of the legendary singer is a relief since it doesn\u2019t require her to sing opera \u2014 only teach the students.
\n\u201cThe history of opera is often divided into B.C. and A.C. (before Callas and after Callas). She brought drama and incorporated acting to her singing,\u201d she explained. \u201cAnd she was so hard on her students because, for her, it was about passion, craft, and being the best you can be.\u201d
\nThe cast includes Louie Angelo Oca as the accompanist, Alexandra Bernas, Arman Ferrer, and Angeli Benipayo as Ms. Callas\u2019 students, and Nelsito Gomez as the stage hand.
\nThe set and projection design are by Joey Mendoza and the costume design by Zeny Gutierrez.
\n100% DEDICATION
\nMs. Lauchengco-Yulo said she resonates with her character \u201cquite a lot.\u201d
\u201cI dedicate myself 100% completely to every role. I like to think that I\u2019m somewhere along the lines of her idea of being true to your craft,\u201d she said. \u201cI teach with a lot of textual analysis where, aside from the voice, we break down what you\u2019re saying.\u201d
\nThere is also something more personal. \u201cI also resonate with getting older and not being able to do the same roles. I\u2019m at a stage where I\u2019m going into directing, teaching, and passing things on.\u201d
\nIn 1971, Ms. Callas taught at the prestigious Juilliard School. These sessions, which Mr. McNally drew from in writing the play, saw her working with young singers while reflecting on her life, triumphs, sacrifices, and relentless pursuit of artistic truth.
\nOPERA IN THE PHILIPPINES
\nPOC is the country\u2019s only professional opera company that consistently produces opera and classical music performances. Established in 1999, one of its commitments is to \u201cbreaking the perception of opera as elitist.\u201d
Because of this, it has brought performances out of traditional theater spaces and into malls, churches, schools, parks, and community centers, making classical music more accessible.
\nPOC founder, president, and artistic director Karla Gutierrez told the media that Master Class was the perfect way to mark the 25th season because it\u2019s a bit like \u201cattending Opera 101.\u201d
\n\u201cWe need to tap students who can learn to appreciate opera. We\u2019ll also have a program for teachers, where someone will adopt a teacher to watch,\u201d she said.
\nThe motivation for this is the problem of the Philippine education system where MAPEH \u2014 music, arts, physical education, health \u2014 teachers have a substandard, broad understanding of the four subjects they\u2019re teaching.
\n\u201cThey don\u2019t have good modules. It\u2019s a big problem and makes it even harder to promote classical music. That\u2019s why we do a lot of out-of-the-box productions, where I tell them it\u2019s like watching a musical,\u201d Ms. Gutierrez said. \u201cThat\u2019s why POC has been focusing on the audience development program.\u201d
\nIn one outreach initiative in Tondo, they went to a building where the first floor was a palengke and the second floor was a school. \u201cIf you make it fun for the kids, there\u2019s an interest. The bottom line is that we need government support. Many public schools don\u2019t even have any instruments,\u201d she said.
\nMs. Gutierrez had considered closing down the POC in 2020 since it was not doing well. She took a leave and visited the Los Angeles Opera, where she asked about ticket sales.
\n\u201cThey told me that it\u2019s a worldwide problem, and the only one making money is the Met [Metropolitan Opera in New York],\u201d she explained. \u201cWhat we did is reprogram the company to focus on students, because they will be the next ticket buyers. We\u2019re focusing on audience development.\u201d
\nMaster Class runs from May 15 to 30 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. corner Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "FOR THOSE who want to explore what it means to be great and to make sacrifices for art \u2014 and for opera fans who admire legendary opera diva Maria Callas \u2014 the Philippine Opera Company\u2019s (POC) upcoming production, Master Class, is a must-watch.\nIt presents a fictionalized account of masterclasses led by the real-life opera singer \u2014 played by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo \u2014 in the 1970s.\nPerformances will be held at RCBC Plaza\u2019s Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium from May 15 to 30.\nWritten by playwright Terrence McNally, Master Class was originally performed at New York City\u2019s John Golden Theater in 1995, directed by Leonard Foglia and starring Zoe Caldwell as Maria Callas. It went on to win multiple awards, including the Tony Award for Best Play.\nThe 2026 staging by POC, directed by Jaime del Mundo, comes at a time when art is devalued and overlooked in favor of digital-era trends and virality, and ultimately sanitized for political correctness.\nTHE VALUE OF ART\nMr. Del Mundo told the media at an April 21 preview that the audience can expect a play about love and passion, fueled by \u201cthe older generation of singers\u2019 desire to communicate to the younger generation.\u201d \nWhile Master Class offers a behind-the-scenes perspective of opera, it is not a documentary. Playwright McNally wrote this after watching a masterclass by another singer and thought to combine that concept with Ms. Callas, the epitome of opera at the time, who was already getting old and teaching young singers.\n\u201cHopefully, audiences realize through this the amount of work that goes into it, that\u2019s demanded. It adds to the value that art has,\u201d said Mr. Del Mundo. \u201cOne of the reasons art is glossed over is not because of a lack of exposure, but because a lot of people don\u2019t realize the value. This play shows the blood and guts an artist gives.\u201d\nAn iconic line by Ms. Callas is \u201cho dato tutto a te\u201d (I gave everything to you), which encapsulates this mindset. \u201cThis play is for anyone who thinks art is important and anyone who thinks art is not important,\u201d he added.\nMILESTONE\nMaster Class also marks a milestone for POC, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary season. They had already staged it back in 2010, but this anniversary revival has a different goal \u2014 to \u201chonor the legends who shaped the operatic world while reaffirming its belief that true artistry demands courage, discipline, and soul.\u201d\nMr. Del Mundo noted how opera was invented a long time ago and has been subject to many changes over the past several decades, from Ms. Callas\u2019 influence to the introduction of television and now to the digital age.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot we can learn about it now. Years ago, when I first attended a class where an opera singer was singing, I discovered for the first time that they perspire. You never realize that they work so hard that they perspire,\u201d he said.\nB.C. AND A.C.\nMaria Callas, hailed as the paramount dramatic soprano of her era, transcended boundaries in the world of opera. Born in New York City in 1923 to Greek parents, her performances in Italy earned her widespread acclaim, highlighting her remarkable versatility across a repertoire spanning Wagner, Verdi, and Puccini.\nFor Ms. Lauchengco-Yulo, who doesn\u2019t have operatic training, playing the aged version of the legendary singer is a relief since it doesn\u2019t require her to sing opera \u2014 only teach the students.\n\u201cThe history of opera is often divided into B.C. and A.C. (before Callas and after Callas). She brought drama and incorporated acting to her singing,\u201d she explained. \u201cAnd she was so hard on her students because, for her, it was about passion, craft, and being the best you can be.\u201d\nThe cast includes Louie Angelo Oca as the accompanist, Alexandra Bernas, Arman Ferrer, and Angeli Benipayo as Ms. Callas\u2019 students, and Nelsito Gomez as the stage hand.\nThe set and projection design are by Joey Mendoza and the costume design by Zeny Gutierrez.\n100% DEDICATION\nMs. Lauchengco-Yulo said she resonates with her character \u201cquite a lot.\u201d\n\u201cI dedicate myself 100% completely to every role. I like to think that I\u2019m somewhere along the lines of her idea of being true to your craft,\u201d she said. \u201cI teach with a lot of textual analysis where, aside from the voice, we break down what you\u2019re saying.\u201d\nThere is also something more personal. \u201cI also resonate with getting older and not being able to do the same roles. I\u2019m at a stage where I\u2019m going into directing, teaching, and passing things on.\u201d\nIn 1971, Ms. Callas taught at the prestigious Juilliard School. These sessions, which Mr. McNally drew from in writing the play, saw her working with young singers while reflecting on her life, triumphs, sacrifices, and relentless pursuit of artistic truth.\nOPERA IN THE PHILIPPINES\nPOC is the country\u2019s only professional opera company that consistently produces opera and classical music performances. Established in 1999, one of its commitments is to \u201cbreaking the perception of opera as elitist.\u201d\nBecause of this, it has brought performances out of traditional theater spaces and into malls, churches, schools, parks, and community centers, making classical music more accessible.\nPOC founder, president, and artistic director Karla Gutierrez told the media that Master Class was the perfect way to mark the 25th season because it\u2019s a bit like \u201cattending Opera 101.\u201d\n\u201cWe need to tap students who can learn to appreciate opera. We\u2019ll also have a program for teachers, where someone will adopt a teacher to watch,\u201d she said.\nThe motivation for this is the problem of the Philippine education system where MAPEH \u2014 music, arts, physical education, health \u2014 teachers have a substandard, broad understanding of the four subjects they\u2019re teaching.\n\u201cThey don\u2019t have good modules. It\u2019s a big problem and makes it even harder to promote classical music. That\u2019s why we do a lot of out-of-the-box productions, where I tell them it\u2019s like watching a musical,\u201d Ms. Gutierrez said. \u201cThat\u2019s why POC has been focusing on the audience development program.\u201d\nIn one outreach initiative in Tondo, they went to a building where the first floor was a palengke and the second floor was a school. \u201cIf you make it fun for the kids, there\u2019s an interest. The bottom line is that we need government support. Many public schools don\u2019t even have any instruments,\u201d she said.\nMs. Gutierrez had considered closing down the POC in 2020 since it was not doing well. She took a leave and visited the Los Angeles Opera, where she asked about ticket sales.\n\u201cThey told me that it\u2019s a worldwide problem, and the only one making money is the Met [Metropolitan Opera in New York],\u201d she explained. \u201cWhat we did is reprogram the company to focus on students, because they will be the next ticket buyers. We\u2019re focusing on audience development.\u201d\nMaster Class runs from May 15 to 30 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. corner Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City. Tickets are available via Ticket2Me. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-06T00:06:03+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-05T19:18:30+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Alexandra-Bernas-as-a-soprano-student-and-Menchu-Lauchengco-Yulo-as-Callas.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=747534", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/06/747534/from-journalism-to-literature-a-filipino-story-in-the-southeast-asian-context/", "title": "From journalism to literature: A Filipino story in the Southeast Asian context", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/house-on-calle-sombra.jpg\")
THERE ARE MANY female writers in Southeast Asia, though not many readers are aware of their talent or their body of work.
Filipina writer Marga Ortigas is best known as a broadcast journalist, covering conflicts and disasters both natural and man-made, which she did for about three decades, most notably with CNN and Al Jazeera.
\nIn 2021, she returned to creative writing, the root of her childhood passion for stories. Her debut novel, The House on Calle Sombra, was published, an ambitious work tackling themes of love, greed, and trauma in the context of family and Philippine history. It was then followed by two collections of essays and another novel \u2014 and, most recently, a literary award.
\nON RECOGNITION
\nBuilt upon the Thai Chommanard Book Prize established in 2008, the Chommanard International Women\u2019s Literary Award has a mission \u201cto support and elevate women writers across Asia and beyond.\u201d It celebrates female literary talent from the ASEAN, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, sponsored by Bangkok Bank and organized by Praphansarn Publishing Co., Ltd.
Ms. Ortigas\u2019 debut novel was recognized at the literary award\u2019s 2025 edition; the awarding ceremony was held last month. The House on Calle Sombra was given the Country Award for representing the vibrant literary tradition of the Philippines, where \u201cstorytelling often intersects with history, memory, and social realities.\u201d
\n\u201cI knew it had been submitted for consideration, but you never know with these things. You can only hope that people appreciate what is in the work. Reading is really subjective,\u201d said Ms. Ortigas, who spoke to 大象传媒 over Zoom, of her win.
\n\u201cThere was a mixed bag of judges from across Asia, so I\u2019m just glad that somehow they came together to decide that the book was worthy of recognition, considering all the other books submitted,\u201d she added.
\nFrom over 66 submissions, Hong Kong writer Lau Yee Wa emerged as the Grand Prize winner for her novel Tongueless \u2014 seven other writers were revealed to have been on the shortlist. Aside from Ms. Ortigas representing the Philippines, Singaporean writer Jemimah Wei was the other Country Award winner for her novel The Original Daughter.
\nAs the grand prize winner, Lau Yee Wa was awarded 500,000 baht, and the rest received 40,000 baht each. Another perk for winning is consideration for translation into Thai, subject to rights agreements.
\n\u201cI picked up all of the other books that were nominated and shortlisted, and they were honestly incredible,\u201d said Ms. Ortigas. \u201cEvery single one is different.\u201d
\n\u201cI was so humbled realizing that there\u2019s so much amazing work coming out of Asia, and it\u2019s unfortunate that the Western world is not very aware of the wealth of literary work in this part of the world,\u201d she added. \u201cIn fact, I\u2019m reading more Asian authors now.\u201d
\nThe organizers of the Chommanard International Women\u2019s Literary Award hosted the 10 winners for a week in Thailand, which allowed them to interact and exchange ideas.
\nMs. Ortigas noted that women have a unique perspective as writers, which makes them a voice that\u2019s all the more crucial in literature.
\n\u201cWe listen more. Generally, in history, women have kind of been fashioned to sit back and let the man lead. Women have gotten used to taking everything in quietly and watching from the sidelines, which means we pay attention more and we observe more,\u201d she explained.
\nON UNDERSTANDING
\nOn the expanded reach of The House on Calle Sombra, Ms. Ortigas posited that family as a theme is something everyone can relate to, which makes it a fairly easy read.
Her writing style, given her background as a TV journalist, has also always been very visual and colorful.
\n\u201cThe book recently got a Spanish translation, and the thing that the Spanish publishers were telling me was appealing about it is the fact that it reads like a telenovela, and yet it\u2019s not superficial,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very heavy subject treated very lightly, written with the Filipino in mind, but not specifically just for the Philippines.\u201d
\nAs a writer, the journalist-turned-author believes that she writes \u201cto understand things,\u201d especially having covered the Philippines for many years, from its natural disasters to its changes in administrations.
\n\u201cWhy is the country in this cycle of constant patronage politics, of a feudalistic clan system, like nobody\u2019s learning? So I wanted to try to understand that. That\u2019s why the book was born,\u201d she explained.
\nWith influences like Jeanette Winterson and Italo Calvino, Ms. Ortigas decided to use her lifelong attraction to prose to answer these big questions. Now, after winning Chommanard\u2019s Country Award, the implications of Filipino stories on a global stage are huge.
\n\u201cThey\u2019re beginning to look for other stories in the Western world, beyond their homegrown writers,\u201d she explained. \u201cI think the more regional bodies or the more platforms recognize Asian writing, the better. We don\u2019t have to wait for recognition from Western people; it\u2019s our part of the world pointing out the best of our own.\u201d
\nBecause of this, she recommended that Filipino writers take the leap and submit their work to awards like these.
\nIn her own batch, Ms. Ortigas pointed to Grand Priza winner Lau Yee Wa, whose novel Tongueless explores language, identity, and institutional control in a story where Mandarin is mandated to supplant Cantonese.
\nMeanwhile, shortlisted Thai author Veeraporn Nitiprapha\u2019s work, Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat, about three generations of a Chinese-Thai immigrant family, has become one of her favorites.
\n\u201cReading the styles of all the other authors has given me pause for thought. You can say things in so many different ways,\u201d Ms. Ortigas said. \u201cThey explore many themes, like grief, a search for home, and it proves how there\u2019s such a wealth of human experiences out there.\u201d
\nShe quoted another shortlisted author, Nguy\u1ec5n Phan Qu\u1ebf Mai, whose novel The Mountains Sing highlights the Vietnamese experience across the 20th century, from French colonialism to the Vietnam War.
\nShe said: \u201cIf we read each other\u2019s literature, we will understand each other\u2019s humanity.\u201d
\nThe Chommanard International Women\u2019s Literary Award is accepting submissions for the next cycle until June 30. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "THERE ARE MANY female writers in Southeast Asia, though not many readers are aware of their talent or their body of work.\nFilipina writer Marga Ortigas is best known as a broadcast journalist, covering conflicts and disasters both natural and man-made, which she did for about three decades, most notably with CNN and Al Jazeera.\nIn 2021, she returned to creative writing, the root of her childhood passion for stories. Her debut novel, The House on Calle Sombra, was published, an ambitious work tackling themes of love, greed, and trauma in the context of family and Philippine history. It was then followed by two collections of essays and another novel \u2014 and, most recently, a literary award.\nON RECOGNITION\nBuilt upon the Thai Chommanard Book Prize established in 2008, the Chommanard International Women\u2019s Literary Award has a mission \u201cto support and elevate women writers across Asia and beyond.\u201d It celebrates female literary talent from the ASEAN, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, sponsored by Bangkok Bank and organized by Praphansarn Publishing Co., Ltd.\nMs. Ortigas\u2019 debut novel was recognized at the literary award\u2019s 2025 edition; the awarding ceremony was held last month. The House on Calle Sombra was given the Country Award for representing the vibrant literary tradition of the Philippines, where \u201cstorytelling often intersects with history, memory, and social realities.\u201d\n\u201cI knew it had been submitted for consideration, but you never know with these things. You can only hope that people appreciate what is in the work. Reading is really subjective,\u201d said Ms. Ortigas, who spoke to 大象传媒 over Zoom, of her win.\n\u201cThere was a mixed bag of judges from across Asia, so I\u2019m just glad that somehow they came together to decide that the book was worthy of recognition, considering all the other books submitted,\u201d she added.\nFrom over 66 submissions, Hong Kong writer Lau Yee Wa emerged as the Grand Prize winner for her novel Tongueless \u2014 seven other writers were revealed to have been on the shortlist. Aside from Ms. Ortigas representing the Philippines, Singaporean writer Jemimah Wei was the other Country Award winner for her novel The Original Daughter.\nAs the grand prize winner, Lau Yee Wa was awarded 500,000 baht, and the rest received 40,000 baht each. Another perk for winning is consideration for translation into Thai, subject to rights agreements.\n\u201cI picked up all of the other books that were nominated and shortlisted, and they were honestly incredible,\u201d said Ms. Ortigas. \u201cEvery single one is different.\u201d \n\u201cI was so humbled realizing that there\u2019s so much amazing work coming out of Asia, and it\u2019s unfortunate that the Western world is not very aware of the wealth of literary work in this part of the world,\u201d she added. \u201cIn fact, I\u2019m reading more Asian authors now.\u201d\nThe organizers of the Chommanard International Women\u2019s Literary Award hosted the 10 winners for a week in Thailand, which allowed them to interact and exchange ideas.\nMs. Ortigas noted that women have a unique perspective as writers, which makes them a voice that\u2019s all the more crucial in literature.\n\u201cWe listen more. Generally, in history, women have kind of been fashioned to sit back and let the man lead. Women have gotten used to taking everything in quietly and watching from the sidelines, which means we pay attention more and we observe more,\u201d she explained.\nON UNDERSTANDING\nOn the expanded reach of The House on Calle Sombra, Ms. Ortigas posited that family as a theme is something everyone can relate to, which makes it a fairly easy read.\nHer writing style, given her background as a TV journalist, has also always been very visual and colorful.\n\u201cThe book recently got a Spanish translation, and the thing that the Spanish publishers were telling me was appealing about it is the fact that it reads like a telenovela, and yet it\u2019s not superficial,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very heavy subject treated very lightly, written with the Filipino in mind, but not specifically just for the Philippines.\u201d\nAs a writer, the journalist-turned-author believes that she writes \u201cto understand things,\u201d especially having covered the Philippines for many years, from its natural disasters to its changes in administrations.\n\u201cWhy is the country in this cycle of constant patronage politics, of a feudalistic clan system, like nobody\u2019s learning? So I wanted to try to understand that. That\u2019s why the book was born,\u201d she explained.\nWith influences like Jeanette Winterson and Italo Calvino, Ms. Ortigas decided to use her lifelong attraction to prose to answer these big questions. Now, after winning Chommanard\u2019s Country Award, the implications of Filipino stories on a global stage are huge.\n\u201cThey\u2019re beginning to look for other stories in the Western world, beyond their homegrown writers,\u201d she explained. \u201cI think the more regional bodies or the more platforms recognize Asian writing, the better. We don\u2019t have to wait for recognition from Western people; it\u2019s our part of the world pointing out the best of our own.\u201d\nBecause of this, she recommended that Filipino writers take the leap and submit their work to awards like these.\nIn her own batch, Ms. Ortigas pointed to Grand Priza winner Lau Yee Wa, whose novel Tongueless explores language, identity, and institutional control in a story where Mandarin is mandated to supplant Cantonese.\nMeanwhile, shortlisted Thai author Veeraporn Nitiprapha\u2019s work, Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat, about three generations of a Chinese-Thai immigrant family, has become one of her favorites.\n\u201cReading the styles of all the other authors has given me pause for thought. You can say things in so many different ways,\u201d Ms. Ortigas said. \u201cThey explore many themes, like grief, a search for home, and it proves how there\u2019s such a wealth of human experiences out there.\u201d\nShe quoted another shortlisted author, Nguy\u1ec5n Phan Qu\u1ebf Mai, whose novel The Mountains Sing highlights the Vietnamese experience across the 20th century, from French colonialism to the Vietnam War.\nShe said: \u201cIf we read each other\u2019s literature, we will understand each other\u2019s humanity.\u201d\nThe Chommanard International Women\u2019s Literary Award is accepting submissions for the next cycle until June 30. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-06T00:05:03+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-05T19:17:54+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/house-on-calle-sombra-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=747178", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/05/747178/abs-cbn-produced-love-is-never-gone-to-stream-on-prime-video/", "title": "ABS-CBN-produced Love Is Never Gone to stream on Prime Video", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nSTREAMING service Prime Video will have a new Filipino romance drama series, titled Love Is Never Gone, starting May 8.
\nProduced by ABS-CBN Studios and Dreamscape Entertainment, it stars Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi, marking the first time the two celebrities will lead a series together.
\nSet in Morocco, it blends romance and suspense, following two lost souls who find strength and love in each other only to discover that lies and betrayal threaten to derail their happiness.
\nFor Ms. Alawi, the series was a rare chance to do something both action-packed and romantic in another country \u2014 most importantly, with a reliable co-star.
\n\u201cJoshua is more than just an actor. Napakabait niyang tao (He\u2019s a very kind person). He\u2019s generous and he treats everyone with respect,\u201d she said during a press launch on April 28 in Quezon City.
\nHer role also requires speaking different languages, as she plays a woman who takes on various high-risk jobs to survive. Though the actress was raised in Bahrain by a Moroccan father, she spoke neither Arabic nor French, which are two languages her character speaks.
\n\u201cInaral ko nang tatlong araw bago mag-shoot. Multilingual ako dito. Kahit Spanish alam ko rin (I studied for three days before shooting. I\u2019m multilingual here. I even know Spanish),\u201d she said.
\n\u201cKapag dumadating sa set, smiling si Ivana. Iirap-irap lang \u2019yan pero mahal kami niyan (When she arrives on set, Ivana is smiling. She always glares at us but she loves us),\u201d Mr. Garcia said of his co-star at the press launch.
\n\u201cMabilis siya umiyak sa mga eksena. Natutuwa ako kasi same page na kami palagi (She cries very easily in our scenes. I\u2019m glad because we\u2019re always on the same page),\u201d he added.
\nAs for their chemistry, the actor explained that it was both natural and due to the bonding opportunities they had while filming in Morocco.
\n\u2018FILMIC APPROACH\u2019
\nLove Is Never Gone has all sorts of twists and turns. Teo (played by Mr. Garcia) is a devoted son who works in Morocco in order to give his family a better life, while Yana (played by Ms. Alawi) has ties to a crime syndicate which leads to an inevitable betrayal of their budding romance.
While the first few episodes are largely set in Morocco, the story picks up years later back in the Philippines, when Teo encounters Yana who now goes by a different identity.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s really full of action. There\u2019s a lot to look forward to and be surprised by,\u201d Ms. Alawi said.
\nDirector Emmanuel Palo told the press that the \u201cfilmic approach\u201d of the show is only right given that it will stream not only in the Philippines, but in other countries and territories.
\n\u201cWe firmly believe our audience deserves nothing less,\u201d he said. \u201cAside from the visuals, it\u2019s really the narrative. Yes, it looks and sounds good, but our creative team really worked hard to give us a story that\u2019s relatable and real, with characters that are truthful.\u201d
\nFellow director Jojo Saguin explained that the series offers a blend of things that not many people expect to see, all in one.
\n\u201cThe camera angling is different, the action scenes plus the undeniable chemistry of our two stars is quite different, and there\u2019s the texture of Morocco,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cOf course, love for family is the core,\u201d she explained, of the themes that viewers can expect in the show. \u201cMatapos na ang lahat, sa pamilya ka pa rin babalik (After everything, you still go back to family).\u201d
\nAlso in the cast are Jameson Blake, Jane Oineza, Michael de Mesa, Epy Quizon, Fyang Smith, JM Ibarra, Dina Bonnevie, and Ara Mina.
\nThe production is one of several collaborations between ABS-CBN and Prime Video, all aiming to bring Filipino entertainment to more viewers worldwide.
\nLove Is Never Gone is scheduled to premiere on May 8. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n JOSHUA GARCIA and Ivana Alawi in a scene from Love Is Never Gone\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nSTREAMING service Prime Video will have a new Filipino romance drama series, titled Love Is Never Gone, starting May 8.\nProduced by ABS-CBN Studios and Dreamscape Entertainment, it stars Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi, marking the first time the two celebrities will lead a series together.\nSet in Morocco, it blends romance and suspense, following two lost souls who find strength and love in each other only to discover that lies and betrayal threaten to derail their happiness.\nFor Ms. Alawi, the series was a rare chance to do something both action-packed and romantic in another country \u2014 most importantly, with a reliable co-star.\n\u201cJoshua is more than just an actor. Napakabait niyang tao (He\u2019s a very kind person). He\u2019s generous and he treats everyone with respect,\u201d she said during a press launch on April 28 in Quezon City.\nHer role also requires speaking different languages, as she plays a woman who takes on various high-risk jobs to survive. Though the actress was raised in Bahrain by a Moroccan father, she spoke neither Arabic nor French, which are two languages her character speaks.\n\u201cInaral ko nang tatlong araw bago mag-shoot. Multilingual ako dito. Kahit Spanish alam ko rin (I studied for three days before shooting. I\u2019m multilingual here. I even know Spanish),\u201d she said.\n\u201cKapag dumadating sa set, smiling si Ivana. Iirap-irap lang \u2019yan pero mahal kami niyan (When she arrives on set, Ivana is smiling. She always glares at us but she loves us),\u201d Mr. Garcia said of his co-star at the press launch.\n\u201cMabilis siya umiyak sa mga eksena. Natutuwa ako kasi same page na kami palagi (She cries very easily in our scenes. I\u2019m glad because we\u2019re always on the same page),\u201d he added.\nAs for their chemistry, the actor explained that it was both natural and due to the bonding opportunities they had while filming in Morocco.\n\u2018FILMIC APPROACH\u2019\nLove Is Never Gone has all sorts of twists and turns. Teo (played by Mr. Garcia) is a devoted son who works in Morocco in order to give his family a better life, while Yana (played by Ms. Alawi) has ties to a crime syndicate which leads to an inevitable betrayal of their budding romance.\nWhile the first few episodes are largely set in Morocco, the story picks up years later back in the Philippines, when Teo encounters Yana who now goes by a different identity.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really full of action. There\u2019s a lot to look forward to and be surprised by,\u201d Ms. Alawi said.\nDirector Emmanuel Palo told the press that the \u201cfilmic approach\u201d of the show is only right given that it will stream not only in the Philippines, but in other countries and territories.\n\u201cWe firmly believe our audience deserves nothing less,\u201d he said. \u201cAside from the visuals, it\u2019s really the narrative. Yes, it looks and sounds good, but our creative team really worked hard to give us a story that\u2019s relatable and real, with characters that are truthful.\u201d\nFellow director Jojo Saguin explained that the series offers a blend of things that not many people expect to see, all in one.\n\u201cThe camera angling is different, the action scenes plus the undeniable chemistry of our two stars is quite different, and there\u2019s the texture of Morocco,\u201d she said.\n\u201cOf course, love for family is the core,\u201d she explained, of the themes that viewers can expect in the show. \u201cMatapos na ang lahat, sa pamilya ka pa rin babalik (After everything, you still go back to family).\u201d\nAlso in the cast are Jameson Blake, Jane Oineza, Michael de Mesa, Epy Quizon, Fyang Smith, JM Ibarra, Dina Bonnevie, and Ara Mina.\nThe production is one of several collaborations between ABS-CBN and Prime Video, all aiming to bring Filipino entertainment to more viewers worldwide.\nLove Is Never Gone is scheduled to premiere on May 8. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-05T00:07:51+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-04T18:30:43+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Love-Is-Never-Gone.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=747179", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/05/747179/the-sounds-of-summer-hot-rb-and-hip-hop-albums-for-keeping-things-cool/", "title": "The sounds of summer: Hot R&B and hip-hop albums for keeping things cool", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nBy Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana, Reporter
\nMusic Review
\nThis Music May Contain Hope.
\nBy Raye
\nMovie
\nBy Sofiane Pamart
\nKehlani
\nBy Kehlani
THREE unique albums were released over the past two months in a wave of mellow, refreshing music from the Western side of the world, arriving to give comfort as we face the heat of summer.
\nFor fans of R&B, hip-hop, and soul, these collections of songs \u2014 from the UK, France, and the US \u2014 could be a great way to cool down this May. Here\u2019s an overview of three albums you can listen to that dropped over the past two months.
\nTHIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. \u2014 RAYE
\nBritish singer-songwriter Raye (real name: Rachel Agatha Keen), active since 2014, blends jazz, pop, dance, R&B, and soul with lyrics that talk about personal experiences and contemporary issues.
Her second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope., was written and co-produced with various collaborators \u2014 Jordan Riley, Chris Hill, Mike Sabath, Tom Richards, Pete Clements, and film composer Hans Zimmer. Because of the themes of hope and liberation, the album stands out with its incorporation of big band, blues, and orchestral pop elements.
\nThe 17 tracks in this strong record take us through the full range of human emotion, divided into the four seasons. It\u2019s more maximalist than her previous record, My 21st Century Blues, with clean vocals sometimes distorted, genres seamlessly blended, and interludes that effectively punctuate the songs.
\nTracks that stand out are \u201cWhere Is My Husband!,\u201d with Raye\u2019s versatile vocals accompanied by a massive brass band; \u201cClick Clack Symphony,\u201d an empowering anthem further uplifted by Hans Zimmer\u2019s symphonic arrangement; and \u201cI Know You\u2019re Hurting.,\u201d a heartfelt and viscerally emotional six-minute ballad.
\nMOVIE \u2014 SOFIANE PAMART
\nAn underrated new album is Movie, created by French pianist and musician Sofiane Pamart.
Born in France of Moroccan origins (through his maternal grandfather), he studied piano and classical music at Conservatoire de Lille. Inspired by Frederic Chopin and Claude Debussy, his fourth solo album is tailored to be a cinematic experience, blending neo-classical piano with global stars like Sia, Celeste, and Nelly Furtado.
\nIn the seventh track, \u201cMoviestar,\u201d Pamart\u2019s emotive piano drives forward Nigerian musician Rema\u2019s signature autotuned vocals. \u201cPiano Sonata\u201d follows it up, this time combining Colombian singer J Balvin\u2019s melancholy voice with Pamart\u2019s gentle playing. However, it\u2019s the grand orchestral track \u201cGimme Love Orchestra\u201d with Australian singer Sia that offers the most global appeal, her powerful yet vulnerable vocals undeniably the strongest on the whole album.
\nAs for the album\u2019s instrumental pieces, \u201cCinema\u201d is impressive and moving, featuring a collaboration with French multi-instrumentalist FKJ, as they execute intertwined melodies on two pianos.
\nKEHLANI \u2014 KEHLANI
\nAmerican singer-songwriter and dancer Kehlani (full name: Kehlani Ashley Parrish) has been a major force in pop, R&B, and hip-hop since 2009. Their fifth studio album, Kehlani, continues to explore this combination of genres while also featuring guest appearances from big musicians like Lil Wayne, Missy Elliott, Usher, T-Pain, and Cardi B.
One of its most infectiously rhythmic tracks, \u201cFolded,\u201d has Kehlani at their most sensual and smooth, and it\u2019s no surprise this song earned them a Grammy for Best R&B Song.
\n\u201cShoulda Never\u201d provides upbeat energy, matching Usher\u2019s distinct, confident vocals with Kehlani\u2019s. A track that provides a memorable, old-school sonic experience is \u201cAnotha Luva,\u201d which evokes the early 2000s with playful production and a solid rap verse from Lil Wayne.
\nAn honorable mention goes to the comforting \u201cI Need You,\u201d with velvety yet electric vocals by Kehlani and Brandy, tying back to how R&B is ultimately a show of raw vulnerability by talented musicians.
\n", "content_text": "1 of 3\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nBy Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana, Reporter\nMusic Review\nThis Music May Contain Hope.\nBy Raye\nMovie\nBy Sofiane Pamart\nKehlani\nBy Kehlani\nTHREE unique albums were released over the past two months in a wave of mellow, refreshing music from the Western side of the world, arriving to give comfort as we face the heat of summer.\nFor fans of R&B, hip-hop, and soul, these collections of songs \u2014 from the UK, France, and the US \u2014 could be a great way to cool down this May. Here\u2019s an overview of three albums you can listen to that dropped over the past two months.\nTHIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE. \u2014 RAYE\nBritish singer-songwriter Raye (real name: Rachel Agatha Keen), active since 2014, blends jazz, pop, dance, R&B, and soul with lyrics that talk about personal experiences and contemporary issues.\nHer second studio album, This Music May Contain Hope., was written and co-produced with various collaborators \u2014 Jordan Riley, Chris Hill, Mike Sabath, Tom Richards, Pete Clements, and film composer Hans Zimmer. Because of the themes of hope and liberation, the album stands out with its incorporation of big band, blues, and orchestral pop elements.\nThe 17 tracks in this strong record take us through the full range of human emotion, divided into the four seasons. It\u2019s more maximalist than her previous record, My 21st Century Blues, with clean vocals sometimes distorted, genres seamlessly blended, and interludes that effectively punctuate the songs.\nTracks that stand out are \u201cWhere Is My Husband!,\u201d with Raye\u2019s versatile vocals accompanied by a massive brass band; \u201cClick Clack Symphony,\u201d an empowering anthem further uplifted by Hans Zimmer\u2019s symphonic arrangement; and \u201cI Know You\u2019re Hurting.,\u201d a heartfelt and viscerally emotional six-minute ballad.\nMOVIE \u2014 SOFIANE PAMART\nAn underrated new album is Movie, created by French pianist and musician Sofiane Pamart.\nBorn in France of Moroccan origins (through his maternal grandfather), he studied piano and classical music at Conservatoire de Lille. Inspired by Frederic Chopin and Claude Debussy, his fourth solo album is tailored to be a cinematic experience, blending neo-classical piano with global stars like Sia, Celeste, and Nelly Furtado.\nIn the seventh track, \u201cMoviestar,\u201d Pamart\u2019s emotive piano drives forward Nigerian musician Rema\u2019s signature autotuned vocals. \u201cPiano Sonata\u201d follows it up, this time combining Colombian singer J Balvin\u2019s melancholy voice with Pamart\u2019s gentle playing. However, it\u2019s the grand orchestral track \u201cGimme Love Orchestra\u201d with Australian singer Sia that offers the most global appeal, her powerful yet vulnerable vocals undeniably the strongest on the whole album.\nAs for the album\u2019s instrumental pieces, \u201cCinema\u201d is impressive and moving, featuring a collaboration with French multi-instrumentalist FKJ, as they execute intertwined melodies on two pianos.\nKEHLANI \u2014 KEHLANI\nAmerican singer-songwriter and dancer Kehlani (full name: Kehlani Ashley Parrish) has been a major force in pop, R&B, and hip-hop since 2009. Their fifth studio album, Kehlani, continues to explore this combination of genres while also featuring guest appearances from big musicians like Lil Wayne, Missy Elliott, Usher, T-Pain, and Cardi B.\nOne of its most infectiously rhythmic tracks, \u201cFolded,\u201d has Kehlani at their most sensual and smooth, and it\u2019s no surprise this song earned them a Grammy for Best R&B Song. \n\u201cShoulda Never\u201d provides upbeat energy, matching Usher\u2019s distinct, confident vocals with Kehlani\u2019s. A track that provides a memorable, old-school sonic experience is \u201cAnotha Luva,\u201d which evokes the early 2000s with playful production and a solid rap verse from Lil Wayne.\nAn honorable mention goes to the comforting \u201cI Need You,\u201d with velvety yet electric vocals by Kehlani and Brandy, tying back to how R&B is ultimately a show of raw vulnerability by talented musicians.", "date_published": "2026-05-05T00:06:51+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-05-04T18:29:05+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RAYE-album.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "THREE unique albums were released over the past two months in a wave of mellow, refreshing music from the Western side of the world, arriving to give comfort as we face the heat of summer." }, { "id": "/?p=746666", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/05/01/746666/in-praise-of-mario-ohara/", "title": "In praise of Mario O\u2019Hara", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nSINCE being introduced to the films of Mario O\u2019Hara back in 1986, film critic Noel Vera knew that he was seeing the works of a master.
\nHis exploration continued in the 1990s, as he became more familiar with the filmmaker\u2019s body of work. He noted the narrative power and strong visual language in films like Bulaklak sa City Jail, Bakit Bughaw Ang Langit?, and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, all of which depict the violence that plagues those in the fringes of society.
\nBut the idea of writing a book on Mr. O\u2019Hara only materialized in 2005, and it took a long while to put together. The result is a collection of essays titled The Quiet Man: The Films of Mario O\u2019Hara.
\nMr. Vera, 大象传媒\u2019s long-time film critic, describes Condemned as \u201cthe perfect noir,\u201d and Bagong Hari as \u201cthe perfect action film.\u201d He refers to Mr. O\u2019Hara as more understated, more \u201cdrawn to the dark and morbid, yet still tender,\u201d as compared to his contemporaries like Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Mike De Leon, and Laurice Guillen.
\nThe book is a long-overdue tribute to the man\u2019s talents. His is a body of work that \u201cdeserves its own module, if not its own course\u201d in film studies, according to Mr. Vera.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen all the best in Philippine cinema, you name it, and I still believe O\u2019Hara\u2019s films were the most moving,\u201d he said during the book\u2019s launch on April 25 at Archivo 1984 in Makati. \u201cHis work touches me, above anyone else, and I think he\u2019s the best not just in the Philippines, but the entire world.\u201d
\nThe book got its name in large part due to the director never truly selling himself or having as many champions in film scholarship as other directors, but there\u2019s a different reason as well. Once, writer and fellow critic Jolicco Cuadra referred to Mr. O\u2019Hara as his favorite Filipino director and someone \u201cwho truly knows violence.\u201d
\n\u201cThe man who\u2019s loud, threatening violence as he\u2019s walking down the street? I\u2019m not scared of him. I\u2019m afraid of the quiet man,\u201d he said, talking about Dan Alvaro\u2019s character in Bagong Hari. Thus, the title of the book was born.
\nThe first chapter gives more insight into this moment, painting a picture of a sit-down interview with Mr. O\u2019Hara in the 1990s, when they managed to corner him backstage at his last performance of a play. (Though a famed film director and screenwriter, Mr. O\u2019Hara was also an actor in television and film, but was most prolific in theater.)
\nMr. Vera explained that the experience of going through the man\u2019s filmography impressed him gradually as he went along, and hoped that the book could aid more people seeking to do the same.
\nIn attendance at the launch was actor and production designer Frank Rivera. He gave a moving speech recalling his friendship with Mr. O\u2019Hara, and talked about how they would take ideas from the things they saw around them. During a walk along Roxas Boulevard, they saw a blind man with a guitar near the US Embassy \u2014 which eventually inspired the character played by Yoyoy Villame in Babae sa Breakwater.
\nAnother anecdote he told was when Joel Torre had to drop out of a role in Babae sa Bubungang Langit due to scheduling conflicts, and Mr. O\u2019Hara asked Mr. Rivera to take his place. A moment of hesitation came when a scene required frontal nudity.
\n\u201cSabi niya, artista ka naman. Gawin mo na para matuloy ang pelikula. Na-challenge ako. (He said, you\u2019re an actor. Do it so we can continue the film. I was challenged),\u201d Mr. Rivera recounted.
\n\u201cHe was not a quiet man. He told stories, he told dreams, and he sang. He made me do things I did not want to do. I made him do things he did not want to do. And I miss him every day.\u201d
\nAs for where to see Mr. O\u2019Hara\u2019s films, quite a few were restored and can be found on YouTube thanks to ABS-CBN\u2019s now defunct Sagip Pelikula program \u2014 Mga Bilanggong Birhen, Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Bulaklak sa City Jail, and Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak.
\nLeo Katigbak, who used to head the film restoration initiative before it closed, said that \u201ca lot of young people now are rediscovering classics.\u201d
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a resurgence of interest in all things old. I\u2019m glad we were able to do a lot of that in ABS-CBN. Right now, I\u2019m a consultant with the FDCP (Film Development Council of the Philippines), so we\u2019re focusing on restoring a lot of movies,\u201d he said.
\nOne of these is Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, directed by Lino Brocka and co-written by both Brocka and O\u2019Hara.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great time to be a cineaste, to be a film buff,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to restore more movies while a lot of the people who actually worked on them are still around.\u201d
\nThe Quiet Man: The Films of Mario O\u2019Hara is published by Archivo 1984. The book is available to order via archivo1984.com. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n NOEL VERA with his book\nThe Quiet Man: The Films of Mario O\u2019Hara.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nSINCE being introduced to the films of Mario O\u2019Hara back in 1986, film critic Noel Vera knew that he was seeing the works of a master.\nHis exploration continued in the 1990s, as he became more familiar with the filmmaker\u2019s body of work. He noted the narrative power and strong visual language in films like Bulaklak sa City Jail, Bakit Bughaw Ang Langit?, and Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, all of which depict the violence that plagues those in the fringes of society.\nBut the idea of writing a book on Mr. O\u2019Hara only materialized in 2005, and it took a long while to put together. The result is a collection of essays titled The Quiet Man: The Films of Mario O\u2019Hara.\nMr. Vera, 大象传媒\u2019s long-time film critic, describes Condemned as \u201cthe perfect noir,\u201d and Bagong Hari as \u201cthe perfect action film.\u201d He refers to Mr. O\u2019Hara as more understated, more \u201cdrawn to the dark and morbid, yet still tender,\u201d as compared to his contemporaries like Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Mike De Leon, and Laurice Guillen.\nThe book is a long-overdue tribute to the man\u2019s talents. His is a body of work that \u201cdeserves its own module, if not its own course\u201d in film studies, according to Mr. Vera.\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen all the best in Philippine cinema, you name it, and I still believe O\u2019Hara\u2019s films were the most moving,\u201d he said during the book\u2019s launch on April 25 at Archivo 1984 in Makati. \u201cHis work touches me, above anyone else, and I think he\u2019s the best not just in the Philippines, but the entire world.\u201d\nThe book got its name in large part due to the director never truly selling himself or having as many champions in film scholarship as other directors, but there\u2019s a different reason as well. Once, writer and fellow critic Jolicco Cuadra referred to Mr. O\u2019Hara as his favorite Filipino director and someone \u201cwho truly knows violence.\u201d\n\u201cThe man who\u2019s loud, threatening violence as he\u2019s walking down the street? I\u2019m not scared of him. I\u2019m afraid of the quiet man,\u201d he said, talking about Dan Alvaro\u2019s character in Bagong Hari. Thus, the title of the book was born.\nThe first chapter gives more insight into this moment, painting a picture of a sit-down interview with Mr. O\u2019Hara in the 1990s, when they managed to corner him backstage at his last performance of a play. (Though a famed film director and screenwriter, Mr. O\u2019Hara was also an actor in television and film, but was most prolific in theater.)\nMr. Vera explained that the experience of going through the man\u2019s filmography impressed him gradually as he went along, and hoped that the book could aid more people seeking to do the same.\nIn attendance at the launch was actor and production designer Frank Rivera. He gave a moving speech recalling his friendship with Mr. O\u2019Hara, and talked about how they would take ideas from the things they saw around them. During a walk along Roxas Boulevard, they saw a blind man with a guitar near the US Embassy \u2014 which eventually inspired the character played by Yoyoy Villame in Babae sa Breakwater.\nAnother anecdote he told was when Joel Torre had to drop out of a role in Babae sa Bubungang Langit due to scheduling conflicts, and Mr. O\u2019Hara asked Mr. Rivera to take his place. A moment of hesitation came when a scene required frontal nudity.\n\u201cSabi niya, artista ka naman. Gawin mo na para matuloy ang pelikula. Na-challenge ako. (He said, you\u2019re an actor. Do it so we can continue the film. I was challenged),\u201d Mr. Rivera recounted.\n\u201cHe was not a quiet man. He told stories, he told dreams, and he sang. He made me do things I did not want to do. I made him do things he did not want to do. And I miss him every day.\u201d\nAs for where to see Mr. O\u2019Hara\u2019s films, quite a few were restored and can be found on YouTube thanks to ABS-CBN\u2019s now defunct Sagip Pelikula program \u2014 Mga Bilanggong Birhen, Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos, Bulaklak sa City Jail, and Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak.\nLeo Katigbak, who used to head the film restoration initiative before it closed, said that \u201ca lot of young people now are rediscovering classics.\u201d\n\u201cThere\u2019s a resurgence of interest in all things old. I\u2019m glad we were able to do a lot of that in ABS-CBN. Right now, I\u2019m a consultant with the FDCP (Film Development Council of the Philippines), so we\u2019re focusing on restoring a lot of movies,\u201d he said.\nOne of these is Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, directed by Lino Brocka and co-written by both Brocka and O\u2019Hara.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great time to be a cineaste, to be a film buff,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to restore more movies while a lot of the people who actually worked on them are still around.\u201d\nThe Quiet Man: The Films of Mario O\u2019Hara is published by Archivo 1984. The book is available to order via archivo1984.com. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-05-01T00:08:09+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-30T18:07:04+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Vera-book1.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=746080", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/29/746080/bridging-the-past-and-the-future-museo-del-galeon-as-a-center-of-maritime-studies/", "title": "Bridging the past and the future: Museo del Gale\u00f3n as a center of maritime studies", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nPHILIPPINE history contains treasure troves beyond the same dozen blurry, photocopied pictures circulated in textbooks \u2014 and there\u2019s now an institution that makes the 1500s to 1700s accessible today.
\nMuseo del Gale\u00f3n, a museum centered on seafaring during the Spanish galleon trade, will fill an overlooked, 250-year gap in history. Opening to the public from May 1 onwards, it is also \u201ccrucial to the Philippines\u2019 maritime future,\u201d said historian Manuel L. Quezon III, who is the executive director of the Museo del Gale\u00f3n, at a press briefing last week.
\n\u201cThis is a museum that features time travel through a giant representation of a galleon,\u201d he said, referring to the full-scale reconstruction of the 17th century ship Gale\u00f3n Esp\u00edritu Santo, which serves as the centerpiece of the museum.
\n\u201cYou are going to be brought on a journey to a part of our national life, our national story, which you perhaps never knew existed, but you\u2019ll discover is part of everyday life.\u201d
\nLocated at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, the museum is housed in a four-level, dome-shaped structure spanning about 9,000 square meters. But in addition to its experiential thrust, it aims to be a center for maritime studies.
\nGALLERIES
\nAside from the centerpiece, which represents the 181 ships that linked Asia to the Americas from 1565 to 1815, there are two other galleries \u2014 about the early Filipinos as ancient mariners with their balanghais, and about Ferdinand Magellan\u2019s landing in Cebu which was a key transpacific encounter in maritime history.
Mr. Quezon pointed out that most of the vegetables listed in the folk song \u201cBahay Kubo\u201d were brought to the Philippines through the galleon trade, as well as the Filipino words pitaka, tiangge, palengke, nanay, and tatay (wallet, bazaar/flea market, public market, mother, and father) which originate from indigenous Mexico. So, a third gallery, which is opening in October, will center on the sociocultural exchange made possible by the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade.
\n\u201cThis museum is about rediscovering and celebrating who we are, and it\u2019s different from other museums because it\u2019s experiential. You can explore, touch, and engage with the ship,\u201d he said.
\nMore importantly, Museo del Gale\u00f3n has a goal of inculcating an interest in Philippine shipbuilding and seafaring, made possible through a fourth gallery, also set to open in October, about the Philippines\u2019 contemporary maritime history.
\n\u201cFrom the perspective of industry, the museum serves as a link between past and present, from the shipbuilders and crews of those galleons to the Filipinos who make up the bulk of seafarers today,\u201d said Philippine Transmarine Carriers Group of Companies\u2019 chief executive officer, Gerardo A. Borromeo, who is also a member of the Museo del Gale\u00f3n board of trustees.
\n\u201cThrough this, we can feel pride for how we contributed to the start of what you can consider globalization,\u201d he noted. \u201cThis is a chance to raise the level of dignity of modern seafarers, who we can consider global maritime professionals. We now have an opportunity to raise the standard, raise awareness, and build pride.\u201d
\nLEARNING CENTER
\nThe Museo del Gale\u00f3n will be working closely with schools, universities, tour operators, and maritime institutions to offer tour packages and research facilities for various educational endeavors.
\u201cFor the younger ones, it\u2019s designed to be a living textbook. We encourage everyone to interact and feel what it was like to be a sailor in the galleons,\u201d said Victor L. Gelano, managing director of the Museo del Gale\u00f3n. \u201cWe\u2019ll welcome students, academics, historians, and as many people as possible.\u201d
\nPatrons are welcome to sponsor or gift tickets to local government units and public schools, so that the underserved can visit the museum, he added.
\nThe museum is also large enough to serve as a place to hold company events and international conferences, for those who want a venue with a piece of Filipino culture.
\nTheir projection for the number of expected visitors is about 250,000 a year, largely comprised of student groups, people walking in from the nearby mall, and foreigners. Meanwhile, future-looking facilities will cater to researchers.
\nThe Ocean Learning Center is one, touted as a \u201chub for education, sustainability, and collaboration,\u201d with a digital library of resources about the galleon trade and Philippine maritime history organized and made accessible to the world\u2019s scholars.
\n\u201cIt will be a space in the museum with world-class communication technology that welcomes research and discussions,\u201d said Mr. Gelano. \u201cThey can present research and hold discourse there.\u201d
\nMr. Quezon explained that the importance of research can be found in both the past and present. \u201cWe\u2019re all paying attention to the Strait of Hormuz now, but there was a similar bottleneck 500 years ago when the Silk Road was closed due to the crusades. They had to find another route and that led to the galleon trade,\u201d he said.
\nMUSEUM TOUR
\nUpon going up the escalator from the welcome hall to the main museum space, the massive structure of the Gale\u00f3n Esp\u00edritu Santo immediately fills your vision. It is 30 meters high and 40 meters long, looking exactly like a seaworthy galleon \u2014 except it isn\u2019t.
\u201cOne galleon ship required a forest\u2019s worth of narra or molave hardwood, which is a lot,\u201d Mr. Quezon told 大象传媒. \u201cThat\u2019s why this representation is made of plexiglass.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s not just any recreation, though. The craftsmen who made it are the same ones who are responsible for theme park attractions, so its resemblance to the real thing is a sight to behold.
\nAround the ship are 10 columns that tower from the second to the third level, encircling half of the galleon. Below the colonnade are displays on artifacts which were traded extensively during the galleon trade: flora, fauna, garments, religious items, and ceramics, to name a few.
\nBefore boarding the ship, the galleries offer an insight into Philippine maritime history. Gallery 1, which is about ancient mariners, has a mini balanghai with information about pre-Spanish era sea routes. Gallery 2 has paintings of the arrival of Christianity through Magellan and statues of key figures in the end of his voyage, like Lapulapu and Rajah Humabon.
\nBecause Galleries 3 and 4 are not yet open, the next part of the tour is boarding the ship. Stepping onto the deck and going inside makes one feel like they are a sailor getting ready for a voyage. The more imaginative visitors out there can think of themselves as a Filipino slave brought aboard due to polo y servicio*, which is how most shipbuilders and crew members got there, according to Mr. Quezon.
\nDuring the tour, he pointed out areas of the ship which offered insights to life back then, like the cannons on the sides which were used to fire at fleets of other countries or at pirates set to steal their goods, and the corner with barrels of salted meat or water which were meant to last for the months each voyage took.
\nUp on the deck is the most breathtaking part, where visitors can look at the mast and the starboard side and up at a panoramic LED screen displaying a vast seascape or night sky.
\nTHE ESP\u00cdRITU SANTO
\nMr. Quezon said that they selected the Gale\u00f3n Esp\u00edritu Santo, constructed in Cavite in 1603, to be the museum\u2019s centerpiece because it was a rare example of a ship that completed 10 peaceful voyages between Manila and Acapulco \u2014 or so they thought.
\u201cResearch showed that, though every galleon was a cargo vessel, very few had a tranquil existence. We found the most reliable and peaceful one was this ship, until history further revealed that when it was in retirement, it came out for one last battle,\u201d he said.
\nIt turns out that an episode of the FX series Shogun, where a galleon is captured by a Japanese warlord and has to make an escape, was based on the Esp\u00edritu Santo\u2019s very first voyage. They had found evidence of its misadventure upon further research.
\n\u201cMuch like a telenovela, this ship really represents our story,\u201d said Mr. Quezon. \u201cThese discoveries are the best example of how we piece things together by going into the history.\u201d
\nThe Museo del Gale\u00f3n was constructed based on the vision of its founding chairman, the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara. It is accredited by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and is a member of the International Congress of Maritime Museums, with many of its contents acquired with the help of the Embassy of Spain.
\nTickets to the museum will cost P675 for adults, P375 for children and private school students, and P275 for teachers and public school students. Discounted rates will be available for seniors and persons with disabilities. It will be open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting on May 1. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n* Polo y servicio was a Spanish colonial policy of mandatory, often unpaid, labor from Filipino males aged 16 to 60 for 40 days annually, later shortened to 15 days.
\n", "content_text": "1 of 3\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nPHILIPPINE history contains treasure troves beyond the same dozen blurry, photocopied pictures circulated in textbooks \u2014 and there\u2019s now an institution that makes the 1500s to 1700s accessible today.\nMuseo del Gale\u00f3n, a museum centered on seafaring during the Spanish galleon trade, will fill an overlooked, 250-year gap in history. Opening to the public from May 1 onwards, it is also \u201ccrucial to the Philippines\u2019 maritime future,\u201d said historian Manuel L. Quezon III, who is the executive director of the Museo del Gale\u00f3n, at a press briefing last week.\n\u201cThis is a museum that features time travel through a giant representation of a galleon,\u201d he said, referring to the full-scale reconstruction of the 17th century ship Gale\u00f3n Esp\u00edritu Santo, which serves as the centerpiece of the museum.\n\u201cYou are going to be brought on a journey to a part of our national life, our national story, which you perhaps never knew existed, but you\u2019ll discover is part of everyday life.\u201d\nLocated at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, the museum is housed in a four-level, dome-shaped structure spanning about 9,000 square meters. But in addition to its experiential thrust, it aims to be a center for maritime studies.\nGALLERIES\nAside from the centerpiece, which represents the 181 ships that linked Asia to the Americas from 1565 to 1815, there are two other galleries \u2014 about the early Filipinos as ancient mariners with their balanghais, and about Ferdinand Magellan\u2019s landing in Cebu which was a key transpacific encounter in maritime history.\nMr. Quezon pointed out that most of the vegetables listed in the folk song \u201cBahay Kubo\u201d were brought to the Philippines through the galleon trade, as well as the Filipino words pitaka, tiangge, palengke, nanay, and tatay (wallet, bazaar/flea market, public market, mother, and father) which originate from indigenous Mexico. So, a third gallery, which is opening in October, will center on the sociocultural exchange made possible by the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade.\n\u201cThis museum is about rediscovering and celebrating who we are, and it\u2019s different from other museums because it\u2019s experiential. You can explore, touch, and engage with the ship,\u201d he said.\nMore importantly, Museo del Gale\u00f3n has a goal of inculcating an interest in Philippine shipbuilding and seafaring, made possible through a fourth gallery, also set to open in October, about the Philippines\u2019 contemporary maritime history.\n\u201cFrom the perspective of industry, the museum serves as a link between past and present, from the shipbuilders and crews of those galleons to the Filipinos who make up the bulk of seafarers today,\u201d said Philippine Transmarine Carriers Group of Companies\u2019 chief executive officer, Gerardo A. Borromeo, who is also a member of the Museo del Gale\u00f3n board of trustees. \n\u201cThrough this, we can feel pride for how we contributed to the start of what you can consider globalization,\u201d he noted. \u201cThis is a chance to raise the level of dignity of modern seafarers, who we can consider global maritime professionals. We now have an opportunity to raise the standard, raise awareness, and build pride.\u201d\nLEARNING CENTER\nThe Museo del Gale\u00f3n will be working closely with schools, universities, tour operators, and maritime institutions to offer tour packages and research facilities for various educational endeavors.\n\u201cFor the younger ones, it\u2019s designed to be a living textbook. We encourage everyone to interact and feel what it was like to be a sailor in the galleons,\u201d said Victor L. Gelano, managing director of the Museo del Gale\u00f3n. \u201cWe\u2019ll welcome students, academics, historians, and as many people as possible.\u201d\nPatrons are welcome to sponsor or gift tickets to local government units and public schools, so that the underserved can visit the museum, he added.\nThe museum is also large enough to serve as a place to hold company events and international conferences, for those who want a venue with a piece of Filipino culture.\nTheir projection for the number of expected visitors is about 250,000 a year, largely comprised of student groups, people walking in from the nearby mall, and foreigners. Meanwhile, future-looking facilities will cater to researchers.\nThe Ocean Learning Center is one, touted as a \u201chub for education, sustainability, and collaboration,\u201d with a digital library of resources about the galleon trade and Philippine maritime history organized and made accessible to the world\u2019s scholars.\n\u201cIt will be a space in the museum with world-class communication technology that welcomes research and discussions,\u201d said Mr. Gelano. \u201cThey can present research and hold discourse there.\u201d\nMr. Quezon explained that the importance of research can be found in both the past and present. \u201cWe\u2019re all paying attention to the Strait of Hormuz now, but there was a similar bottleneck 500 years ago when the Silk Road was closed due to the crusades. They had to find another route and that led to the galleon trade,\u201d he said.\nMUSEUM TOUR\nUpon going up the escalator from the welcome hall to the main museum space, the massive structure of the Gale\u00f3n Esp\u00edritu Santo immediately fills your vision. It is 30 meters high and 40 meters long, looking exactly like a seaworthy galleon \u2014 except it isn\u2019t.\n\u201cOne galleon ship required a forest\u2019s worth of narra or molave hardwood, which is a lot,\u201d Mr. Quezon told 大象传媒. \u201cThat\u2019s why this representation is made of plexiglass.\u201d\nIt\u2019s not just any recreation, though. The craftsmen who made it are the same ones who are responsible for theme park attractions, so its resemblance to the real thing is a sight to behold.\nAround the ship are 10 columns that tower from the second to the third level, encircling half of the galleon. Below the colonnade are displays on artifacts which were traded extensively during the galleon trade: flora, fauna, garments, religious items, and ceramics, to name a few.\nBefore boarding the ship, the galleries offer an insight into Philippine maritime history. Gallery 1, which is about ancient mariners, has a mini balanghai with information about pre-Spanish era sea routes. Gallery 2 has paintings of the arrival of Christianity through Magellan and statues of key figures in the end of his voyage, like Lapulapu and Rajah Humabon.\nBecause Galleries 3 and 4 are not yet open, the next part of the tour is boarding the ship. Stepping onto the deck and going inside makes one feel like they are a sailor getting ready for a voyage. The more imaginative visitors out there can think of themselves as a Filipino slave brought aboard due to polo y servicio*, which is how most shipbuilders and crew members got there, according to Mr. Quezon.\nDuring the tour, he pointed out areas of the ship which offered insights to life back then, like the cannons on the sides which were used to fire at fleets of other countries or at pirates set to steal their goods, and the corner with barrels of salted meat or water which were meant to last for the months each voyage took.\nUp on the deck is the most breathtaking part, where visitors can look at the mast and the starboard side and up at a panoramic LED screen displaying a vast seascape or night sky.\nTHE ESP\u00cdRITU SANTO\nMr. Quezon said that they selected the Gale\u00f3n Esp\u00edritu Santo, constructed in Cavite in 1603, to be the museum\u2019s centerpiece because it was a rare example of a ship that completed 10 peaceful voyages between Manila and Acapulco \u2014 or so they thought.\n\u201cResearch showed that, though every galleon was a cargo vessel, very few had a tranquil existence. We found the most reliable and peaceful one was this ship, until history further revealed that when it was in retirement, it came out for one last battle,\u201d he said.\nIt turns out that an episode of the FX series Shogun, where a galleon is captured by a Japanese warlord and has to make an escape, was based on the Esp\u00edritu Santo\u2019s very first voyage. They had found evidence of its misadventure upon further research.\n\u201cMuch like a telenovela, this ship really represents our story,\u201d said Mr. Quezon. \u201cThese discoveries are the best example of how we piece things together by going into the history.\u201d\nThe Museo del Gale\u00f3n was constructed based on the vision of its founding chairman, the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara. It is accredited by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and is a member of the International Congress of Maritime Museums, with many of its contents acquired with the help of the Embassy of Spain.\nTickets to the museum will cost P675 for adults, P375 for children and private school students, and P275 for teachers and public school students. Discounted rates will be available for seniors and persons with disabilities. It will be open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting on May 1. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana\n* Polo y servicio was a Spanish colonial policy of mandatory, often unpaid, labor from Filipino males aged 16 to 60 for 40 days annually, later shortened to 15 days.", "date_published": "2026-04-29T00:08:45+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-28T18:27:20+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260423_142856.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=746079", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/29/746079/when-glass-meets-stone/", "title": "When glass meets stone", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nWITH CREATIVITY, people can discover new things and mold interesting shapes out of seemingly ordinary materials. At MC Home Depot, an unlikely meeting of glass and stone, born from a collaboration between Ramon Orlina and David Kaufman, is on display.
\nTitled Rebirth, the exhibit features 12 of Mr. Kaufman\u2019s stone artworks alongside a unique sculptural piece that is the first in Philippine art history. The process was simple: he provided a white marble sculpture onto which Mr. Orlina attached segments of his signature carved green glass.
\nInterestingly, this is their first collaboration as artists and their first time mixing these two mediums.
\n\u201cWe met through my bronze statue project in Batangas, where he supplied the bronze from Thailand,\u201d Mr. Orlina said of Mr. Kaufman at the exhibit\u2019s launch on April 24.
\nThe eight-foot bronze statue of Our Lady of Caysasay, completed in December and inaugurated in January, is found in the courtyard of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal, Batangas.
\nHe said that it was a blessing that Mr. Kaufman, an architect and marble businessman, imported the bronze on his behalf for that project \u2014 from there another creative opportunity bloomed.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s an impressive work. After this, I was thinking that this is a good modern direction,\u201d Mr. Orlina said.
\nAs the more junior of the two, Mr. Kaufman explained that it was \u201ca miracle that he was given a chance.\u201d
\n\u201cRamon Orlina is a master glass sculptor, so this is a miracle that he made the choice to work with me. It was always my ambition to collaborate with such a master,\u201d he said. \u201cHe wants my work to have its own voice and identity, so that when our pieces come together, there are two artists in dialogue.\u201d
\nIt\u2019s not accurate to say that Mr. Kaufman is a total newbie in art. The Filipino-Spanish architect, who divides his time between Manila and Madrid, has dabbled in painting, photography, and sculpture.
\nHe told 大象传媒 that his architectural background makes his stone works unique compared to how traditional artists would perceive them.
\n\u201cTo most people, stone is just an architectural material,\u201d he said. \u201cMy goal with these pieces is to paint with stone.\u201d
\nRebirth features 12 stone artworks mounted as if they are canvases of their own, the blend of various colors and patterns challenging viewers\u2019 notions of vibrancy and texture on stone.
\n\u201cI produced these dozen works in the span of two weeks, so I simplified everything to zen. It\u2019s all very Japanese,\u201d he added.
\nAs for the collaboration with Mr. Orlina, the encounter of glass and stone is far from over, with the two agreeing that there is much to be improved in their prototype sculpture.
\n\u201cHe was forced to explore marble because of my proposal. We\u2019re really both learning because this is not yet finished, with components that we feel can be improved, especially the joinery,\u201d Mr. Kaufman explained. \u201cThis is the first time glass and stone have ever come together in Philippine glass history. We\u2019re still exploring how to laminate glass and stone because it\u2019s normally not put together.\u201d
\nHe added that Mr. Orlina\u2019s wife, Lay Ann, served as the quality control inspector for the work they put out. \u201cShe was really involved to make sure that this is the level that the Orlinas are looking for,\u201d he said.
\nMr. Orlina, who was responsible for the lamination and joinery part of the challenge, did not reveal the secrets behind how they plan to improve the prototype.
\nWhat he did say was how this would not be the last time the world sees a Kaufman-Orlina sculpture.
\n\u201cYou will see more of our works together,\u201d he said.
\nRebirth by David Kaufman runs until May 8 at MC Home Depot, on the 4th floor of Uptown Palazzo in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 5\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n STONE SCULPTURES by David Kaufman. \u2014 BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nWITH CREATIVITY, people can discover new things and mold interesting shapes out of seemingly ordinary materials. At MC Home Depot, an unlikely meeting of glass and stone, born from a collaboration between Ramon Orlina and David Kaufman, is on display.\nTitled Rebirth, the exhibit features 12 of Mr. Kaufman\u2019s stone artworks alongside a unique sculptural piece that is the first in Philippine art history. The process was simple: he provided a white marble sculpture onto which Mr. Orlina attached segments of his signature carved green glass.\nInterestingly, this is their first collaboration as artists and their first time mixing these two mediums.\n\u201cWe met through my bronze statue project in Batangas, where he supplied the bronze from Thailand,\u201d Mr. Orlina said of Mr. Kaufman at the exhibit\u2019s launch on April 24.\nThe eight-foot bronze statue of Our Lady of Caysasay, completed in December and inaugurated in January, is found in the courtyard of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Caysasay in Taal, Batangas.\nHe said that it was a blessing that Mr. Kaufman, an architect and marble businessman, imported the bronze on his behalf for that project \u2014 from there another creative opportunity bloomed.\n\u201cIt\u2019s an impressive work. After this, I was thinking that this is a good modern direction,\u201d Mr. Orlina said.\nAs the more junior of the two, Mr. Kaufman explained that it was \u201ca miracle that he was given a chance.\u201d\n\u201cRamon Orlina is a master glass sculptor, so this is a miracle that he made the choice to work with me. It was always my ambition to collaborate with such a master,\u201d he said. \u201cHe wants my work to have its own voice and identity, so that when our pieces come together, there are two artists in dialogue.\u201d\nIt\u2019s not accurate to say that Mr. Kaufman is a total newbie in art. The Filipino-Spanish architect, who divides his time between Manila and Madrid, has dabbled in painting, photography, and sculpture.\nHe told 大象传媒 that his architectural background makes his stone works unique compared to how traditional artists would perceive them.\n\u201cTo most people, stone is just an architectural material,\u201d he said. \u201cMy goal with these pieces is to paint with stone.\u201d\nRebirth features 12 stone artworks mounted as if they are canvases of their own, the blend of various colors and patterns challenging viewers\u2019 notions of vibrancy and texture on stone.\n\u201cI produced these dozen works in the span of two weeks, so I simplified everything to zen. It\u2019s all very Japanese,\u201d he added.\nAs for the collaboration with Mr. Orlina, the encounter of glass and stone is far from over, with the two agreeing that there is much to be improved in their prototype sculpture.\n\u201cHe was forced to explore marble because of my proposal. We\u2019re really both learning because this is not yet finished, with components that we feel can be improved, especially the joinery,\u201d Mr. Kaufman explained. \u201cThis is the first time glass and stone have ever come together in Philippine glass history. We\u2019re still exploring how to laminate glass and stone because it\u2019s normally not put together.\u201d\nHe added that Mr. Orlina\u2019s wife, Lay Ann, served as the quality control inspector for the work they put out. \u201cShe was really involved to make sure that this is the level that the Orlinas are looking for,\u201d he said.\nMr. Orlina, who was responsible for the lamination and joinery part of the challenge, did not reveal the secrets behind how they plan to improve the prototype.\nWhat he did say was how this would not be the last time the world sees a Kaufman-Orlina sculpture.\n\u201cYou will see more of our works together,\u201d he said.\nRebirth by David Kaufman runs until May 8 at MC Home Depot, on the 4th floor of Uptown Palazzo in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-29T00:07:45+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-28T18:26:00+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_172825.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=745741", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/28/745741/with-budget-cuts-fdcp-prioritizes-key-projects/", "title": "With budget cuts, FDCP prioritizes key projects", "content_html": "AT THE END of February, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) officially moved to a new building with the goal of re-establishing itself as a \u201chub and sanctuary for the country\u2019s filmic culture.\u201d This as recent budget cuts have forced it to look at its priorities, which include film restoration and developing an audience by focusing on Gen Z.
\nAlong with the Philippine Film Archive\u2019s vaults and the Cinematheque Centre theater, the agency left its original location in Manila\u2019s Kalaw St. for a new one in Intramuros named the Philippine Film Heritage Building.
\nFDCP Chairman Jose Javier Reyes told 大象传媒 in an exclusive interview in April that the building will be \u201chost to many activities, as part of Intramuros which is a cultural hub of the city.\u201d
\n\u201cWe will be doing a lot of things as part of this hub. We are right beside Baluarte de San Diego, where we can eventually have open-air screenings. We can also have screenings in Centro de Turismo and Fort Santiago,\u201d Mr. Reyes said.
\nSince its groundbreaking in 2023, the building\u2019s construction was hampered by limited funding and delays. Now that it has finally been completed, the FDCP has been running its programs through the transition as smoothly as possible.
\nFILM ARCHIVING
\nAs seen in the name, the Philippine Film Heritage Building primarily serves as a film vault, with temperature-controlled storage space and scanning machines for digitization found on the upper floors.
Mr. Reyes said that FDCP is in talks with studios like ABS-CBN and Viva, which are seeking to restore their old films. The previous head of ABS-CBN\u2019s Sagip Pelikula film restoration initiative, Leo Katigbak, now works as a consultant for the Philippine Film Archive.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re capable of all this because we were able to get another digitizing machine that was donated by the government,\u201d he said. \u201cThe construction of this building plus the addition of the equipment is more or less congruent with developments we\u2019re working on.\u201d
\nCiting \u201cmajor budget cuts,\u201d Mr. Reyes also explained that they have had to prioritize key projects.
\n\u201cWith what\u2019s happening in the world right now, we have to be more conscientious about budget. What we spend is taxpayers\u2019 money, so it better be worth it,\u201d he said, adding that they will try to restore \u201cas many films as possible\u201d before his term as FDCP chair ends in 2028.
\nAmong the films that are being restored are Maryo J. de los Reyes\u2019 coming-of-age drama Magnifico (2003) and Lino Brocka\u2019s social drama Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974).
\nAside from films themselves, the FDCP is also working on a digitized script library which will house film scripts for the use of film students, scholars, and enthusiasts.
\nCINEMATHEQUE
\nThe Philippine Film Heritage Building also houses the Cinematheque Centre Manila \u2014 an 80-seat theater equipped with a 2K DCP-capable laser projector and a Dolby Atmos-fitted sound system.
Mr. Reyes told 大象传媒 that this will not only be used for film showings, but also for activities like forums and workshops.
\n\u201cThis hopefully will become the center of film activities in the country,\u201d he said. A recent back-to-back screening of Antoinette Jadaone\u2019s films was fully booked, the audience composed mainly of students.
\nThe FDCP is also looking to open more Cinematheques outside of Metro Manila \u2014 namely in Baguio and Cebu.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a clamor in those places,\u201d Mr. Reyes said. \u201cThese are venues where we can show restored films for free, to really effectively bring them to the public. Especially with the oil crisis and world incidents affecting people, we need to find ways of showing free films. People will not go to the cinema, so the cinema will have to go to the people.\u201d
\nFILM VIEWERSHIP
\nAs per studies commissioned by the FDCP for the 10-year Philippine Film Industry Roadmap, Filipinos find it more practical to watch films on streaming platforms rather than buy tickets to see them in cinemas.
This is a reality that the film industry is dealing with right now, according to Mr. Reyes, notwithstanding changes brought about by artificial intelligence (AI).
\n\u201cWith streaming, you could have an eternity of watching movies at your own convenience, at your own time, at your own comfort. We realize that, but it doesn\u2019t mean that we just give up on cinema,\u201d he explained. \u201cThere\u2019s still the cinematic experience, with certain movies that are best watched with others in the right setting.\u201d
\nThe FDCP\u2019s programming includes licensing foreign films that aren\u2019t usually picked up by commercial distributors, like Cannes titles Sentimental Value from Norway and It Was Just An Accident from Iran.
\n\u201cThese are films that you have to bring here, for the niche audience and for the education of the people. We have to give them the opportunity to see foreign films,\u201d said Mr. Reyes.
\nHe added that supporting documentary, animation, and short film through grants and film festivals is another thrust of their programs.
\nAUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
\nThe FDCP has its own streaming platform, Juanflix, which offers a selection of restored classics and foreign films for just P49 a month. The agency fully launched it last year, with an emphasis to \u201censure that films can be consumed and appreciated by the Filipino audience.\u201d
This is one way that a love for film can be cultivated in the next generation.
\nMr. Reyes said that after he talked about the streaming service on directors Antoinette Jadaone and JP Habac\u2019s Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, Juanflix subscriptions rose from 3,000 to 4,000, which was beyond the capacity of their servers.
\n\u201cWe had to increase our server capacity because of that. It\u2019s a very good problem. It shows that Juanflix is something really worthy of the investment that we put in \u2014 because it\u2019s expensive to maintain \u2014 but you know it\u2019s reaching out to an audience,\u201d he said.
\nThe most viewed film on the platform is Jopy Arnaldo\u2019s indie romance Gitling, which premiered in the Cinemalaya film festival in 2023. For Mr. Reyes, it\u2019s proof that there\u2019s \u201ca new, particular audience watching,\u201d since it\u2019s not the kind of film that makes money in a mainstream commercial run.
\nHe also pointed to a recent high-grossing film, The Loved One by Irene Villamor, starring Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales, which made P300 million in the box office \u2014 a big number for a non-Metro Manila Film Festival movie.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a very Gen Z film, and it proves that the great bulk of the audience we have now with purchasing power are the young professionals,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not that we should make movies just for Gen Z, but we should be focusing audience development for them.\u201d
\nTHE FUTURE OF CINEMA
\nOn galvanizing audiences to watch films physically in theaters, Mr. Reyes referred to the situation as \u201cchicken-and-egg.\u201d
\u201cThey will not go out if there is nothing to watch, but there\u2019s also the challenge of convincing producers to up their ante and create the excitement in the audiences,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe only way to do that is to understand the audience, not underestimate them.\u201d
\nWith alternative forms of entertainment like vertical content, YouTube videos, and AI-generated content, the challenge now is to \u201ctouch the nerve of the audience, by first understanding them.\u201d
\n\u201cOur role is also to help the younger generation understand the history of film, to see what direction they\u2019re going to go. Without Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, and Marilou Diaz-Abaya, the likes of Joel Lamangan, Chito Ro\u00f1o, and I would not have existed,\u201d Mr. Reyes said.
\nThe FDCP\u2019s programs include acting masterclasses with directors like Laurice Guillen and collaborations with junior and senior high schools to improve their film appreciation courses. The Philippine Film Heritage Building aims to be the center of these programs.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a continuum, a line, where the next generation must know the contributions of those that came before, not to duplicate, but to find a new direction,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cWe really want this to be a hub for students, for them to learn and be comfortable here.\u201d
\nThe Philippine Film Heritage Building is located on Lot 2, Block 51, Sta. Lucia St., Intramuros, Manila. Aside from the FDCP and Cinematheque Centre Manila\u2019s social media pages, the schedule for upcoming film screenings can be found on this website: https://sites.google.com/fdcp.gov.ph/cinemathequemanila/. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "as it re-establishes itself in Intramuros\nAT THE END of February, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) officially moved to a new building with the goal of re-establishing itself as a \u201chub and sanctuary for the country\u2019s filmic culture.\u201d This as recent budget cuts have forced it to look at its priorities, which include film restoration and developing an audience by focusing on Gen Z.\nAlong with the Philippine Film Archive\u2019s vaults and the Cinematheque Centre theater, the agency left its original location in Manila\u2019s Kalaw St. for a new one in Intramuros named the Philippine Film Heritage Building.\nFDCP Chairman Jose Javier Reyes told 大象传媒 in an exclusive interview in April that the building will be \u201chost to many activities, as part of Intramuros which is a cultural hub of the city.\u201d\n\u201cWe will be doing a lot of things as part of this hub. We are right beside Baluarte de San Diego, where we can eventually have open-air screenings. We can also have screenings in Centro de Turismo and Fort Santiago,\u201d Mr. Reyes said.\nSince its groundbreaking in 2023, the building\u2019s construction was hampered by limited funding and delays. Now that it has finally been completed, the FDCP has been running its programs through the transition as smoothly as possible.\nFILM ARCHIVING\nAs seen in the name, the Philippine Film Heritage Building primarily serves as a film vault, with temperature-controlled storage space and scanning machines for digitization found on the upper floors.\nMr. Reyes said that FDCP is in talks with studios like ABS-CBN and Viva, which are seeking to restore their old films. The previous head of ABS-CBN\u2019s Sagip Pelikula film restoration initiative, Leo Katigbak, now works as a consultant for the Philippine Film Archive.\n\u201cWe\u2019re capable of all this because we were able to get another digitizing machine that was donated by the government,\u201d he said. \u201cThe construction of this building plus the addition of the equipment is more or less congruent with developments we\u2019re working on.\u201d\nCiting \u201cmajor budget cuts,\u201d Mr. Reyes also explained that they have had to prioritize key projects. \n\u201cWith what\u2019s happening in the world right now, we have to be more conscientious about budget. What we spend is taxpayers\u2019 money, so it better be worth it,\u201d he said, adding that they will try to restore \u201cas many films as possible\u201d before his term as FDCP chair ends in 2028.\nAmong the films that are being restored are Maryo J. de los Reyes\u2019 coming-of-age drama Magnifico (2003) and Lino Brocka\u2019s social drama Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974).\nAside from films themselves, the FDCP is also working on a digitized script library which will house film scripts for the use of film students, scholars, and enthusiasts.\nCINEMATHEQUE\nThe Philippine Film Heritage Building also houses the Cinematheque Centre Manila \u2014 an 80-seat theater equipped with a 2K DCP-capable laser projector and a Dolby Atmos-fitted sound system.\nMr. Reyes told 大象传媒 that this will not only be used for film showings, but also for activities like forums and workshops. \n\u201cThis hopefully will become the center of film activities in the country,\u201d he said. A recent back-to-back screening of Antoinette Jadaone\u2019s films was fully booked, the audience composed mainly of students.\nThe FDCP is also looking to open more Cinematheques outside of Metro Manila \u2014 namely in Baguio and Cebu.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a clamor in those places,\u201d Mr. Reyes said. \u201cThese are venues where we can show restored films for free, to really effectively bring them to the public. Especially with the oil crisis and world incidents affecting people, we need to find ways of showing free films. People will not go to the cinema, so the cinema will have to go to the people.\u201d\nFILM VIEWERSHIP\nAs per studies commissioned by the FDCP for the 10-year Philippine Film Industry Roadmap, Filipinos find it more practical to watch films on streaming platforms rather than buy tickets to see them in cinemas.\nThis is a reality that the film industry is dealing with right now, according to Mr. Reyes, notwithstanding changes brought about by artificial intelligence (AI).\n\u201cWith streaming, you could have an eternity of watching movies at your own convenience, at your own time, at your own comfort. We realize that, but it doesn\u2019t mean that we just give up on cinema,\u201d he explained. \u201cThere\u2019s still the cinematic experience, with certain movies that are best watched with others in the right setting.\u201d\nThe FDCP\u2019s programming includes licensing foreign films that aren\u2019t usually picked up by commercial distributors, like Cannes titles Sentimental Value from Norway and It Was Just An Accident from Iran. \n\u201cThese are films that you have to bring here, for the niche audience and for the education of the people. We have to give them the opportunity to see foreign films,\u201d said Mr. Reyes.\nHe added that supporting documentary, animation, and short film through grants and film festivals is another thrust of their programs.\nAUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT\nThe FDCP has its own streaming platform, Juanflix, which offers a selection of restored classics and foreign films for just P49 a month. The agency fully launched it last year, with an emphasis to \u201censure that films can be consumed and appreciated by the Filipino audience.\u201d\nThis is one way that a love for film can be cultivated in the next generation.\nMr. Reyes said that after he talked about the streaming service on directors Antoinette Jadaone and JP Habac\u2019s Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, Juanflix subscriptions rose from 3,000 to 4,000, which was beyond the capacity of their servers.\n\u201cWe had to increase our server capacity because of that. It\u2019s a very good problem. It shows that Juanflix is something really worthy of the investment that we put in \u2014 because it\u2019s expensive to maintain \u2014 but you know it\u2019s reaching out to an audience,\u201d he said.\nThe most viewed film on the platform is Jopy Arnaldo\u2019s indie romance Gitling, which premiered in the Cinemalaya film festival in 2023. For Mr. Reyes, it\u2019s proof that there\u2019s \u201ca new, particular audience watching,\u201d since it\u2019s not the kind of film that makes money in a mainstream commercial run. \nHe also pointed to a recent high-grossing film, The Loved One by Irene Villamor, starring Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales, which made P300 million in the box office \u2014 a big number for a non-Metro Manila Film Festival movie.\n\u201cIt\u2019s a very Gen Z film, and it proves that the great bulk of the audience we have now with purchasing power are the young professionals,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not that we should make movies just for Gen Z, but we should be focusing audience development for them.\u201d\nTHE FUTURE OF CINEMA\nOn galvanizing audiences to watch films physically in theaters, Mr. Reyes referred to the situation as \u201cchicken-and-egg.\u201d\n\u201cThey will not go out if there is nothing to watch, but there\u2019s also the challenge of convincing producers to up their ante and create the excitement in the audiences,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe only way to do that is to understand the audience, not underestimate them.\u201d\nWith alternative forms of entertainment like vertical content, YouTube videos, and AI-generated content, the challenge now is to \u201ctouch the nerve of the audience, by first understanding them.\u201d\n\u201cOur role is also to help the younger generation understand the history of film, to see what direction they\u2019re going to go. Without Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, and Marilou Diaz-Abaya, the likes of Joel Lamangan, Chito Ro\u00f1o, and I would not have existed,\u201d Mr. Reyes said.\nThe FDCP\u2019s programs include acting masterclasses with directors like Laurice Guillen and collaborations with junior and senior high schools to improve their film appreciation courses. The Philippine Film Heritage Building aims to be the center of these programs.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a continuum, a line, where the next generation must know the contributions of those that came before, not to duplicate, but to find a new direction,\u201d he added.\n\u201cWe really want this to be a hub for students, for them to learn and be comfortable here.\u201d\nThe Philippine Film Heritage Building is located on Lot 2, Block 51, Sta. Lucia St., Intramuros, Manila. Aside from the FDCP and Cinematheque Centre Manila\u2019s social media pages, the schedule for upcoming film screenings can be found on this website: https://sites.google.com/fdcp.gov.ph/cinemathequemanila/. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-28T00:07:19+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-27T18:11:32+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FDCP-Cinematheque-theater-official-photo.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "AT THE END of February, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) officially moved to a new building with the goal of re-establishing itself as a \u201chub and sanctuary for the country\u2019s filmic culture.\u201d This as recent budget cuts have forced it to look at its priorities, which include film restoration and developing an audience by focusing on Gen Z." }, { "id": "/?p=745740", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/28/745740/japanese-and-filipino-talent-come-together/", "title": "Japanese and Filipino talent come together", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SDJ-Main-Poster_updated.jpg\")
THE NEXT EVENT commemorating the Japan-Philippines Friendship Year is a special performance called Stella Dance Jam, where globally acclaimed Filipino-Japanese dancer and choreographer Rie Hata (stylized as RIEHATA) will join forces with P-pop group SB19.
Taking place on June 20 and 21 at The Theatre at Solaire in Para\u00f1aque City, this dance show marks the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines, presented by Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM).
\nWhat sets the performance apart is that it will also feature young dancers, selected through auditions in both Japan and the Philippines under the guidance of RIEHATA herself. The event\u2019s name, Stella Dance Jam, refers to its goal of \u201cbringing together the next generation of stellas, or rising stars, from across borders.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s my first time collaborating with anyone from the Philippines and that\u2019s been my goal since I was little. I wanted to use my talent to be a bridge between Philippines and Japan, but I didn\u2019t know where to start,\u201d said Ms. Hata at a press conference on April 24.
\nAs a half-Filipino, half-Japanese dancer and choreographer, her motivation is to \u201cgive everyone the chance to be a star.\u201d
\n\u201cEveryone has talent but some people don\u2019t believe in themselves, just because they don\u2019t live in Manila and have opportunities,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m sure there are so many talented kids all over the Philippines.\u201d
\nMs. Hata, who has choreographed for big K-pop and hip-hop acts and runs a dance studio in Japan, said that she has always stayed in touch with Philippine culture through her mother, who is from Cebu.
\n\u201cMy mom is very strong and positive. Even though we\u2019re not a rich family, she always believed in me. She was always supportive. I get that energy from her, and with that, I want to cheer on everyone,\u201d she explained. \u201cI want to give that positivity, happiness, and strength to the next generation.\u201d
\nPhilippine auditions were held in Davao on April 25 and in Manila on April 26. In the future, JFM will be continuing the event, with auditions held in more cities for a nationwide reach.
\n\u201cSomeday, we will have more auditions all over the country. Maybe next year or sometime in the future we can go to other cities like Cebu and Iloilo,\u201d said Ben Suzuki, JFM president, at the press conference.
\nOn getting RIEHATA for the project, he said that her \u201cunique identity\u201d drove them to invite her as a key figure to commemorate Philippines-Japan diplomatic relations.
\n\u201cShe is a symbol of the future of two countries. Through her, this is not just a dance project, but a symbol of our future,\u201d he said.
\nAs for what to expect from her, SB19, and the new dancers, Ms. Hata summarized it as \u201clove, energy, and passion.\u201d
\n\u201cIn the auditions, I\u2019ve been looking for good energy, those who really love dance and have passion for it. The techniques and skills can be taught, but those things you have to have in you,\u201d she said.
\nThe auditions were open to people aged 18-39 years old. There is no set number of dancers yet to be selected, though Ms. Hata said it could be somewhere between 10 and 30.
\n\u201cThis is just the beginning. I\u2019ll do my best to continue this event and visit other cities. Next time I\u2019m hoping to have auditions for kids as well,\u201d she added.
\nThe new dancers, aside from sharing the stage with her and SB19, will also be able to make more connections after gaining exposure through the show.
\nMs. Hata concluded that there should be many more joint collaborations for the two countries\u2019 dance and entertainment industries to move forward as one.
\n\u201cI visited the Philippines as a child and only recently could I come back. My relatives would always say that they want to work and pursue their dreams outside of the country, with OFWs going to the US or Japan,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cNow, a lot of people are interested in going to the Philippines, because our entertainment industries have people like SB19, a world-class P-pop artist. Those kinds of things can make people aware,\u201d she continued.
\n\u201cThey can go to Korea for K-pop and to the US for mainstream pop, but the Philippines also has something to offer.\u201d
\nTickets for Stella Dance Jam are limited to those aged 18 and above and will be available via TicketWorld starting May 23. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "RIEHATA, SB19, and new dancers share the stage\nTHE NEXT EVENT commemorating the Japan-Philippines Friendship Year is a special performance called Stella Dance Jam, where globally acclaimed Filipino-Japanese dancer and choreographer Rie Hata (stylized as RIEHATA) will join forces with P-pop group SB19.\nTaking place on June 20 and 21 at The Theatre at Solaire in Para\u00f1aque City, this dance show marks the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines, presented by Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM).\nWhat sets the performance apart is that it will also feature young dancers, selected through auditions in both Japan and the Philippines under the guidance of RIEHATA herself. The event\u2019s name, Stella Dance Jam, refers to its goal of \u201cbringing together the next generation of stellas, or rising stars, from across borders.\u201d\n\u201cIt\u2019s my first time collaborating with anyone from the Philippines and that\u2019s been my goal since I was little. I wanted to use my talent to be a bridge between Philippines and Japan, but I didn\u2019t know where to start,\u201d said Ms. Hata at a press conference on April 24.\nAs a half-Filipino, half-Japanese dancer and choreographer, her motivation is to \u201cgive everyone the chance to be a star.\u201d\n\u201cEveryone has talent but some people don\u2019t believe in themselves, just because they don\u2019t live in Manila and have opportunities,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m sure there are so many talented kids all over the Philippines.\u201d\nMs. Hata, who has choreographed for big K-pop and hip-hop acts and runs a dance studio in Japan, said that she has always stayed in touch with Philippine culture through her mother, who is from Cebu.\n\u201cMy mom is very strong and positive. Even though we\u2019re not a rich family, she always believed in me. She was always supportive. I get that energy from her, and with that, I want to cheer on everyone,\u201d she explained. \u201cI want to give that positivity, happiness, and strength to the next generation.\u201d\nPhilippine auditions were held in Davao on April 25 and in Manila on April 26. In the future, JFM will be continuing the event, with auditions held in more cities for a nationwide reach.\n\u201cSomeday, we will have more auditions all over the country. Maybe next year or sometime in the future we can go to other cities like Cebu and Iloilo,\u201d said Ben Suzuki, JFM president, at the press conference.\nOn getting RIEHATA for the project, he said that her \u201cunique identity\u201d drove them to invite her as a key figure to commemorate Philippines-Japan diplomatic relations.\n\u201cShe is a symbol of the future of two countries. Through her, this is not just a dance project, but a symbol of our future,\u201d he said.\nAs for what to expect from her, SB19, and the new dancers, Ms. Hata summarized it as \u201clove, energy, and passion.\u201d\n\u201cIn the auditions, I\u2019ve been looking for good energy, those who really love dance and have passion for it. The techniques and skills can be taught, but those things you have to have in you,\u201d she said.\nThe auditions were open to people aged 18-39 years old. There is no set number of dancers yet to be selected, though Ms. Hata said it could be somewhere between 10 and 30.\n\u201cThis is just the beginning. I\u2019ll do my best to continue this event and visit other cities. Next time I\u2019m hoping to have auditions for kids as well,\u201d she added.\nThe new dancers, aside from sharing the stage with her and SB19, will also be able to make more connections after gaining exposure through the show.\nMs. Hata concluded that there should be many more joint collaborations for the two countries\u2019 dance and entertainment industries to move forward as one.\n\u201cI visited the Philippines as a child and only recently could I come back. My relatives would always say that they want to work and pursue their dreams outside of the country, with OFWs going to the US or Japan,\u201d she said.\n\u201cNow, a lot of people are interested in going to the Philippines, because our entertainment industries have people like SB19, a world-class P-pop artist. Those kinds of things can make people aware,\u201d she continued.\n\u201cThey can go to Korea for K-pop and to the US for mainstream pop, but the Philippines also has something to offer.\u201d\nTickets for Stella Dance Jam are limited to those aged 18 and above and will be available via TicketWorld starting May 23. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-28T00:06:18+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-27T18:11:29+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SDJ-Main-Poster_updated-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "THE NEXT EVENT commemorating the Japan-Philippines Friendship Year is a special performance called Stella Dance Jam, where globally acclaimed Filipino-Japanese dancer and choreographer Rie Hata (stylized as RIEHATA) will join forces with P-pop group SB19." }, { "id": "/?p=745113", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/24/745113/taking-care-of-pets-at-the-start-of-their-lives/", "title": "Taking care of pets at the start of their lives", "content_html": "FRENCH pet nutrition company Royal Canin, which offers an array of cat and dog food products in the Philippines, has introduced a campaign that aims to support families during the \u201cstart of life\u201d stage for puppies and kittens.
\nThe Puppy & Kitten Con, held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Para\u00f1aque City on April 18 and 19, marked the first experiential event under the company\u2019s Project Royal Beginnings.
\n\u201cOur goal is to meet pet parents at the very start of their journey, when questions are plentiful and confidence is still forming,\u201d said Gerard Poa, Royal Canin Philippines market head, at a press conference on April 18 as the weekend event started.
\n\u201cThe first months of a puppy or kitten\u2019s life determine their long-term health, like with human babies whose first 1,000 days are crucial. It\u2019s very much the same for pets,\u201d he added.
\nFueled by growing pet ownership among Filipinos and addressing the lack of education about early nutrition and care, Royal Canin aims to \u201ctranslate complex principles into guidance that pet parents could apply in their every-day routines.\u201d
\nEXPERT-LED CONVERSATIONS
\nThe Puppy & Kitten Con welcomed pet owners and their fur babies to step into guided discussions, interactive games, and immersive learning zones. Located in the activity center of the bustling mall, there were booths with veterinary professionals and pet product specialists who could offer insights into feeding habits and routines.
![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Michael-Sager-and-Jodi-Sta-Maria-at-Puppy-and-Kitten-Con.jpg\")
One activity brought celebrities Jodi Sta. Maria and Michael Sager to the stage, where they shared stories about rescue and pet ownership, including the lessons they learned along the way.
\nDecisions made at the early stages influence immunity, development, digestion, and long-term resilience, according to Royal Canin Philippines health affairs manager and veterinarian Dr. Kitsie Torres. She told the press that \u201cpets whose owners invested in their nutrition and regularly brought them to the vet tend to live longer lives.\u201d
\nOVERFEEDING
\nThough Puppy & Kitten Con is a big activation, it is only an entry point into learning about taking care of one\u2019s pet, she said. Royal Canin\u2019s digital platforms and membership program, Royal Canin Club, are examples of resources that pet owners can use to break bad habits.
![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Dog-at-the-interactive-learning-zone.jpg\")
\u201cOne thing that Filipino owners tend to do is give too much, especially at the puppy and kitten stage. They will become picky and greedy the more they eat food that\u2019s not theirs,\u201d Ms. Torres said.
\nShe pointed out that even giving treats is a way pets get overfed, which is unnecessary when many puppies and kittens view \u201cattention or cuddles as a treat on its own.\u201d
\n\u201cObesity is becoming a problem. In the early 2000s, you wouldn\u2019t see a lot of obese cats and dogs, and now they\u2019re everywhere,\u201d she explained. \u201cAn obese pet\u2019s lifespan decreases by two years.\u201d
\nSPECIALIZING
\nThere is also the matter of feeding all pets the same thing, when their various ages, sizes, breeds, and health concerns must be taken into account. Royal Canin offers special diets depending on the breed \u2014 examples for dogs are the shih-tzu with sensitive skin and coat and the golden retriever with a sensitive heart; for cats, the British shorthair with a stocky build requires more nutrients.
Mr. Poa told 大象传媒 that the most basic pet food that owners can get from them are based on the projected weight of the puppy or kitten, spanning extra small, mini, medium, and large breeds.
\n\u201cIf you want to go a level higher, then you can get the food for specific breeds designed to address their predispositions in health,\u201d he said. \u201cWe also have products for coat care, for urinary problems, for stress and anxiety, and a lot of other concerns.\u201d
\nAside from nutrition, \u201cStart of Life\u201d education encompasses a slew of other routines, like vaccination and check-ups.
\nPARTNERSHIPS
\nMs. Torres talked about how care should start from the pregnancy of the mother.
\u201cYou should always bring your pets to the vet to prepare for giving birth. Prenatal care exists for animals, too,\u201d she explained. \u201cStart of life starts at pregnancy. These pregnant dogs and cats have to have a good diet.\u201d
\nWith an estimate of there being over 26 million pet dogs and over 8 million pet cats in the Philippines, Royal Canin is partnering with various vet clinics for maternity program packages and pediatrics program packages to en-courage better care. These encompass delivery, vaccination, check-up, deworming, and proper nutrition for the first six months of life.
\nFor Ms. Torres, it\u2019s frustrating to see that making sure pets are fully vaccinated is a bare minimum that is often not met.
\n\u201cWhen their vaccinations are complete, that\u2019s when you can invite people with pets to your home or take them out in public,\u201d she said. \u201cI worry when I see small pets that I know are likely not yet fully vaccinated walking around. You have to wait.\u201d
\nShe also advised that socialization with other people and animals best starts at home. Introducing puppies and kittens to sounds, smells, and eventually other people should be gradual.
\nMr. Poa noted that this is why part of Royal Canin\u2019s thrust when it comes to responsible pet ownership is at least bringing them to the vet.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s driving the education, telling them to have their pets assessed by a veterinarian,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to partner with vet clinics to make sure that people will really put the health of their pets at the forefront.\u201d
\nThis includes choices like spaying and neutering to avoid overpopulation and possible abandonment, as well as improving the quality of life of a pet that doesn\u2019t need to reproduce. For more expert advice on pet care and nutrition, interested parties can join the Royal Canin Club through this link: https://bit.ly/RCCPH, or visit Royal Canin\u2019s official website and social channels. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "Royal Canin launches puppy and kitten health campaign\nFRENCH pet nutrition company Royal Canin, which offers an array of cat and dog food products in the Philippines, has introduced a campaign that aims to support families during the \u201cstart of life\u201d stage for puppies and kittens.\nThe Puppy & Kitten Con, held at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Para\u00f1aque City on April 18 and 19, marked the first experiential event under the company\u2019s Project Royal Beginnings.\n\u201cOur goal is to meet pet parents at the very start of their journey, when questions are plentiful and confidence is still forming,\u201d said Gerard Poa, Royal Canin Philippines market head, at a press conference on April 18 as the weekend event started.\n\u201cThe first months of a puppy or kitten\u2019s life determine their long-term health, like with human babies whose first 1,000 days are crucial. It\u2019s very much the same for pets,\u201d he added.\nFueled by growing pet ownership among Filipinos and addressing the lack of education about early nutrition and care, Royal Canin aims to \u201ctranslate complex principles into guidance that pet parents could apply in their every-day routines.\u201d\nEXPERT-LED CONVERSATIONS\nThe Puppy & Kitten Con welcomed pet owners and their fur babies to step into guided discussions, interactive games, and immersive learning zones. Located in the activity center of the bustling mall, there were booths with veterinary professionals and pet product specialists who could offer insights into feeding habits and routines.\n\nOne activity brought celebrities Jodi Sta. Maria and Michael Sager to the stage, where they shared stories about rescue and pet ownership, including the lessons they learned along the way.\nDecisions made at the early stages influence immunity, development, digestion, and long-term resilience, according to Royal Canin Philippines health affairs manager and veterinarian Dr. Kitsie Torres. She told the press that \u201cpets whose owners invested in their nutrition and regularly brought them to the vet tend to live longer lives.\u201d\nOVERFEEDING\nThough Puppy & Kitten Con is a big activation, it is only an entry point into learning about taking care of one\u2019s pet, she said. Royal Canin\u2019s digital platforms and membership program, Royal Canin Club, are examples of resources that pet owners can use to break bad habits.\n\n\u201cOne thing that Filipino owners tend to do is give too much, especially at the puppy and kitten stage. They will become picky and greedy the more they eat food that\u2019s not theirs,\u201d Ms. Torres said.\nShe pointed out that even giving treats is a way pets get overfed, which is unnecessary when many puppies and kittens view \u201cattention or cuddles as a treat on its own.\u201d\n\u201cObesity is becoming a problem. In the early 2000s, you wouldn\u2019t see a lot of obese cats and dogs, and now they\u2019re everywhere,\u201d she explained. \u201cAn obese pet\u2019s lifespan decreases by two years.\u201d\nSPECIALIZING\nThere is also the matter of feeding all pets the same thing, when their various ages, sizes, breeds, and health concerns must be taken into account. Royal Canin offers special diets depending on the breed \u2014 examples for dogs are the shih-tzu with sensitive skin and coat and the golden retriever with a sensitive heart; for cats, the British shorthair with a stocky build requires more nutrients.\nMr. Poa told 大象传媒 that the most basic pet food that owners can get from them are based on the projected weight of the puppy or kitten, spanning extra small, mini, medium, and large breeds.\n\u201cIf you want to go a level higher, then you can get the food for specific breeds designed to address their predispositions in health,\u201d he said. \u201cWe also have products for coat care, for urinary problems, for stress and anxiety, and a lot of other concerns.\u201d\nAside from nutrition, \u201cStart of Life\u201d education encompasses a slew of other routines, like vaccination and check-ups.\nPARTNERSHIPS\nMs. Torres talked about how care should start from the pregnancy of the mother.\n\u201cYou should always bring your pets to the vet to prepare for giving birth. Prenatal care exists for animals, too,\u201d she explained. \u201cStart of life starts at pregnancy. These pregnant dogs and cats have to have a good diet.\u201d\nWith an estimate of there being over 26 million pet dogs and over 8 million pet cats in the Philippines, Royal Canin is partnering with various vet clinics for maternity program packages and pediatrics program packages to en-courage better care. These encompass delivery, vaccination, check-up, deworming, and proper nutrition for the first six months of life.\nFor Ms. Torres, it\u2019s frustrating to see that making sure pets are fully vaccinated is a bare minimum that is often not met.\n\u201cWhen their vaccinations are complete, that\u2019s when you can invite people with pets to your home or take them out in public,\u201d she said. \u201cI worry when I see small pets that I know are likely not yet fully vaccinated walking around. You have to wait.\u201d\nShe also advised that socialization with other people and animals best starts at home. Introducing puppies and kittens to sounds, smells, and eventually other people should be gradual.\nMr. Poa noted that this is why part of Royal Canin\u2019s thrust when it comes to responsible pet ownership is at least bringing them to the vet.\n\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s driving the education, telling them to have their pets assessed by a veterinarian,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to partner with vet clinics to make sure that people will really put the health of their pets at the forefront.\u201d\nThis includes choices like spaying and neutering to avoid overpopulation and possible abandonment, as well as improving the quality of life of a pet that doesn\u2019t need to reproduce. For more expert advice on pet care and nutrition, interested parties can join the Royal Canin Club through this link: https://bit.ly/RCCPH, or visit Royal Canin\u2019s official website and social channels. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-24T00:03:00+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-23T19:15:58+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Cat-at-the-vet-consultation-booth.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=745115", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/24/745115/discovery-and-nostalgia/", "title": "Discovery and nostalgia", "content_html": "OPM band Orange & Lemons (O&L) released their new single, \u201cToo Young To Be Old,\u201d and are getting ready for their European tour that will run from May to June.
\nKnown for hits like \u201cHanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby)\u201d and \u201cHeaven Knows – This Angel Has Flown,\u201d the group teased the new track in a press event on April 16 in San Juan City. It is set to be part of an upcoming album, VI-SIONS OF AMBER, their first all-English body of work.
\nThe band was founded in 1999 and was a staple in the Pinoy rock scene until they disbanded in 2007. Since their return in 2017, they\u2019ve been composed of vocalist, guitarist and O&L founding member Clem Castro, drummer Ace del Mundo, bassist JM del Mundo, and keyboardist Jared Nerona who joined the band when it was reconstituted.
\nNEW MUSIC
\nWhile the 2022 album La Bulaque\u00f1a saw the band take inspiration from artist Juan Luna and champion local kundiman sounds, O&L\u2019s new track takes a more global tack.
\u201cWe decided to go back to a \u201960s and \u201970s-influenced album. True original indie pop is inspired by the \u201960s, even the \u201950s, and we wanted to do it all in English,\u201d he said at the press event.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a certain resurgence of the old sound even among new artists,\u201d Mr. Castro said. \u201cWe did this just to see how it will travel.\u201d
\n\u201cToo Young To Be Old\u201d explores the complexities of transition and self-awareness, according to Mr. Castro, who is the chief songwriter. Though it is inspired by a relationship experienced differently by two people, he described the song as depicting \u201cthe strange middle space where you\u2019re no longer reckless, but not quite settled either.\u201d
\nThe track was produced at his hybrid studio, LILYPOD AUDIO, and serves as O&L\u2019s first release mixed in Dolby Atmos, surround sound technology that creates an immersive sonic experience.
\nFor keyboardist Mr. Nerona, has his first songwriting credit on the album, there is a \u201cgood vibe\u201d that fans can look forward to.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s very \u201960s,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a song that I co-wrote with Clem about a car and about my daughter as well. There\u2019s an overall modern vintage quality to it.\u201d
\nAs for their expectations for how the new songs will be received, Mr. Castro explained that they are at the stage where they are simply doing what they want.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not about instant success. It took \u2018Heaven Knows\u2019 20 years before it became a hit. It\u2019s about the legacy of the band, what we leave our families and fans, how we want to be remembered,\u201d he said.
\nEUROPE TOUR
\nThe group will be embarking on their European tour next month, with stops in major cities like London, Milan, Madrid, Paris, and Amsterdam. The first stop will be Dublin on May 14.
\u201cA lot of OPM acts are touring Europe now, but it isn\u2019t as convoluted as the scene in the US,\u201d Mr. Castro said of their venture. \u201cThere are already so many concert producers in the US.\u201d
\nThe tour, aside from being geared towards the Filipino community abroad, is meant to attract new listeners from varying backgrounds and ethnicities.
\n\u201cWhat excites us most is the contrast \u2014 you\u2019re playing for people who may be hearing you for the first time, alongside Filipinos who\u2019ve carried the music with them wherever they are,\u201d said Mr. Castro. \u201cThere\u2019s something spe-cial about that mix. For Filipinos abroad, the songs become a connection to home. For new listeners, it\u2019s a fresh introduction.\u201d
\nAs for the set list, O&L emphasized that it will be a balance of essential songs and newer material, with the two-pronged goal of \u201cdiscovery and nostalgia.\u201d
\n\u201cWe were kids from Bulacan who rose from nowhere and couldn\u2019t handle the fame and money. That\u2019s what showbiz did to O&L, and we don\u2019t regret that because it\u2019s a very expensive lesson in life,\u201d Mr. Castro explained, when asked about how they see their fame.
\nWhile the Europe tour represents O&L at the stage of being young enough to \u201cjust have fun with it,\u201d they are also already old enough to be wiser.
\n\u201cAll of that has made us aware that music is a business, and we\u2019re now mindful of how we preserve our legacy, how we control our songwriting and masters,\u201d he said, adding half-jokingly that there could be enough material for a tell-all au-tobiography.
\n\u201cWe even have a legacy contract. We\u2019re forward thinkers now!\u201d
\nO&L\u2019s \u201cToo Young To Be Old\u201d is available on all digital music platforms worldwide. Their Europe tour runs from May 14 to June 7. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "Orange & Lemons looking to attract old fans\nand new while embarking on Europe tour\nand readies all-English album\nOPM band Orange & Lemons (O&L) released their new single, \u201cToo Young To Be Old,\u201d and are getting ready for their European tour that will run from May to June.\nKnown for hits like \u201cHanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby)\u201d and \u201cHeaven Knows – This Angel Has Flown,\u201d the group teased the new track in a press event on April 16 in San Juan City. It is set to be part of an upcoming album, VI-SIONS OF AMBER, their first all-English body of work.\nThe band was founded in 1999 and was a staple in the Pinoy rock scene until they disbanded in 2007. Since their return in 2017, they\u2019ve been composed of vocalist, guitarist and O&L founding member Clem Castro, drummer Ace del Mundo, bassist JM del Mundo, and keyboardist Jared Nerona who joined the band when it was reconstituted.\nNEW MUSIC\nWhile the 2022 album La Bulaque\u00f1a saw the band take inspiration from artist Juan Luna and champion local kundiman sounds, O&L\u2019s new track takes a more global tack.\n\u201cWe decided to go back to a \u201960s and \u201970s-influenced album. True original indie pop is inspired by the \u201960s, even the \u201950s, and we wanted to do it all in English,\u201d he said at the press event.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a certain resurgence of the old sound even among new artists,\u201d Mr. Castro said. \u201cWe did this just to see how it will travel.\u201d\n\u201cToo Young To Be Old\u201d explores the complexities of transition and self-awareness, according to Mr. Castro, who is the chief songwriter. Though it is inspired by a relationship experienced differently by two people, he described the song as depicting \u201cthe strange middle space where you\u2019re no longer reckless, but not quite settled either.\u201d\nThe track was produced at his hybrid studio, LILYPOD AUDIO, and serves as O&L\u2019s first release mixed in Dolby Atmos, surround sound technology that creates an immersive sonic experience.\nFor keyboardist Mr. Nerona, has his first songwriting credit on the album, there is a \u201cgood vibe\u201d that fans can look forward to.\n\u201cIt\u2019s very \u201960s,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a song that I co-wrote with Clem about a car and about my daughter as well. There\u2019s an overall modern vintage quality to it.\u201d\nAs for their expectations for how the new songs will be received, Mr. Castro explained that they are at the stage where they are simply doing what they want.\n\u201cIt\u2019s not about instant success. It took \u2018Heaven Knows\u2019 20 years before it became a hit. It\u2019s about the legacy of the band, what we leave our families and fans, how we want to be remembered,\u201d he said.\nEUROPE TOUR\nThe group will be embarking on their European tour next month, with stops in major cities like London, Milan, Madrid, Paris, and Amsterdam. The first stop will be Dublin on May 14.\n\u201cA lot of OPM acts are touring Europe now, but it isn\u2019t as convoluted as the scene in the US,\u201d Mr. Castro said of their venture. \u201cThere are already so many concert producers in the US.\u201d\nThe tour, aside from being geared towards the Filipino community abroad, is meant to attract new listeners from varying backgrounds and ethnicities.\n\u201cWhat excites us most is the contrast \u2014 you\u2019re playing for people who may be hearing you for the first time, alongside Filipinos who\u2019ve carried the music with them wherever they are,\u201d said Mr. Castro. \u201cThere\u2019s something spe-cial about that mix. For Filipinos abroad, the songs become a connection to home. For new listeners, it\u2019s a fresh introduction.\u201d\nAs for the set list, O&L emphasized that it will be a balance of essential songs and newer material, with the two-pronged goal of \u201cdiscovery and nostalgia.\u201d\n\u201cWe were kids from Bulacan who rose from nowhere and couldn\u2019t handle the fame and money. That\u2019s what showbiz did to O&L, and we don\u2019t regret that because it\u2019s a very expensive lesson in life,\u201d Mr. Castro explained, when asked about how they see their fame.\nWhile the Europe tour represents O&L at the stage of being young enough to \u201cjust have fun with it,\u201d they are also already old enough to be wiser.\n\u201cAll of that has made us aware that music is a business, and we\u2019re now mindful of how we preserve our legacy, how we control our songwriting and masters,\u201d he said, adding half-jokingly that there could be enough material for a tell-all au-tobiography.\n\u201cWe even have a legacy contract. We\u2019re forward thinkers now!\u201d\nO&L\u2019s \u201cToo Young To Be Old\u201d is available on all digital music platforms worldwide. Their Europe tour runs from May 14 to June 7. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-24T00:01:02+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-23T19:25:21+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/63a6222a994ecdcd0783bb257b7c4e6d18b49dfa789dd168af5420ab8a45082c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Orange-Lemons-press-conference-Official-photo-by-Maky-Salamat.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=744460", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/22/744460/what-is-the-state-of-visual-arts-today/", "title": "What is the state of visual arts today?", "content_html": "WHILE the Main Building of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is being readied for reopening in stages this year, the institution\u2019s trustees and chair members recently welcomed conversations about the state of visual arts in the Philippines.
\n\u201cWe want to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be able to assist in achieving the objective of getting Filipino visual artists better known by international museums and collectors, and better appreciated within Philippine culture,\u201d said CCP chairman Jaime C. Laya, in his opening remarks at the roundtable on April 8, held at the CCP Blackbox Theater lobby.
\nMeanwhile, CCP President Kaye C. Tinga pointed out that the institution houses a underutilized art collection, which they aim to put to use with their programs. She also expressed eagerness to build on the Thirteen Artists Awards\u2019 positive effects on inspiring young artists.
\n\u201cOur thrust is to continue to contribute to national development,\u201d Ms. Tinga said.
\nMORE VISIBILITY HERE…
\nOne issue brought up by Metropolitan Museum of Manila President Tina Colayco was the public perception of the CCP.
\u201cIt\u2019s more known among Filipinos for its performances, as a performing arts center,\u201d she said. \u201cMaybe the CCP can do a rebranding of this when the main building opens.\u201d
\nTo this, Ms. Tinga explained that, under the National Cultural Heritage Act, the National Museum is tasked to protect visual arts, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines is focused on built heritage, and the CCP for performing arts.
\nDespite this, the CCP\u2019s vast visual arts collection should still not be overlooked. \u201cWe\u2019ll definitely pour in more resources to promote what we have,\u201d she said, \u201cEspecially to younger generations through social media.\u201d
\nAside from this, Ms. Colayco recommended that the CCP lead more efforts to unite art institutions, to \u201ccast a wider net,\u201d which may or may not eventually lead to a biennale.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a great need for all of our institutions to work together, to come together,\u201d she explained. \u201cConservation services, studios and residencies for visiting artists, and the like are also needed by many museums. It can be something that different institutions can share.\u201d
\nProviding an artist\u2019s perspective to this suggestion were Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, whose exploratory, free-spirited approach to artmaking exposed them to exhibition models in other countries.
\n\u201cIn the \u201980s and \u201990s, Cuba started a biennale for artists from developing countries. Every two years, they could see contemporary artists from around the globe and look at the level of what artists can produce,\u201d explained Mr. Aquilizan. \u201cThat was the best education they could get so they don\u2019t have to send their artists overseas to study.\u201d
\n… AND ABROAD
\nSilverlens Gallery founder and director Isa Lorenzo, speaking as someone who was able to set up a New York branch of their gallery, said that there is a demand for Philippine art abroad, among the Filipino and Southeast Asian diaspora.
\u201cI wish that the CCP becomes the gold standard for exhibition making, not just in the Philippines, but in the region. It has many aspects to be maximized,\u201d she said. \u201cThe CCP should be more outward-looking. That means being more active on social media, having more voices that speak to many generations, whether it\u2019s through TikTok or Instagram or whatever social media.\u201d
\nAll panelists agreed that leaning into international art events can widen the existing network of Philippine art abroad.
\nPerfectly placed to give insight to this was Spain-based arts management educator Ana Maria Ortega, who shared that the Museo Nacional del Prado is preparing its 2027 lineup which will include Philippine art. It\u2019s also set to hold a symposium on Philippine art.
\n\u201cThe world is ready to see us on the world stage. It\u2019s a perfect moment for us to deepen our art scholarship, with the growing momentum towards large exhibitions bringing together Spanish and Philippine collections,\u201d Ms. Ortega explained.
\n\u201cThe interest is already here. We have an opportunity to connect these efforts to build something more coherent and enduring.\u201d
\nShe added that 2027 is the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain, something the CCP can play a leading role in to create an integrated narrative.
\nROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
\nArt historian and critic Carlos Quijon, Jr. suggested that the CCP provide a strong curatorial framework for young artists, which could \u201csharpen its focus\u201d as a visual arts institution.
\u201cThe anxiety of being part of global conversations must be reviewed. Things are already working. We just need to support whoever is already on the field,\u201d said Mr. Quijon, referring to Filipino artists and experts on Philippine art who are working abroad.
\nAnother input he had was the lack of follow-through after the Thirteen Artists Awards. \u201cWho works with those artists after they win the awards? Do they have solo shows? If there\u2019s no follow-through, what is the award even for?\u201d he said.
\nSilverlens\u2019 Ms. Lorenzo added that the award money should be increased, and made separate from the production money, which would be possible with the right sponsors and patrons.
\nFor National Gallery Singapore curator Clarissa Chikiamco, who joined the roundtable via Zoom, one gap in the CCP\u2019s curation was that of non-traditional acquisitions like installations, video, and performance art.
\n\u201cThe legacy of the CCP venue as a non-commercial exhibition space, especially under the tenure of [the CCP\u2019s museum director from 1970 to 1985] Ray Albano is in danger of being lost,\u201d she said. \u201cRight now, it\u2019s difficult to access archives of this. Mainly it\u2019s done through [the] Asia Art Archive, but it should be available at [the] CCP.\u201d
\nShe pointed out that archives related to the late conceptual artist Roberto Chabet, Albano\u2019s contemporary, have been digitized, but there is still a lot more not yet covered.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s important for Philippine institutions to collect contemporary art. It\u2019s always the international institutions that have been actively acquiring such works,\u201d explained Ms. Chikiamco. \u201cAside from paintings and sculptures, how does one acquire a concept? It\u2019s in danger of disappearing if not worked on.\u201d
\nBenilde Center for Campus Exhibitions director and Art Fair Philippines co-founder Geraldine Araneta added that the approach to Philippine art cannot be \u201cone size fits all.\u201d
\n\u201cI see it as developmental \u2014 different artists need different things, and they have different capacities at different points in their careers,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have to consider what each area needs.\u201d
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nCCP Vice-President Dennis Marasigan concluded the roundtable with takeaways which the institution can use in their efforts moving forward.
They were summarized in five points: build on the programs that are already there; continue exhibitions and retrospectives; expand access to the CCP collection; collaborate more with other galleries and international organizations; and provide institutional support to artists, researchers, and curators.
\n\u201cOur goal with this event was to find out what we could do more with the resources we have, and how to work with others to maximize our collection,\u201d Mr. Marasigan told 大象传媒 after the roundtable. \u201cNow that we have all this food for thought, we have a lot of work to do.\u201d \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "Museum directors, gallerists, curators, artists share their thoughts on the CCP\u2019s role\nWHILE the Main Building of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is being readied for reopening in stages this year, the institution\u2019s trustees and chair members recently welcomed conversations about the state of visual arts in the Philippines.\n\u201cWe want to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be able to assist in achieving the objective of getting Filipino visual artists better known by international museums and collectors, and better appreciated within Philippine culture,\u201d said CCP chairman Jaime C. Laya, in his opening remarks at the roundtable on April 8, held at the CCP Blackbox Theater lobby.\nMeanwhile, CCP President Kaye C. Tinga pointed out that the institution houses a underutilized art collection, which they aim to put to use with their programs. She also expressed eagerness to build on the Thirteen Artists Awards\u2019 positive effects on inspiring young artists.\n\u201cOur thrust is to continue to contribute to national development,\u201d Ms. Tinga said.\nMORE VISIBILITY HERE…\nOne issue brought up by Metropolitan Museum of Manila President Tina Colayco was the public perception of the CCP.\n\u201cIt\u2019s more known among Filipinos for its performances, as a performing arts center,\u201d she said. \u201cMaybe the CCP can do a rebranding of this when the main building opens.\u201d\nTo this, Ms. Tinga explained that, under the National Cultural Heritage Act, the National Museum is tasked to protect visual arts, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines is focused on built heritage, and the CCP for performing arts.\nDespite this, the CCP\u2019s vast visual arts collection should still not be overlooked. \u201cWe\u2019ll definitely pour in more resources to promote what we have,\u201d she said, \u201cEspecially to younger generations through social media.\u201d\nAside from this, Ms. Colayco recommended that the CCP lead more efforts to unite art institutions, to \u201ccast a wider net,\u201d which may or may not eventually lead to a biennale.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a great need for all of our institutions to work together, to come together,\u201d she explained. \u201cConservation services, studios and residencies for visiting artists, and the like are also needed by many museums. It can be something that different institutions can share.\u201d\nProviding an artist\u2019s perspective to this suggestion were Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, whose exploratory, free-spirited approach to artmaking exposed them to exhibition models in other countries.\n\u201cIn the \u201980s and \u201990s, Cuba started a biennale for artists from developing countries. Every two years, they could see contemporary artists from around the globe and look at the level of what artists can produce,\u201d explained Mr. Aquilizan. \u201cThat was the best education they could get so they don\u2019t have to send their artists overseas to study.\u201d\n… AND ABROAD\nSilverlens Gallery founder and director Isa Lorenzo, speaking as someone who was able to set up a New York branch of their gallery, said that there is a demand for Philippine art abroad, among the Filipino and Southeast Asian diaspora.\n\u201cI wish that the CCP becomes the gold standard for exhibition making, not just in the Philippines, but in the region. It has many aspects to be maximized,\u201d she said. \u201cThe CCP should be more outward-looking. That means being more active on social media, having more voices that speak to many generations, whether it\u2019s through TikTok or Instagram or whatever social media.\u201d\nAll panelists agreed that leaning into international art events can widen the existing network of Philippine art abroad.\nPerfectly placed to give insight to this was Spain-based arts management educator Ana Maria Ortega, who shared that the Museo Nacional del Prado is preparing its 2027 lineup which will include Philippine art. It\u2019s also set to hold a symposium on Philippine art.\n\u201cThe world is ready to see us on the world stage. It\u2019s a perfect moment for us to deepen our art scholarship, with the growing momentum towards large exhibitions bringing together Spanish and Philippine collections,\u201d Ms. Ortega explained.\n\u201cThe interest is already here. We have an opportunity to connect these efforts to build something more coherent and enduring.\u201d\nShe added that 2027 is the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain, something the CCP can play a leading role in to create an integrated narrative.\nROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT\nArt historian and critic Carlos Quijon, Jr. suggested that the CCP provide a strong curatorial framework for young artists, which could \u201csharpen its focus\u201d as a visual arts institution.\n\u201cThe anxiety of being part of global conversations must be reviewed. Things are already working. We just need to support whoever is already on the field,\u201d said Mr. Quijon, referring to Filipino artists and experts on Philippine art who are working abroad.\nAnother input he had was the lack of follow-through after the Thirteen Artists Awards. \u201cWho works with those artists after they win the awards? Do they have solo shows? If there\u2019s no follow-through, what is the award even for?\u201d he said.\nSilverlens\u2019 Ms. Lorenzo added that the award money should be increased, and made separate from the production money, which would be possible with the right sponsors and patrons.\nFor National Gallery Singapore curator Clarissa Chikiamco, who joined the roundtable via Zoom, one gap in the CCP\u2019s curation was that of non-traditional acquisitions like installations, video, and performance art.\n\u201cThe legacy of the CCP venue as a non-commercial exhibition space, especially under the tenure of [the CCP\u2019s museum director from 1970 to 1985] Ray Albano is in danger of being lost,\u201d she said. \u201cRight now, it\u2019s difficult to access archives of this. Mainly it\u2019s done through [the] Asia Art Archive, but it should be available at [the] CCP.\u201d\nShe pointed out that archives related to the late conceptual artist Roberto Chabet, Albano\u2019s contemporary, have been digitized, but there is still a lot more not yet covered.\n\u201cIt\u2019s important for Philippine institutions to collect contemporary art. It\u2019s always the international institutions that have been actively acquiring such works,\u201d explained Ms. Chikiamco. \u201cAside from paintings and sculptures, how does one acquire a concept? It\u2019s in danger of disappearing if not worked on.\u201d\nBenilde Center for Campus Exhibitions director and Art Fair Philippines co-founder Geraldine Araneta added that the approach to Philippine art cannot be \u201cone size fits all.\u201d\n\u201cI see it as developmental \u2014 different artists need different things, and they have different capacities at different points in their careers,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have to consider what each area needs.\u201d\nTAKEAWAYS\nCCP Vice-President Dennis Marasigan concluded the roundtable with takeaways which the institution can use in their efforts moving forward.\nThey were summarized in five points: build on the programs that are already there; continue exhibitions and retrospectives; expand access to the CCP collection; collaborate more with other galleries and international organizations; and provide institutional support to artists, researchers, and curators.\n\u201cOur goal with this event was to find out what we could do more with the resources we have, and how to work with others to maximize our collection,\u201d Mr. Marasigan told 大象传媒 after the roundtable. \u201cNow that we have all this food for thought, we have a lot of work to do.\u201d \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-22T00:07:44+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-21T18:16:34+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/060226_CCPPasinaya-JR-9-Philippine-Star-Ryan-Baldemor.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "WHILE the Main Building of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is being readied for reopening in stages this year, the institution\u2019s trustees and chair members recently welcomed conversations about the state of visual arts in the Philippines." }, { "id": "/?p=744217", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/21/744217/in-line-with-summer-cup-of-joe-mounts-a-water-festival/", "title": "In line with summer, Cup of Joe mounts a water festival", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/coj-fest.jpg\")
CUP OF JOE, a five-piece Filipino pop rock band from Baguio City, will return to the stage with a unique solo concert titled SANDALI: The Cup of Joe Fest at the Philippine Sports Stadium, on May 23.
Eight years since the band formed, Cup of Joe has cemented their reputation as the definitive Gen Z act in Philippine music. This month, their mega-hit \u201cMulto\u201d became the most-streamed Original Pilipino Music (OPM) song of all time on Spotify, surpassing half a billion streams.
\nTo offer a new experience for its fans (nicknamed \u201cJoewahs\u201d), they have decided to mount a water festival for their fourth major solo concert in the Philippine Sports Stadium \u2014 setting a high bar as the first-ever OPM act to headline a show at the massive, open-air venue.
\n\u201cInspired siya sa experience namin tuwing lumilibot kami sa bansa, specifically sa mga fiesta sa probinsya na malalayo (It\u2019s inspired by our experiences when we tour the country, specifically at fiestas in faraway provinces),\u201d vocalist Gian Bernardino said at a press conference in Quezon City on April 15.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve established that when it\u2019s our set, people jump and go wild,\u201d he explained. \u201cKapag rain shows, sobrang taas ng energy. Magiging masaya, lalo na\u2019t tag-araw na (When we have rain shows, the energy is very high. It will be fun, especially now that it\u2019s summer).\u201d
\nThe Philippine Sports Stadium, with a sprawling capacity of about 25,000 for concerts, also marks a huge milestone for the band, which started out performing in intimate bars and caf\u00e9s. The show will be directed by Paolo Valenciano, whose vision for it will include \u201cwater cannons and fireworks.\u201d
\nWhile the seated section is already sold out, splash zone tickets are still available and are recommended by the band for the optimal experience.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s our dream festival from an audience perspective!\u201d Mr. Bernardino said, adding that people should come in \u201ccomfortable yet chic summer outfits,\u201d with a change of clothes since they could get wet.
\nNEW EP
\nBecause the concert is titled SANDALI, fans can also expect an EP of the same name to come out soon beforehand.
\u201cIt can be interpreted as sandali as in \u2018moment,\u2019 or sandali as in \u2018wait,\u2019\u201d said Mr. Bernardino, on the title of the EP and show. \u201cIt\u2019s a wordplay between asking the world to wait a bit or to just savor the moment, like getting scared or nervous but doing it anyway.\u201d
\nCompared to Cup of Joe\u2019s emotionally heavy album Silakbo, the new record will be \u201cmuch lighter,\u201d according to vocalist Raphaell Ridao.
\n\u201cSandali is more high-energy, but also emotional. It still talks about personal experiences but in a more uplifting way,\u201d he said. \u201cNakaayon siya sa SANDALI Fest na celebratory (It fits with the SANDALI Fest which is celebratory).\u201d
\nWhen asked what the vibe of the EP will be like, the band said that they could imagine the songs being used for travel vlogs and videos. Mr. Bernardino teased that one song is about \u201cchoosing between two paths.\u201d
\nAs for the concert, fans can expect both new tracks and old songs done with new arrangements. Instead of their usual 45-minute set, the show is slated to last three hours.
\nCup of Joe also revealed that there will be guest artists set to perform alongside them, one of which is iconic OPM band Kamikaze.
\nTickets to SANDALI: The Cup of Joe Fest at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan are available via SM Tickets and Ticketnet online and outlets nationwide, and range in price from P1,000 to P7,800. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "Show marks first OPM act to headline at Philippine Sports Stadium\nCUP OF JOE, a five-piece Filipino pop rock band from Baguio City, will return to the stage with a unique solo concert titled SANDALI: The Cup of Joe Fest at the Philippine Sports Stadium, on May 23.\nEight years since the band formed, Cup of Joe has cemented their reputation as the definitive Gen Z act in Philippine music. This month, their mega-hit \u201cMulto\u201d became the most-streamed Original Pilipino Music (OPM) song of all time on Spotify, surpassing half a billion streams.\nTo offer a new experience for its fans (nicknamed \u201cJoewahs\u201d), they have decided to mount a water festival for their fourth major solo concert in the Philippine Sports Stadium \u2014 setting a high bar as the first-ever OPM act to headline a show at the massive, open-air venue.\n\u201cInspired siya sa experience namin tuwing lumilibot kami sa bansa, specifically sa mga fiesta sa probinsya na malalayo (It\u2019s inspired by our experiences when we tour the country, specifically at fiestas in faraway provinces),\u201d vocalist Gian Bernardino said at a press conference in Quezon City on April 15.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve established that when it\u2019s our set, people jump and go wild,\u201d he explained. \u201cKapag rain shows, sobrang taas ng energy. Magiging masaya, lalo na\u2019t tag-araw na (When we have rain shows, the energy is very high. It will be fun, especially now that it\u2019s summer).\u201d\nThe Philippine Sports Stadium, with a sprawling capacity of about 25,000 for concerts, also marks a huge milestone for the band, which started out performing in intimate bars and caf\u00e9s. The show will be directed by Paolo Valenciano, whose vision for it will include \u201cwater cannons and fireworks.\u201d\nWhile the seated section is already sold out, splash zone tickets are still available and are recommended by the band for the optimal experience.\n\u201cIt\u2019s our dream festival from an audience perspective!\u201d Mr. Bernardino said, adding that people should come in \u201ccomfortable yet chic summer outfits,\u201d with a change of clothes since they could get wet.\nNEW EP\nBecause the concert is titled SANDALI, fans can also expect an EP of the same name to come out soon beforehand.\n\u201cIt can be interpreted as sandali as in \u2018moment,\u2019 or sandali as in \u2018wait,\u2019\u201d said Mr. Bernardino, on the title of the EP and show. \u201cIt\u2019s a wordplay between asking the world to wait a bit or to just savor the moment, like getting scared or nervous but doing it anyway.\u201d\nCompared to Cup of Joe\u2019s emotionally heavy album Silakbo, the new record will be \u201cmuch lighter,\u201d according to vocalist Raphaell Ridao.\n\u201cSandali is more high-energy, but also emotional. It still talks about personal experiences but in a more uplifting way,\u201d he said. \u201cNakaayon siya sa SANDALI Fest na celebratory (It fits with the SANDALI Fest which is celebratory).\u201d\nWhen asked what the vibe of the EP will be like, the band said that they could imagine the songs being used for travel vlogs and videos. Mr. Bernardino teased that one song is about \u201cchoosing between two paths.\u201d\nAs for the concert, fans can expect both new tracks and old songs done with new arrangements. Instead of their usual 45-minute set, the show is slated to last three hours.\nCup of Joe also revealed that there will be guest artists set to perform alongside them, one of which is iconic OPM band Kamikaze.\nTickets to SANDALI: The Cup of Joe Fest at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan are available via SM Tickets and Ticketnet online and outlets nationwide, and range in price from P1,000 to P7,800. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-21T00:07:39+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-20T19:19:02+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/coj-fest-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "CUP OF JOE, a five-piece Filipino pop rock band from Baguio City, will return to the stage with a unique solo concert titled SANDALI: The Cup of Joe Fest at the Philippine Sports Stadium, on May 23." }, { "id": "/?p=744182", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/21/744182/sari-dalenas-films-screened-in-retrospective/", "title": "Sari Dalena\u2019s films screened in retrospective", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sari-Dalena-Retrospective.jpg\")
THE FEATURE films, documentaries, hybrids, experimental works, and video art of filmmaker Sari Dalena are being screened in a multi-site retrospective which started in March and continues until May.
Film scholar and programmer Patrick F. Campos curated the program, titled \u201cCounter-Archives of a Film Guerrera: A Retrospective of Sari Dalena\u2019s Cinema.\u201d It aims to look at \u201cfilm as a counter archive: a made form of evidence shaped by testimony, return, montage, and the risks of visibility, especially where women\u2019s labor and memory have been pushed to the margins of official history.\u201d
\nFollowing screenings, masterclasses, and talkbacks at the University of the Philippines Film Institute in Diliman, Quezon City, and the University of the Philippines Mindanao and The Green House Cinema, both in Davao City, a few more stops lie ahead.
\nMs. Dalena\u2019s short films were screened on April 15 at the Mowelfund Film Institute in Quezon City, and will be shown again there on April 22. That first day she told 大象传媒 that \u201cthe guerrilla energy of filmmaking in the \u201990s is impossible to recreate now, though it lives on in different ways.
\n\u201cIt was important for me to establish a sense of support from my family and from collaborators. I found a community and felt comfortable working with smaller crews back then,\u201d she explained.
\nFILMS IN FRAGMENTS
\nMs. Dalena\u2019s most recent film, Cinemartyrs, was part of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival lineup last year \u2014 and was also the driving force behind Mr. Campos\u2019 decision to mount a retrospective about the filmmaker.
\u201cI observed it had a way of baffling so many people, because it makes you think, \u2018what is this film?\u2019\u201d he said, at the opening remarks of the Mowelfund screening program. \u201cThat\u2019s her cinema. It makes you ask \u2018what is this?\u2019 so I thought it was the right time to do a retrospective.
\n\u201cOver 30 years of making films in the alternative scene, as a woman and as a mother, is no joke. So, I thought it was the right time,\u201d added Mr. Campos.
\nThe short films shown that evening \u2014 Bullet Days, Kamikaze, Asong Simbahan, Mumunting Krus, and Puting Paalam \u2014 were Ms. Dalena\u2019s earliest works that emerged from her time at the UP Film Institute, the Mowelfund Film Institute, and New York University.
\n\u201cWhat these films preserve is the wonder of youth in a profound sense, the excitement of finding form, and the appetite for experimenting. These are youthful works by a young filmmaker trying what a settled industry would caution against,\u201d said Mr. Campos.
\nHe also explained that this part of her filmography marks her \u201cwillingness to work through fragments, collision, rough edges, abrupt feeling, multiple art forms, and formal leaps,\u201d which deepened later on in her career.
\nINTERDISCIPLINARY
\nMs. Dalena told 大象传媒 that this rich filmmaking practice was only possible because of the artistic wealth passed down to her by her parents, Julie Lluch and Danilo Dalena.
\u201cI come from a family of visual artists. As children, we were exposed to German expressionism, Akira Kurosawa films, animation like Disney\u2019s Fantasia, Alfred Hitchcock films. It was very natural for us and we were encouraged to explore,\u201d she said.
\nAn exhibit accompanying the retrospective, Notes Toward a Guerrera Cinema, ran earlier this month at the UP Film Institute\u2019s Ishmael Bernal Gallery. There, storyboards, sketches, paintings, and sculptures across Ms. Dalena\u2019s practice were displayed, including some contributed by family members.
\nAt the Mowelfund talkback, she said that being exposed to her mother\u2019s sculptural works planted the seeds of feminism in her, while her father\u2019s paintings embedded a sense of spirituality.
\nOne film, Asong Simbahan, was a direct translation of his \u201cPakil\u201d series of paintings into the medium of film, reflecting the very Pinoy, somewhat humorous depiction of the ubiquity of dogs in local churches.
\n\u201cUsing the medium of film to translate and interpret his works was something else,\u201d she said. \u201cI never really thought of my practice as separate from other forms. It\u2019s all really interdisciplinary.\u201d
\nAnother example is Mumunting Krus which makes use of art installations and is based on Ms. Dalena\u2019s childhood experiences playing in open fields and swimming in the river in the province during summer.
\nPuting Paalam (White Funeral), which features clay artwork and stop-motion animation, is one of the first dance films in the Philippines. It\u2019s a collaboration between Ms. Dalena and acclaimed dance artist Myra Beltran, set in the lahar landscapes of Zambales and Pampanga after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
\n\u201cIt was largely intuitive and collaborative. I just jammed with them,\u201d Ms. Beltran said at the talkback. \u201cWe had to keep going and going because it was hot out there on the lahar. I don\u2019t know how kids work these days, but you just have to go and commit yourself.\u201d
\nHISTORICAL WOUNDS
\nOn May 6, the hybrid documentaries Memories of a Forgotten War and Cinemartyrs will be screened at the Mindanao State University\u2019s campuses in Iligan and Tawi-Tawi.
What makes this event relevant is that it commemorates 120 years since the 1906 Bud Dajo massacre, a central historical wound revisited by both films.
\n\u201cAs technology changed and the types of projects changed, I tried different approaches, and eventually went from experimental forms to historical documentary,\u201d Ms. Dalena said.
\nFor her, having the films screened in the region was important because of her own family roots and filmmaking practice, both inextricable from Mindanao.
\nMr. Campos explained that her films offer a look into history that is unique from mainstream retellings \u2014 which is the very reason retrospectives of alternative filmmakers are important.
\n\u201cIn Dalena\u2019s cinema, history is kept otherwise through shards, returns, traces, and embodied labor,\u201d he said, \u201cRather than through the polished order preferred by the center.\u201d
\nAdmission, reservations, and venue-specific details of the upcoming screenings can be found on the Mowelfund and Mindanao State University\u2019s sites and their social media channels. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "THE FEATURE films, documentaries, hybrids, experimental works, and video art of filmmaker Sari Dalena are being screened in a multi-site retrospective which started in March and continues until May. \nFilm scholar and programmer Patrick F. Campos curated the program, titled \u201cCounter-Archives of a Film Guerrera: A Retrospective of Sari Dalena\u2019s Cinema.\u201d It aims to look at \u201cfilm as a counter archive: a made form of evidence shaped by testimony, return, montage, and the risks of visibility, especially where women\u2019s labor and memory have been pushed to the margins of official history.\u201d\nFollowing screenings, masterclasses, and talkbacks at the University of the Philippines Film Institute in Diliman, Quezon City, and the University of the Philippines Mindanao and The Green House Cinema, both in Davao City, a few more stops lie ahead.\nMs. Dalena\u2019s short films were screened on April 15 at the Mowelfund Film Institute in Quezon City, and will be shown again there on April 22. That first day she told 大象传媒 that \u201cthe guerrilla energy of filmmaking in the \u201990s is impossible to recreate now, though it lives on in different ways.\n\u201cIt was important for me to establish a sense of support from my family and from collaborators. I found a community and felt comfortable working with smaller crews back then,\u201d she explained.\nFILMS IN FRAGMENTS\nMs. Dalena\u2019s most recent film, Cinemartyrs, was part of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival lineup last year \u2014 and was also the driving force behind Mr. Campos\u2019 decision to mount a retrospective about the filmmaker.\n\u201cI observed it had a way of baffling so many people, because it makes you think, \u2018what is this film?\u2019\u201d he said, at the opening remarks of the Mowelfund screening program. \u201cThat\u2019s her cinema. It makes you ask \u2018what is this?\u2019 so I thought it was the right time to do a retrospective.\n\u201cOver 30 years of making films in the alternative scene, as a woman and as a mother, is no joke. So, I thought it was the right time,\u201d added Mr. Campos.\nThe short films shown that evening \u2014 Bullet Days, Kamikaze, Asong Simbahan, Mumunting Krus, and Puting Paalam \u2014 were Ms. Dalena\u2019s earliest works that emerged from her time at the UP Film Institute, the Mowelfund Film Institute, and New York University.\n\u201cWhat these films preserve is the wonder of youth in a profound sense, the excitement of finding form, and the appetite for experimenting. These are youthful works by a young filmmaker trying what a settled industry would caution against,\u201d said Mr. Campos.\nHe also explained that this part of her filmography marks her \u201cwillingness to work through fragments, collision, rough edges, abrupt feeling, multiple art forms, and formal leaps,\u201d which deepened later on in her career. \nINTERDISCIPLINARY\nMs. Dalena told 大象传媒 that this rich filmmaking practice was only possible because of the artistic wealth passed down to her by her parents, Julie Lluch and Danilo Dalena.\n\u201cI come from a family of visual artists. As children, we were exposed to German expressionism, Akira Kurosawa films, animation like Disney\u2019s Fantasia, Alfred Hitchcock films. It was very natural for us and we were encouraged to explore,\u201d she said.\nAn exhibit accompanying the retrospective, Notes Toward a Guerrera Cinema, ran earlier this month at the UP Film Institute\u2019s Ishmael Bernal Gallery. There, storyboards, sketches, paintings, and sculptures across Ms. Dalena\u2019s practice were displayed, including some contributed by family members.\nAt the Mowelfund talkback, she said that being exposed to her mother\u2019s sculptural works planted the seeds of feminism in her, while her father\u2019s paintings embedded a sense of spirituality.\nOne film, Asong Simbahan, was a direct translation of his \u201cPakil\u201d series of paintings into the medium of film, reflecting the very Pinoy, somewhat humorous depiction of the ubiquity of dogs in local churches.\n\u201cUsing the medium of film to translate and interpret his works was something else,\u201d she said. \u201cI never really thought of my practice as separate from other forms. It\u2019s all really interdisciplinary.\u201d\nAnother example is Mumunting Krus which makes use of art installations and is based on Ms. Dalena\u2019s childhood experiences playing in open fields and swimming in the river in the province during summer.\nPuting Paalam (White Funeral), which features clay artwork and stop-motion animation, is one of the first dance films in the Philippines. It\u2019s a collaboration between Ms. Dalena and acclaimed dance artist Myra Beltran, set in the lahar landscapes of Zambales and Pampanga after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. \n\u201cIt was largely intuitive and collaborative. I just jammed with them,\u201d Ms. Beltran said at the talkback. \u201cWe had to keep going and going because it was hot out there on the lahar. I don\u2019t know how kids work these days, but you just have to go and commit yourself.\u201d\nHISTORICAL WOUNDS\nOn May 6, the hybrid documentaries Memories of a Forgotten War and Cinemartyrs will be screened at the Mindanao State University\u2019s campuses in Iligan and Tawi-Tawi.\nWhat makes this event relevant is that it commemorates 120 years since the 1906 Bud Dajo massacre, a central historical wound revisited by both films. \n\u201cAs technology changed and the types of projects changed, I tried different approaches, and eventually went from experimental forms to historical documentary,\u201d Ms. Dalena said.\nFor her, having the films screened in the region was important because of her own family roots and filmmaking practice, both inextricable from Mindanao.\nMr. Campos explained that her films offer a look into history that is unique from mainstream retellings \u2014 which is the very reason retrospectives of alternative filmmakers are important.\n\u201cIn Dalena\u2019s cinema, history is kept otherwise through shards, returns, traces, and embodied labor,\u201d he said, \u201cRather than through the polished order preferred by the center.\u201d\nAdmission, reservations, and venue-specific details of the upcoming screenings can be found on the Mowelfund and Mindanao State University\u2019s sites and their social media channels. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-21T00:06:15+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-20T19:17:48+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sari-Dalena-Retrospective-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=743407", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/17/743407/prime-video-invests-in-filipino-content/", "title": "Prime Video invests in Filipino content", "content_html": "PRIME VIDEO, the global streaming service of Amazon, is set to deliver more Filipino storytelling by collaborating with leading studios ABS-CBN and GMA.
\n\u201cOur content strategy for the Philippines is built on a simple principle: meet customers where they are and give them what they love,\u201d said David Simonsen, director for Prime Video Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, in an e-mail interview with 大象传媒.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not about imposing a one-size-fits-all approach. It\u2019s about understanding that Filipino audiences want authentic local stories, premium international content, and live sports all in one place,\u201d he said, adding that the goal is to be a \u201cone-stop entertainment destination.\u201d
\nWith this, Prime Video is beefing up its Filipino content slate, spanning family drama, political thrillers, suspense, romance, crime, and comedy.
\nTHE LINEUP
\nLeading the charge is LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines, which had its first season premiere on the platform in 2024. Directed by Randolph Longjas and hosted by Vice Ganda, it is a competition show where the contestants face off in a showdown, with the goal to make others laugh without cracking up themselves.
\u201cSeason two will be crazier,\u201d Mr. Longjas told 大象传媒 on the sidelines of Prime Video\u2019s event announcing the slate on April 14. Though they can\u2019t yet reveal the new set of contestant comedians, he promised that it will represent \u201ccomedy from different platforms across all generations.\u201d
\n\u201cLOL proved that we don\u2019t need to pretend to be someone else. If we stick to our core [as Filipino storytellers], that can become global,\u201d he added, explaining how the series has reached other countries.
\nReleased in March was the crime drama The Silent Noise, starring Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo. It will be followed by more in the thriller genre \u2014 romance-thriller Love Is Never Gone featuring Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi, and psychological thriller The Loyalty Game featuring Janine Gutierrez and Jericho Rosales.
\nMeanwhile, Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu take on their third Prime Video project as co-stars after Linlang and The Alibi, to deliver the Filipino-Korean cross-cultural drama Kopino.
\nCROSS CULTURAL, CROSS NETWORK
\nRondel Lindayag, ABS-CBN creative head, spoke at a panel at the slate announcement, saying that these collaborations are their way of \u201cexperimenting with how to write and produce content.\u201d
\u201cWhen it comes to bringing stories to the global market, it\u2019s all about sharing our authentic Filipino narratives while also experimenting,\u201d he said.
\nThere\u2019s Honor Thy Mother, marking a monumental collaboration between ABS-CBN and GMA, with Kapamilya (ABS-CBN) icon Sharon Cuneta and Kapuso (GMA) star Barbie Forteza leading the family drama.
\n\u201cAt the height of the network wars, there was a wall between us and there was no crossing that boundary, so this is a golden era,\u201d said Aloy Adlawan, GMA creative director. \u201cBarbie grew up before our eyes and she\u2019s a generational talent because she can do comedy and drama. We\u2019re happy and excited that she\u2019s doing this with Sharon.\u201d
\nRounding out the slate of Filipino Prime Originals is Behind Closed Doors, starring Marian Rivera in an unfamiliar yet juicy role as a journalist and mistress. It reunites her with GMA Network director Dominic Zapata.
\n\u201cWalang dahilan para mag-no for this project kasi ang offbeat niya para sa akin! (I had no reason to say no for this project because it\u2019s quite offbeat for me!)\u201d Ms. Rivera said at the launch. She expressed excitement, this being her comeback project after two years.
\nMr. Simonsen explained in an e-mail that building \u201cthe infrastructure, relationships, and content pipeline that serves the audience at scale\u201d allows them to help Filipino stories reach a global customer base.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re enabling new models of collaboration \u2014 bringing together talent and partners in ways that weren\u2019t possible in traditional broadcasting \u2014 because we can focus purely on what creates the best customer experience,\u201d he said.
\nPrime Video is currently offered in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
\nPINOY MOVIES, NBA
\nCaitlin Parkinson, head of APAC programming strategy at Prime Video, said that their customer-first approach has led them to balance both local and international opportunities.
\u201cIt\u2019s about getting to know what drives audiences. We would never create something for the Philippines that Filipino audiences don\u2019t want to see,\u201d she said.
\nAlong with the seven original titles, Prime Video announced exclusive licensed Filipino films: Samahan ng mga Makasalanan; Gabi ng Lagim; the Bayaniverse trilogy: Quezon, Heneral Luna, and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral; Bar Boys: After School; and Open Endings.
\nK-drama titles set to premiere later this year include the romance drama, A Love Other Than Yours, starring Seo Kangjun, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Joo Ahn, and Jo Aram; Final Table, featuring global sensation Ahn Hyo-seop as an overseas-based chef who joins a cooking tournament; and Nine to Six, starring Park Min Young, Yook Sung Jae, and Go Soo in an office romance.
\nLive basketball is another major content offering that Filipinos can expect on the platform, said Chaitanya Divan, head of content acquisition at Prime Video Southeast Asia. Because basketball is the number one sport in the Philippines, they will exclusively stream live NBA games for that market.
\n\u201cNBA has the power to bring people together. The data is very revealing, with more than 50% of the population here saying they are NBA fans, 70 to 80% of which regularly engage with NBA content,\u201d Mr. Divan said.
\nHe added that the \u201cpulsating, youthful energy\u201d of the Philippines can be seen in the data they\u2019ve gathered about Filipino customers.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s the immense diversity in content consumption. There are weeks where local content tops the charts and there are weeks where US and global originals are on top,\u201d he said. \u201cThe diversity is fascinating.\u201d
\nMr. Simonsen assured that they constantly look at customer data to inform decisions about what content to bring to the platform.
\n\u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing is that Filipino audiences are incredibly sophisticated \u2014 they don\u2019t want to choose between local and international content; they want both, and they want quality across the board,\u201d he said.
\nPrime Video is available in the Philippines for P149 per month. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "ABS-CBN, GMA bring in original and licensed titles\nPRIME VIDEO, the global streaming service of Amazon, is set to deliver more Filipino storytelling by collaborating with leading studios ABS-CBN and GMA.\n\u201cOur content strategy for the Philippines is built on a simple principle: meet customers where they are and give them what they love,\u201d said David Simonsen, director for Prime Video Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, in an e-mail interview with 大象传媒. \n\u201cIt\u2019s not about imposing a one-size-fits-all approach. It\u2019s about understanding that Filipino audiences want authentic local stories, premium international content, and live sports all in one place,\u201d he said, adding that the goal is to be a \u201cone-stop entertainment destination.\u201d\nWith this, Prime Video is beefing up its Filipino content slate, spanning family drama, political thrillers, suspense, romance, crime, and comedy.\nTHE LINEUP\nLeading the charge is LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines, which had its first season premiere on the platform in 2024. Directed by Randolph Longjas and hosted by Vice Ganda, it is a competition show where the contestants face off in a showdown, with the goal to make others laugh without cracking up themselves.\n\u201cSeason two will be crazier,\u201d Mr. Longjas told 大象传媒 on the sidelines of Prime Video\u2019s event announcing the slate on April 14. Though they can\u2019t yet reveal the new set of contestant comedians, he promised that it will represent \u201ccomedy from different platforms across all generations.\u201d\n\u201cLOL proved that we don\u2019t need to pretend to be someone else. If we stick to our core [as Filipino storytellers], that can become global,\u201d he added, explaining how the series has reached other countries.\nReleased in March was the crime drama The Silent Noise, starring Angelica Panganiban and Zanjoe Marudo. It will be followed by more in the thriller genre \u2014 romance-thriller Love Is Never Gone featuring Joshua Garcia and Ivana Alawi, and psychological thriller The Loyalty Game featuring Janine Gutierrez and Jericho Rosales.\nMeanwhile, Paulo Avelino and Kim Chiu take on their third Prime Video project as co-stars after Linlang and The Alibi, to deliver the Filipino-Korean cross-cultural drama Kopino.\nCROSS CULTURAL, CROSS NETWORK\nRondel Lindayag, ABS-CBN creative head, spoke at a panel at the slate announcement, saying that these collaborations are their way of \u201cexperimenting with how to write and produce content.\u201d\n\u201cWhen it comes to bringing stories to the global market, it\u2019s all about sharing our authentic Filipino narratives while also experimenting,\u201d he said.\nThere\u2019s Honor Thy Mother, marking a monumental collaboration between ABS-CBN and GMA, with Kapamilya (ABS-CBN) icon Sharon Cuneta and Kapuso (GMA) star Barbie Forteza leading the family drama.\n\u201cAt the height of the network wars, there was a wall between us and there was no crossing that boundary, so this is a golden era,\u201d said Aloy Adlawan, GMA creative director. \u201cBarbie grew up before our eyes and she\u2019s a generational talent because she can do comedy and drama. We\u2019re happy and excited that she\u2019s doing this with Sharon.\u201d\nRounding out the slate of Filipino Prime Originals is Behind Closed Doors, starring Marian Rivera in an unfamiliar yet juicy role as a journalist and mistress. It reunites her with GMA Network director Dominic Zapata.\n\u201cWalang dahilan para mag-no for this project kasi ang offbeat niya para sa akin! (I had no reason to say no for this project because it\u2019s quite offbeat for me!)\u201d Ms. Rivera said at the launch. She expressed excitement, this being her comeback project after two years.\nMr. Simonsen explained in an e-mail that building \u201cthe infrastructure, relationships, and content pipeline that serves the audience at scale\u201d allows them to help Filipino stories reach a global customer base.\n\u201cWe\u2019re enabling new models of collaboration \u2014 bringing together talent and partners in ways that weren\u2019t possible in traditional broadcasting \u2014 because we can focus purely on what creates the best customer experience,\u201d he said.\nPrime Video is currently offered in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.\nPINOY MOVIES, NBA\nCaitlin Parkinson, head of APAC programming strategy at Prime Video, said that their customer-first approach has led them to balance both local and international opportunities.\n\u201cIt\u2019s about getting to know what drives audiences. We would never create something for the Philippines that Filipino audiences don\u2019t want to see,\u201d she said.\nAlong with the seven original titles, Prime Video announced exclusive licensed Filipino films: Samahan ng mga Makasalanan; Gabi ng Lagim; the Bayaniverse trilogy: Quezon, Heneral Luna, and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral; Bar Boys: After School; and Open Endings. \nK-drama titles set to premiere later this year include the romance drama, A Love Other Than Yours, starring Seo Kangjun, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Joo Ahn, and Jo Aram; Final Table, featuring global sensation Ahn Hyo-seop as an overseas-based chef who joins a cooking tournament; and Nine to Six, starring Park Min Young, Yook Sung Jae, and Go Soo in an office romance.\nLive basketball is another major content offering that Filipinos can expect on the platform, said Chaitanya Divan, head of content acquisition at Prime Video Southeast Asia. Because basketball is the number one sport in the Philippines, they will exclusively stream live NBA games for that market.\n\u201cNBA has the power to bring people together. The data is very revealing, with more than 50% of the population here saying they are NBA fans, 70 to 80% of which regularly engage with NBA content,\u201d Mr. Divan said.\nHe added that the \u201cpulsating, youthful energy\u201d of the Philippines can be seen in the data they\u2019ve gathered about Filipino customers.\n\u201cThere\u2019s the immense diversity in content consumption. There are weeks where local content tops the charts and there are weeks where US and global originals are on top,\u201d he said. \u201cThe diversity is fascinating.\u201d\nMr. Simonsen assured that they constantly look at customer data to inform decisions about what content to bring to the platform.\n\u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing is that Filipino audiences are incredibly sophisticated \u2014 they don\u2019t want to choose between local and international content; they want both, and they want quality across the board,\u201d he said.\nPrime Video is available in the Philippines for P149 per month. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-17T00:05:43+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-16T18:18:08+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Cast-from-the-Prime-Video-Philippines-Licensed-Content.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "PRIME VIDEO, the global streaming service of Amazon, is set to deliver more Filipino storytelling by collaborating with leading studios ABS-CBN and GMA." }, { "id": "/?p=743406", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/17/743406/all-of-the-noise-presents-live-sessions-conferences/", "title": "All Of The Noise presents live sessions, conferences", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nALL OF THE NOISE \u2014 a Manila-based music showcase and conference \u2014 is back. This year, it will be a three-day event bringing nearly 30 artists and multiple music industry conferences to the venue.
\nThe multi-format gathering, known as AOTN, is programmed by music events production outfit The Rest Is Noise PH. Like last year, which was its first edition since the COVID-19 pandemic, it aims to unite international and Filipino artists as well as industry leaders for both performances and dialogue.
\nAOTN 2026 will take place in three venues across Metro Manila: Astbury Makati (April 17 and 19), Sari-Sari in Makati City (April 17 and 19), and 123 Block in Mandaluyong City (April 18).
\n\u201cWe had two editions before the pandemic, in 2018 and 2019,\u201d said MC Galang, co-founder and creative director of The Rest Is Noise PH, at an April 14 press conference in San Juan City. Last year, they revived the festival for the company\u2019s 10th anniversary.
\n\u201cBy then, we had gone to many showcases abroad and found things that could work here,\u201d Ms. Galang said. \u201cWe came up with panels that would be beneficial to either musicians or music industry professionals.\u201d
\nTheir programming is \u201ccentered on community building, cross-cultural collaboration, and visibility, positioning Filipino and Asian music as vital forces within the global creative economy.\u201d
\nThe international acts set to perform are Phoebe Rings (New Zealand), Grrrl Gang, Arash Buana, and Gavendri (Indonesia), Shye and Pines (Singapore), and HengJones and Our Shame (Taiwan).
\nThe local acts are BP Valenzuela, Fitterkarma, SOS, Ourselves the Elves, Elijah Canlas, DJ Love from Davao, VVINK, Playertwo, fern, August Wahh, School Girl Classic from Cebu, Delinquent Society from Davao, Alyson, Novocrane, Amateurish from Baguio, Carousel Casualties, Magiliw Street, Ysanygo, and kyleaux.
\nIn addition to live showcase performances, the music culture programming also highlights the music conference format, featuring panels and keynote discussions, documentary screenings, and networking activities.
\n\u201cAll Of The Noise exists to create meaningful intersections between artists, industries, and cultures,\u201d said Ian Emmanuel C. Urrutia, the festival\u2019s program director. \u201cAs the region continues to assert its voice on the global stage, our role is to build the infrastructure, dialogue, and opportunities that allow that voice to travel further.\u201d
\n\u201cWe see this platform not only as a showcase but also as a long-term investment in the sustainability and global visibility of Filipino and Asian music,\u201d he added.
\nCONFERENCES
\nThis year\u2019s edition of \u201cCut Through The Noise,\u201d the festival\u2019s conference program, will feature panel discussions and keynote presentations from music industry experts and professionals from the Philippines and abroad.
Designed to address the evolving needs of the local and regional music sectors, the topics of the panel segments range from market development and cross-border collaboration, to innovation, policy, and audience growth.
\n\u201cWe want to equip musicians with the knowledge and networks necessary to navigate an increasingly competitive global landscape,\u201d said Ms. Galang. \u201cFor us, aside from the creativity aspect of music, the focus on music education is for Filipino artists, who have a surplus of talent, but can only make do with what they have.\u201d
\nThere will be panels on the potential of Southeast Asia, on curating music festivals, on system-building from both the private and public sectors, and on growing indie labels.
\nMore specific panels are set to take place about the original soundtrack of Diary ng Panget and about the music community in Baguio City.
\nOTHER PROGRAMS
\nThis year\u2019s All Of The Noise will feature three films under its \u201cEchoes Of The Noise\u201d music documentary program. These are: the international debut screenings of Elephant Gym: More Real Than Dreams; Rosas: The Song. The Journey; and This is HANNAH+GABI.
Spotify will also power a key educational component of the program through a Spotify for Artists Masterclass led by the Spotify Asia team.
\nIt is designed as a practical beginner session for artists and music stakeholders, focused on the \u201cessential tools, insights, and platform knowledge needed to strengthen presence on Spotify, promote music more effectively, better understand audience behavior, and navigate the wider music streaming landscape with more clarity and confidence.\u201d
\nFinally, there will be curated studio sessions, programmed by The Rest Is Noise PH, which brings Filipino songwriters and producers together with international guest performers to co-create original music. Under the \u201cAll Of The Noise Music Creatives Program,\u201d the participating artists get to come up with newly written songs.
\nThe inaugural session will feature Filipino producers Tim and Sam Marquez from One Click Straight and Taiwanese alternative pop band Our Shame, with guidance from DJ Joey Santos of Love One Another Sound Production. The Studio Sessions will also pair rising Filipino R&B artist kyleaux with acclaimed Taiwanese hip-hop artist HengJones, facilitated by CHEKE\u2019s Justin Wieneke.
\nTickets, priced from P400 to P700 depending on the day, are available via https://allofthenoise2026.helixpay.ph. A three-day pass worth P999 is inclusive of all programs. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n PHOTO BY MAYKS GO\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nALL OF THE NOISE \u2014 a Manila-based music showcase and conference \u2014 is back. This year, it will be a three-day event bringing nearly 30 artists and multiple music industry conferences to the venue.\nThe multi-format gathering, known as AOTN, is programmed by music events production outfit The Rest Is Noise PH. Like last year, which was its first edition since the COVID-19 pandemic, it aims to unite international and Filipino artists as well as industry leaders for both performances and dialogue.\nAOTN 2026 will take place in three venues across Metro Manila: Astbury Makati (April 17 and 19), Sari-Sari in Makati City (April 17 and 19), and 123 Block in Mandaluyong City (April 18).\n\u201cWe had two editions before the pandemic, in 2018 and 2019,\u201d said MC Galang, co-founder and creative director of The Rest Is Noise PH, at an April 14 press conference in San Juan City. Last year, they revived the festival for the company\u2019s 10th anniversary.\n\u201cBy then, we had gone to many showcases abroad and found things that could work here,\u201d Ms. Galang said. \u201cWe came up with panels that would be beneficial to either musicians or music industry professionals.\u201d\nTheir programming is \u201ccentered on community building, cross-cultural collaboration, and visibility, positioning Filipino and Asian music as vital forces within the global creative economy.\u201d\nThe international acts set to perform are Phoebe Rings (New Zealand), Grrrl Gang, Arash Buana, and Gavendri (Indonesia), Shye and Pines (Singapore), and HengJones and Our Shame (Taiwan).\nThe local acts are BP Valenzuela, Fitterkarma, SOS, Ourselves the Elves, Elijah Canlas, DJ Love from Davao, VVINK, Playertwo, fern, August Wahh, School Girl Classic from Cebu, Delinquent Society from Davao, Alyson, Novocrane, Amateurish from Baguio, Carousel Casualties, Magiliw Street, Ysanygo, and kyleaux.\nIn addition to live showcase performances, the music culture programming also highlights the music conference format, featuring panels and keynote discussions, documentary screenings, and networking activities.\n\u201cAll Of The Noise exists to create meaningful intersections between artists, industries, and cultures,\u201d said Ian Emmanuel C. Urrutia, the festival\u2019s program director. \u201cAs the region continues to assert its voice on the global stage, our role is to build the infrastructure, dialogue, and opportunities that allow that voice to travel further.\u201d\n\u201cWe see this platform not only as a showcase but also as a long-term investment in the sustainability and global visibility of Filipino and Asian music,\u201d he added.\nCONFERENCES\nThis year\u2019s edition of \u201cCut Through The Noise,\u201d the festival\u2019s conference program, will feature panel discussions and keynote presentations from music industry experts and professionals from the Philippines and abroad.\nDesigned to address the evolving needs of the local and regional music sectors, the topics of the panel segments range from market development and cross-border collaboration, to innovation, policy, and audience growth.\n\u201cWe want to equip musicians with the knowledge and networks necessary to navigate an increasingly competitive global landscape,\u201d said Ms. Galang. \u201cFor us, aside from the creativity aspect of music, the focus on music education is for Filipino artists, who have a surplus of talent, but can only make do with what they have.\u201d\nThere will be panels on the potential of Southeast Asia, on curating music festivals, on system-building from both the private and public sectors, and on growing indie labels.\nMore specific panels are set to take place about the original soundtrack of Diary ng Panget and about the music community in Baguio City.\nOTHER PROGRAMS\nThis year\u2019s All Of The Noise will feature three films under its \u201cEchoes Of The Noise\u201d music documentary program. These are: the international debut screenings of Elephant Gym: More Real Than Dreams; Rosas: The Song. The Journey; and This is HANNAH+GABI.\nSpotify will also power a key educational component of the program through a Spotify for Artists Masterclass led by the Spotify Asia team.\nIt is designed as a practical beginner session for artists and music stakeholders, focused on the \u201cessential tools, insights, and platform knowledge needed to strengthen presence on Spotify, promote music more effectively, better understand audience behavior, and navigate the wider music streaming landscape with more clarity and confidence.\u201d\nFinally, there will be curated studio sessions, programmed by The Rest Is Noise PH, which brings Filipino songwriters and producers together with international guest performers to co-create original music. Under the \u201cAll Of The Noise Music Creatives Program,\u201d the participating artists get to come up with newly written songs.\nThe inaugural session will feature Filipino producers Tim and Sam Marquez from One Click Straight and Taiwanese alternative pop band Our Shame, with guidance from DJ Joey Santos of Love One Another Sound Production. The Studio Sessions will also pair rising Filipino R&B artist kyleaux with acclaimed Taiwanese hip-hop artist HengJones, facilitated by CHEKE\u2019s Justin Wieneke.\nTickets, priced from P400 to P700 depending on the day, are available via https://allofthenoise2026.helixpay.ph. A three-day pass worth P999 is inclusive of all programs. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-17T00:04:42+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-16T18:17:34+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Photo-by-Mayks-Go.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=742783", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/15/742783/a-womans-strength/", "title": "A woman\u2019s strength", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nWOMEN never quite fit into narrow definitions for Meneline Wong, MD, a multidisciplinary artist and obstetrician-gynecologist.
\nFor her, the resilience and beauty of women are best expressed in the mixed-media format, which allows for textures, flourishes, and imperfections. At the Conrad Manila hotel, 20 of Ms. Wong\u2019s latest works provide a splash of color on the walls, for guests and visitors to peruse and admire.
\nTitled Creases, the 40th exhibit in the \u201cOf Art and Wine\u201d series at the hotel\u2019s Gallery C reflects the strength that can be found in the imperfect, bridging contemporary art and a doctor\u2019s experience with the women she encounters in her day-to-day life.
\nEver since she won 2nd place in the GSIS National Art Competition in 2018 for non-representational art, Ms. Wong has continued to experiment and infuse her paintings with an intimate understanding of movement, flow, and organic transformation.
\n\u201cI\u2019m spontaneous. I don\u2019t plan out my works, maybe except for an upcoming one that will be more of a 3D sculpture,\u201d Ms. Wong told 大象传媒 on the sidelines of the exhibit launch on March 24.
\n\u201cIn front of the canvas, I\u2019m really spontaneous,\u201d she said.
\nThe exhibit\u2019s title brings attention to the creases and folds in her artworks, inviting viewers to look closer and appreciate that these are not flaws in the design. The layered textures and expressive forms, backed by bright colors, symbolize the struggles, sacrifices, and silent battles that women carry with grace.
\nSome notable details are the lightness of the pastels, representing finesse, and the boldness of the metallic colors, which convey inner strength.
\n\u201cFor so long, women have been confined within narrow definitions,\u201d said Ms. Wong. For her, labels such as \u201cthe weaker sex,\u201d \u201ctoo emotional,\u201d and \u201clacking courage\u201d do not reflect who women are.
\n\u201cThese are limitations imposed by a world that has not taken the time to truly see them,\u201d she explained.
\nRupert Hallam, Conrad Manila\u2019s general manager, said at the launch that these creations are a way to recognize \u201cthe remarkable contributions and impact of every woman across our business and in every sector, including the arts.
\n\u201cThrough this latest installation, we invite our guests and patrons to experience a thoughtful tribute to the vulnerabilities and imperfections that ultimately give women their depth, character, and enduring beauty,\u201d he said.
\nAs for Susane Tiausus, managing director of Art Lounge Manila which represents Ms. Wong, the highlight of the creased works are the emotions they manage to evoke.
\n\u201cMeneline does not hesitate to really express what she has inside,\u201d Ms. Tiausus said. \u201cTry to look into her artworks and see what she\u2019s really trying to tell you \u2014 the story, the emotions.\u201d
\nCurated by Nestor Jardin, Creases is a continuation of mixed-media paintings that Ms. Wong produced for a Women\u2019s Month group show two years ago.
\nShe told 大象传媒 that the natural progression of her works will eventually be the removal of the canvas, resulting in a more sculptural form. As she cycles through her usual schedule \u2014 clinic three times a week, painting two times a week, and playing sports in her free time \u2014 the drive to push the envelope continues.
\n\u201cMy goal is to have more international shows, maybe even a solo show,\u201d she said.
\nOf Art and Wine: Creases is on view at Conrad Manila\u2019s Gallery C. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nMeneline Wong presents new mixed-media works\nWOMEN never quite fit into narrow definitions for Meneline Wong, MD, a multidisciplinary artist and obstetrician-gynecologist.\nFor her, the resilience and beauty of women are best expressed in the mixed-media format, which allows for textures, flourishes, and imperfections. At the Conrad Manila hotel, 20 of Ms. Wong\u2019s latest works provide a splash of color on the walls, for guests and visitors to peruse and admire.\nTitled Creases, the 40th exhibit in the \u201cOf Art and Wine\u201d series at the hotel\u2019s Gallery C reflects the strength that can be found in the imperfect, bridging contemporary art and a doctor\u2019s experience with the women she encounters in her day-to-day life.\nEver since she won 2nd place in the GSIS National Art Competition in 2018 for non-representational art, Ms. Wong has continued to experiment and infuse her paintings with an intimate understanding of movement, flow, and organic transformation.\n\u201cI\u2019m spontaneous. I don\u2019t plan out my works, maybe except for an upcoming one that will be more of a 3D sculpture,\u201d Ms. Wong told 大象传媒 on the sidelines of the exhibit launch on March 24.\n\u201cIn front of the canvas, I\u2019m really spontaneous,\u201d she said.\nThe exhibit\u2019s title brings attention to the creases and folds in her artworks, inviting viewers to look closer and appreciate that these are not flaws in the design. The layered textures and expressive forms, backed by bright colors, symbolize the struggles, sacrifices, and silent battles that women carry with grace.\nSome notable details are the lightness of the pastels, representing finesse, and the boldness of the metallic colors, which convey inner strength.\n\u201cFor so long, women have been confined within narrow definitions,\u201d said Ms. Wong. For her, labels such as \u201cthe weaker sex,\u201d \u201ctoo emotional,\u201d and \u201clacking courage\u201d do not reflect who women are.\n\u201cThese are limitations imposed by a world that has not taken the time to truly see them,\u201d she explained.\nRupert Hallam, Conrad Manila\u2019s general manager, said at the launch that these creations are a way to recognize \u201cthe remarkable contributions and impact of every woman across our business and in every sector, including the arts.\n\u201cThrough this latest installation, we invite our guests and patrons to experience a thoughtful tribute to the vulnerabilities and imperfections that ultimately give women their depth, character, and enduring beauty,\u201d he said.\nAs for Susane Tiausus, managing director of Art Lounge Manila which represents Ms. Wong, the highlight of the creased works are the emotions they manage to evoke.\n\u201cMeneline does not hesitate to really express what she has inside,\u201d Ms. Tiausus said. \u201cTry to look into her artworks and see what she\u2019s really trying to tell you \u2014 the story, the emotions.\u201d\nCurated by Nestor Jardin, Creases is a continuation of mixed-media paintings that Ms. Wong produced for a Women\u2019s Month group show two years ago.\nShe told 大象传媒 that the natural progression of her works will eventually be the removal of the canvas, resulting in a more sculptural form. As she cycles through her usual schedule \u2014 clinic three times a week, painting two times a week, and playing sports in her free time \u2014 the drive to push the envelope continues.\n\u201cMy goal is to have more international shows, maybe even a solo show,\u201d she said.\nOf Art and Wine: Creases is on view at Conrad Manila\u2019s Gallery C. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-15T00:06:33+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-14T18:47:45+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Photo-3.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ], "summary": "WOMEN never quite fit into narrow definitions for Meneline Wong, MD, a multidisciplinary artist and obstetrician-gynecologist." }, { "id": "/?p=742782", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/15/742782/benilde-open-design-and-art-merges-the-natural-and-the-technological/", "title": "Benilde Open Design and Art merges the natural and the technological", "content_html": "\r\n \r\n\r\nFILLING the gallery space with an inviting area of soft seats and hammocks with a netted canopy overhead, Karl Castro\u2019s Maytubig emerged as part of the second set of Benilde Open Design and Art grants. The pop-up cultural space is another in his series titled Locus Pocus: Kinetic Social Infrastructures for Rest and Collective Care, derived from the aesthetics and labor of fishing culture.
\nThe installation at Benilde was one of the most popular on opening night, offering a public space for rest shaped by human and ecological memory. Built in collaboration with fishermen from Talim Island, its canopy draws from the salambao, a traditional lift net once common in Manila Bay and its river networks, and the sakag, a manual push net still commonly used for shrimp fishing.
\n\u201cI want people to think about our literal relationship with water in the area where Benilde is,\u201d Mr. Castro told the media prior to the launch of Benilde Open on April 11. Malate, Manila, where the campus sits, used to have waterways leading up to Manila Bay.
\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to the fisherfolk communities whose knowledge and craft are at the heart of this structure, which makes rest a form of remembering and a temporary act of reclamation,\u201d he said.
\nHe is one of the 10 grantees chosen to receive P300,000 to realize design and art projects encompassing various fields, under the theme \u201cExtension of Nature\u201d for this edition.
\nMeanwhile, media artist Mac Andre Arboleda turned to the digital sphere to examine colonial crimes against nature, with a project titled Nutrition Month (Presented by Mayor Alice Guo). In a sonic archive format, it cleverly uses the figure of Alice Guo as a lens to investigate the various trends and systems that define the Filipino today.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s presented as a satirical billboard and evolving archive, mimicking the language of government campaigns and online scams,\u201d Mr. Arboleda told 大象传媒. He posited that a research-driven yet grassroots approach to the complex social media landscape is critical to make real progress.
\nFor him, be it the seafaring network of Filipinos abroad, the e-sabong networks locally, or the complications behind acceptance of gender identities in the Philippines, there is much yet to be studied online.
\nSELECTION PROCESS
\nThe Benilde Open Design and Art is a grant-giving body organized by De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (CSB). For its second edition, the showcase is installed across the 6th and 12th floors of the CSB campus, where students and visitors can browse through the works.
It invited creatives from all fields of design and art \u2014 like traditional crafts, textiles, industrial design, video, and architecture, to name a few \u2014 to participate. The 130 proposals received were narrowed down to 10 professional grantees, each of whom received a P300,000 grant to fulfill their projects.
\nThis year, the international selection committee was composed of Freddie Anzures, Creative Partner at HPIQ; Jiho Lee, curator at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea; architect Mireia Luz\u00e1rraga of TAKK; Natalie Huni, managing director and head of design at Wells Fargo; and Timothy Moore, curator of contemporary design and architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria and director of Melbourne Design Week.
\n\u201cIt was very difficult to select because there\u2019s hundreds of creatives and we were really confronted with the variety of disciplines. What was helpful was the theme, which looks at nature,\u201d Mr. Moore told 大象传媒. \u201cAs a jury, we were really interested in projects that challenge the binary relationship between nature and human, projects that look at how nature is complex and entangled in our lives.\u201d
\nHe added that Benilde Open is unique in that it commissions \u201cprototypical work that tests out ideas in a gallery setting,\u201d unlike other similar grants of this scale. \u201cIt\u2019s brave to have this kind of incubator for people at different stages of their career. It\u2019s quite unique globally, an opportunity that we don\u2019t see a lot,\u201d he said.
\nFAMILIAR MADE NEW
\nSome projects reinterpreted day-to-day rituals and materials to develop new forms.
Technospoonism: Wearable Cutlery for a Reimagined Kamayan by designer Bianca Carague presents a speculative jewelry collection that reimagines the Filipino tradition of eating using one\u2019s hands. Her experimentation in form resulted in rings that double as forks, cuffs that also function as plates, and pendants that may carry food.
\nDatirati by Ni\u00f1o Tayao revisits childhood play through a stacking toy made from agricultural waste. Using organic materials like rice husks, corn husks, various seeds, and starch, his series of toys invites people to contemplate the life cycle of objects.
\n\u201cComing from an industrial design background, I found that the agri-waste materials carried nostalgia. I feel that I\u2019m working with a living thing that\u2019s very fragile,\u201d he said. \u201cThe uncertainty is kind of a metaphor for the climate we have right now.\u201d
\nCIVIC LIFE, PUBLIC SPACE
\nFor artist Krishner Appay from Sulu, whose project A Cultural Revival of the Tausug Luhul Giyuting Tree of Life presents appliqu\u00e9 textiles developed with local artisans, the Benilde Open is an opportunity to keep traditional textile knowledge alive.
\u201cSulu traditional art has to be passed on to the next generation, even in the reality of modernization. This traditional knowledge deserves wider recognition, appreciation, and preservation,\u201d she told 大象传媒. \u201cThis exhibit also challenges the notion that local artisans can only create for local audiences. It can go beyond the community.\u201d
\nMore representations of civic life appear across the showcase. Andi Osme\u00f1a\u2019s Waste of Space is an answer to the scarcity of accessible public spaces in Metro Manila. She uses upcycled materials like sachets to put up temporary gathering spaces that communities can build on their own.
\n\u201cPublic space is becoming more topical in light of car-centric infrastructure and rising prices of oil and gas. Metro Manila gets the brunt of it. This is something that we can take hold with our own hands, which is why the materials I chose are simple, inexpensive, and made from post-industrial waste,\u201d said Ms. Osme\u00f1a.
\n\u201cWe can do things guerrilla,\u201d she added. \u201cFrom it, I want people to find hope and small pockets of joy.\u201d
\nMeanwhile, an exploration of life on Negros Island was captured on film by artists and filmmakers Kiri Dalena and Ben Brix. Common Ground, a multi-channel video installation, examines ecological volatility and colonial agricultural histories on the island.
\nBoth explained that, aside from filming the experiences of locals, they were able to pick up on the contradictions and tensions in the region.
\nSPECULATIVE DESIGNS
\nAnother video installation among the grantees was helmed by filmmaker Mikael Joaquin. His work, The Memory of Flood, speculates a future Manila reshaped by rising waters.
\u201cIt presents an imagined landscape where flooding water has shaped the city. I hope audiences feel the fragility of the image,\u201d he told 大象传媒.
\nHe said that the video contemplates how Manila\u2019s coastline is drastically ever-changing. It is centered on a lone figure facing the sea while a color image of Dolomite Beach is projected on a thin, makeshift-screen made of gauze.
\nNicolei Racal\u2019s What If Snow Falls in the Philippines? is another speculative work, which imagines a fictional climate catastrophe through a textile-based installation.
\nAtlas of Water Futures by architectural studio Uno Sinotra, led by Mona and Buddy Ong, tackles flooding with an inflatable bubble-dome installation, developed from workshops with children in Cebu.
\nFor selection committee member Freddie Anzures, the 10 final projects stood out because they contained \u201cnarratives that relate to cultures globally, just executed in a Filipino lens.\u201d
\n\u201cThey all have a collective aspect, a community aspect, and that is what I would love to see represent the Philippines on a global level,\u201d he explained. \u201cI think a lot of the projects capture a Filipino-ness, though the Philippines is made up of a lot of different cultures. The geographical nature of the country hinders its ability to have a solid identity, so the variety is part of its identity. It\u2019s a collage.\u201d
\nThe Benilde Open Design and Art 2026 exhibition is on view until April 27 on the 6th and 12th floors of the CSB\u2019s School of Design and Arts campus in Pablo Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "1 of 2\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n DATIRATI by Ni\u00f1o Tayao \u2014 BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n MAYTUBIG from the Locus Pocus series by Karl Castro \u2014 BRONT\u00cb H. LACSAMANA\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \nFILLING the gallery space with an inviting area of soft seats and hammocks with a netted canopy overhead, Karl Castro\u2019s Maytubig emerged as part of the second set of Benilde Open Design and Art grants. The pop-up cultural space is another in his series titled Locus Pocus: Kinetic Social Infrastructures for Rest and Collective Care, derived from the aesthetics and labor of fishing culture.\nThe installation at Benilde was one of the most popular on opening night, offering a public space for rest shaped by human and ecological memory. Built in collaboration with fishermen from Talim Island, its canopy draws from the salambao, a traditional lift net once common in Manila Bay and its river networks, and the sakag, a manual push net still commonly used for shrimp fishing.\n\u201cI want people to think about our literal relationship with water in the area where Benilde is,\u201d Mr. Castro told the media prior to the launch of Benilde Open on April 11. Malate, Manila, where the campus sits, used to have waterways leading up to Manila Bay.\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to the fisherfolk communities whose knowledge and craft are at the heart of this structure, which makes rest a form of remembering and a temporary act of reclamation,\u201d he said.\nHe is one of the 10 grantees chosen to receive P300,000 to realize design and art projects encompassing various fields, under the theme \u201cExtension of Nature\u201d for this edition.\nMeanwhile, media artist Mac Andre Arboleda turned to the digital sphere to examine colonial crimes against nature, with a project titled Nutrition Month (Presented by Mayor Alice Guo). In a sonic archive format, it cleverly uses the figure of Alice Guo as a lens to investigate the various trends and systems that define the Filipino today.\n\u201cIt\u2019s presented as a satirical billboard and evolving archive, mimicking the language of government campaigns and online scams,\u201d Mr. Arboleda told 大象传媒. He posited that a research-driven yet grassroots approach to the complex social media landscape is critical to make real progress.\nFor him, be it the seafaring network of Filipinos abroad, the e-sabong networks locally, or the complications behind acceptance of gender identities in the Philippines, there is much yet to be studied online.\nSELECTION PROCESS\nThe Benilde Open Design and Art is a grant-giving body organized by De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (CSB). For its second edition, the showcase is installed across the 6th and 12th floors of the CSB campus, where students and visitors can browse through the works.\nIt invited creatives from all fields of design and art \u2014 like traditional crafts, textiles, industrial design, video, and architecture, to name a few \u2014 to participate. The 130 proposals received were narrowed down to 10 professional grantees, each of whom received a P300,000 grant to fulfill their projects.\nThis year, the international selection committee was composed of Freddie Anzures, Creative Partner at HPIQ; Jiho Lee, curator at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea; architect Mireia Luz\u00e1rraga of TAKK; Natalie Huni, managing director and head of design at Wells Fargo; and Timothy Moore, curator of contemporary design and architecture at the National Gallery of Victoria and director of Melbourne Design Week.\n\u201cIt was very difficult to select because there\u2019s hundreds of creatives and we were really confronted with the variety of disciplines. What was helpful was the theme, which looks at nature,\u201d Mr. Moore told 大象传媒. \u201cAs a jury, we were really interested in projects that challenge the binary relationship between nature and human, projects that look at how nature is complex and entangled in our lives.\u201d\nHe added that Benilde Open is unique in that it commissions \u201cprototypical work that tests out ideas in a gallery setting,\u201d unlike other similar grants of this scale. \u201cIt\u2019s brave to have this kind of incubator for people at different stages of their career. It\u2019s quite unique globally, an opportunity that we don\u2019t see a lot,\u201d he said.\nFAMILIAR MADE NEW\nSome projects reinterpreted day-to-day rituals and materials to develop new forms. \nTechnospoonism: Wearable Cutlery for a Reimagined Kamayan by designer Bianca Carague presents a speculative jewelry collection that reimagines the Filipino tradition of eating using one\u2019s hands. Her experimentation in form resulted in rings that double as forks, cuffs that also function as plates, and pendants that may carry food.\nDatirati by Ni\u00f1o Tayao revisits childhood play through a stacking toy made from agricultural waste. Using organic materials like rice husks, corn husks, various seeds, and starch, his series of toys invites people to contemplate the life cycle of objects.\n\u201cComing from an industrial design background, I found that the agri-waste materials carried nostalgia. I feel that I\u2019m working with a living thing that\u2019s very fragile,\u201d he said. \u201cThe uncertainty is kind of a metaphor for the climate we have right now.\u201d\nCIVIC LIFE, PUBLIC SPACE\nFor artist Krishner Appay from Sulu, whose project A Cultural Revival of the Tausug Luhul Giyuting Tree of Life presents appliqu\u00e9 textiles developed with local artisans, the Benilde Open is an opportunity to keep traditional textile knowledge alive.\n\u201cSulu traditional art has to be passed on to the next generation, even in the reality of modernization. This traditional knowledge deserves wider recognition, appreciation, and preservation,\u201d she told 大象传媒. \u201cThis exhibit also challenges the notion that local artisans can only create for local audiences. It can go beyond the community.\u201d\nMore representations of civic life appear across the showcase. Andi Osme\u00f1a\u2019s Waste of Space is an answer to the scarcity of accessible public spaces in Metro Manila. She uses upcycled materials like sachets to put up temporary gathering spaces that communities can build on their own.\n\u201cPublic space is becoming more topical in light of car-centric infrastructure and rising prices of oil and gas. Metro Manila gets the brunt of it. This is something that we can take hold with our own hands, which is why the materials I chose are simple, inexpensive, and made from post-industrial waste,\u201d said Ms. Osme\u00f1a.\n\u201cWe can do things guerrilla,\u201d she added. \u201cFrom it, I want people to find hope and small pockets of joy.\u201d\nMeanwhile, an exploration of life on Negros Island was captured on film by artists and filmmakers Kiri Dalena and Ben Brix. Common Ground, a multi-channel video installation, examines ecological volatility and colonial agricultural histories on the island.\nBoth explained that, aside from filming the experiences of locals, they were able to pick up on the contradictions and tensions in the region.\nSPECULATIVE DESIGNS\nAnother video installation among the grantees was helmed by filmmaker Mikael Joaquin. His work, The Memory of Flood, speculates a future Manila reshaped by rising waters.\n\u201cIt presents an imagined landscape where flooding water has shaped the city. I hope audiences feel the fragility of the image,\u201d he told 大象传媒.\nHe said that the video contemplates how Manila\u2019s coastline is drastically ever-changing. It is centered on a lone figure facing the sea while a color image of Dolomite Beach is projected on a thin, makeshift-screen made of gauze.\nNicolei Racal\u2019s What If Snow Falls in the Philippines? is another speculative work, which imagines a fictional climate catastrophe through a textile-based installation.\nAtlas of Water Futures by architectural studio Uno Sinotra, led by Mona and Buddy Ong, tackles flooding with an inflatable bubble-dome installation, developed from workshops with children in Cebu.\nFor selection committee member Freddie Anzures, the 10 final projects stood out because they contained \u201cnarratives that relate to cultures globally, just executed in a Filipino lens.\u201d\n\u201cThey all have a collective aspect, a community aspect, and that is what I would love to see represent the Philippines on a global level,\u201d he explained. \u201cI think a lot of the projects capture a Filipino-ness, though the Philippines is made up of a lot of different cultures. The geographical nature of the country hinders its ability to have a solid identity, so the variety is part of its identity. It\u2019s a collage.\u201d\nThe Benilde Open Design and Art 2026 exhibition is on view until April 27 on the 6th and 12th floors of the CSB\u2019s School of Design and Arts campus in Pablo Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-15T00:05:32+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-14T18:45:24+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Datirati.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] }, { "id": "/?p=742494", "url": "/arts-and-leisure/2026/04/14/742494/bert-lozada-swim-school-alive-and-splashing-for-70-years/", "title": "Bert Lozada Swim School: Alive and splashing for 70 years", "content_html": "![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BLSS-Summer-Swim-Program-poster.jpg\")
IT HAS been 70 years since the Bert Lozada Swim School (BLSS) began, a staple for those looking for swimming lessons either for themselves or for their children, especially in the summer. As the Philippines\u2019 largest and longest-running swim school, its mission has been simple \u2014 to help Filipinos overcome their fear of water.
Started in 1956 by Remberto \u201cTito Bert\u201d Lozada, whose experience in international swimming competitions motivated him to use what he had learned to teach others, the school has spent the last 70 years championing water safety nationwide. It has taught over one million students in that time, and has produced seven Olympian swimmers.
\nBert Lozada\u2019s sons, Anthony and Angelo, now run the business. In a recent virtual interview with 大象传媒, they said that passion is behind the constant improvement of their programs over the decades.
\n\u201cWhen it started, it was a mom-and-pop thing with a few family members teaching at a couple of swimming pools. The curriculum was based on what my dad developed from his experiences coaching abroad,\u201d Anthony Lozada, BLSS president and chief executive officer, told 大象传媒 via video call on April 10.
\n\u201cAt the time, there was no structure, methodology, or pedagogy on how to transfer information to children, given that it\u2019s a free moving environment, not a classroom setting,\u201d he added.
\nIt was Tito Bert\u2019s father, Capt. Catalino Lozada, who sowed the seeds for a swim school in the early 1950s. Each generation of the family got more exposure to international swimming standards, resulting in the necessary modifications and teaching aids.
\nThe brothers underwent a certification course in Australia, where they got the information needed to equip Filipino coaches with the skills to teach basic fundamental swimming, in turn upgrading their own learn-to-swim program.
\nDROWN-FREE PHILIPPINES
\nAngelo Lozada, chief operating officer of BLSS, explained that they now boast of \u201ca menu of services for different ability levels,\u201d from children to adults to those with adaptive needs, all based on best practices around the world, available year-round.
\u201cWe have 130 regular teachers and coaches around the country. During the summer, where we open up more classes and get to activate working students, we have roughly more than 200 teachers and coaches,\u201d he said.
\nIt is unfortunate that in an archipelagic country, many Filipinos still do not know how to swim. Angelo Lozada posits that a major factor is economics \u2014 with people not having the funds to enroll in swimming classes.
\n\u201cIn Australia, if a kid doesn\u2019t know how to swim by the time they\u2019re six years old, that\u2019s considered bad parenting. Here, we noticed a lot of kids don\u2019t learn simply because of lack of money for lessons,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnother thing that hinders is the knowledge to teach. That\u2019s the reason we built the Drown-Free Philippines Foundation, to equip people on the barangay level to teach.\u201d
\nINCLUSIVITY
\nNow, they are looking to collaborate with more swim providers, to help out more financially challenged Filipinos, especially children.
\u201cIt\u2019s doable if we\u2019re able to branch out,\u201d Angelo Lozada said. \u201cWe\u2019re already moving forward in terms of reaching different institutions and barangays. We just have to get more sponsors and raise more funds to teach even more kids for free.\u201d
\nBecause Bert Lozada\u2019s dream is to have \u201ca drown-free nation,\u201d his sons are working to bring swimming lessons to indigents, to children from families without access to funds, and to those with physical and intellectual disabilities.
\nAnthony Lozada, who also handles the national team for para-athletes, told 大象传媒 that they aim to expand their adaptive swimming lessons.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s about inclusivity regardless of demographic. BLSS wants to bring swimming to everyone,\u201d he said.
\nMAKING GREAT SWIMMERS
\nBLSS also offers their services to educational institutions, to take over the swimming portions of Physical Education (PE) programs. Those with a fear of water can be more adequately handled by a full-time swim teacher compared to a more general PE teacher, according to the brothers.
It\u2019s also a way to spot talent that can be recruited into more advanced modules, or even a varsity program.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re talking about those who are really comfortable in the water, which you can tell because they move differently. We get to identify usually one or two of those in every 40 students,\u201d said Angelo Lozada.
\nOnce those are spotted, they are encouraged to join intramurals, after which they are brought into a highly competitive program. \u201cA lot of swimmers discovered in our classes now in the national team used to be scared of the water. But with proper guidance and a lesson plan, we were able to tap those hidden talents in them,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cThe motto of our grandfather was: \u2018Great swimmers are made, not born.\u2019\u201d
\nTHE FUTURE OF BLSS
\nModules used by BLSS now are on par with those of other countries. The brothers likened it to how Jollibee took the fastfood concept from abroad and modified it to the Filipino context \u2014 and they continue to improve on it to this day.
\u201cOur students don\u2019t only learn the water safety skill of swimming, but we also impart to them the values of being an athlete and a positive contributor to Philippine society. Many coaches that we recruited are also doing well in jobs abroad,\u201d said Anthony Lozada. \u201cBLSS is a swim school that imparts not just knowledge of how to swim, but also values and the importance of family bonding.\u201d
\nRight now, they are working on an app which aims to professionalize everything from enrollment to alumni matters. \u201cWe want to remind alumni to continue learning to swim, and offer them refresher courses,\u201d said Angelo Lozada.
\nThe brothers assured that \u201cthe passion of Tito Bert is alive\u201d through them.
\n\u201cWe have our dad to thank. He really loved teaching,\u201d Anthony Lozada said. \u201cWe weren\u2019t able to figure it out before because we were looking at it as a job, but now that we\u2019re in the driver\u2019s seat, the rewards, the fulfillment, are unmatched.\u201d
\nTo inquire about the BLSS Summer Swim Program or their other programs, contact the Bert Lozada Swim School through their social media pages, send an e-mail to blss.inquiry@gmail.com, or call 0917-700-7946. The school has over 40 venues nationwide. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana
\n", "content_text": "IT HAS been 70 years since the Bert Lozada Swim School (BLSS) began, a staple for those looking for swimming lessons either for themselves or for their children, especially in the summer. As the Philippines\u2019 largest and longest-running swim school, its mission has been simple \u2014 to help Filipinos overcome their fear of water.\nStarted in 1956 by Remberto \u201cTito Bert\u201d Lozada, whose experience in international swimming competitions motivated him to use what he had learned to teach others, the school has spent the last 70 years championing water safety nationwide. It has taught over one million students in that time, and has produced seven Olympian swimmers.\nBert Lozada\u2019s sons, Anthony and Angelo, now run the business. In a recent virtual interview with 大象传媒, they said that passion is behind the constant improvement of their programs over the decades.\n\u201cWhen it started, it was a mom-and-pop thing with a few family members teaching at a couple of swimming pools. The curriculum was based on what my dad developed from his experiences coaching abroad,\u201d Anthony Lozada, BLSS president and chief executive officer, told 大象传媒 via video call on April 10.\n\u201cAt the time, there was no structure, methodology, or pedagogy on how to transfer information to children, given that it\u2019s a free moving environment, not a classroom setting,\u201d he added.\nIt was Tito Bert\u2019s father, Capt. Catalino Lozada, who sowed the seeds for a swim school in the early 1950s. Each generation of the family got more exposure to international swimming standards, resulting in the necessary modifications and teaching aids.\nThe brothers underwent a certification course in Australia, where they got the information needed to equip Filipino coaches with the skills to teach basic fundamental swimming, in turn upgrading their own learn-to-swim program.\nDROWN-FREE PHILIPPINES\nAngelo Lozada, chief operating officer of BLSS, explained that they now boast of \u201ca menu of services for different ability levels,\u201d from children to adults to those with adaptive needs, all based on best practices around the world, available year-round.\n\u201cWe have 130 regular teachers and coaches around the country. During the summer, where we open up more classes and get to activate working students, we have roughly more than 200 teachers and coaches,\u201d he said.\nIt is unfortunate that in an archipelagic country, many Filipinos still do not know how to swim. Angelo Lozada posits that a major factor is economics \u2014 with people not having the funds to enroll in swimming classes.\n\u201cIn Australia, if a kid doesn\u2019t know how to swim by the time they\u2019re six years old, that\u2019s considered bad parenting. Here, we noticed a lot of kids don\u2019t learn simply because of lack of money for lessons,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnother thing that hinders is the knowledge to teach. That\u2019s the reason we built the Drown-Free Philippines Foundation, to equip people on the barangay level to teach.\u201d\nINCLUSIVITY\nNow, they are looking to collaborate with more swim providers, to help out more financially challenged Filipinos, especially children.\n\u201cIt\u2019s doable if we\u2019re able to branch out,\u201d Angelo Lozada said. \u201cWe\u2019re already moving forward in terms of reaching different institutions and barangays. We just have to get more sponsors and raise more funds to teach even more kids for free.\u201d\nBecause Bert Lozada\u2019s dream is to have \u201ca drown-free nation,\u201d his sons are working to bring swimming lessons to indigents, to children from families without access to funds, and to those with physical and intellectual disabilities.\nAnthony Lozada, who also handles the national team for para-athletes, told 大象传媒 that they aim to expand their adaptive swimming lessons.\n\u201cIt\u2019s about inclusivity regardless of demographic. BLSS wants to bring swimming to everyone,\u201d he said.\nMAKING GREAT SWIMMERS\nBLSS also offers their services to educational institutions, to take over the swimming portions of Physical Education (PE) programs. Those with a fear of water can be more adequately handled by a full-time swim teacher compared to a more general PE teacher, according to the brothers. \nIt\u2019s also a way to spot talent that can be recruited into more advanced modules, or even a varsity program.\n\u201cWe\u2019re talking about those who are really comfortable in the water, which you can tell because they move differently. We get to identify usually one or two of those in every 40 students,\u201d said Angelo Lozada.\nOnce those are spotted, they are encouraged to join intramurals, after which they are brought into a highly competitive program. \u201cA lot of swimmers discovered in our classes now in the national team used to be scared of the water. But with proper guidance and a lesson plan, we were able to tap those hidden talents in them,\u201d he added.\n\u201cThe motto of our grandfather was: \u2018Great swimmers are made, not born.\u2019\u201d\nTHE FUTURE OF BLSS\nModules used by BLSS now are on par with those of other countries. The brothers likened it to how Jollibee took the fastfood concept from abroad and modified it to the Filipino context \u2014 and they continue to improve on it to this day.\n\u201cOur students don\u2019t only learn the water safety skill of swimming, but we also impart to them the values of being an athlete and a positive contributor to Philippine society. Many coaches that we recruited are also doing well in jobs abroad,\u201d said Anthony Lozada. \u201cBLSS is a swim school that imparts not just knowledge of how to swim, but also values and the importance of family bonding.\u201d\nRight now, they are working on an app which aims to professionalize everything from enrollment to alumni matters. \u201cWe want to remind alumni to continue learning to swim, and offer them refresher courses,\u201d said Angelo Lozada.\nThe brothers assured that \u201cthe passion of Tito Bert is alive\u201d through them.\n\u201cWe have our dad to thank. He really loved teaching,\u201d Anthony Lozada said. \u201cWe weren\u2019t able to figure it out before because we were looking at it as a job, but now that we\u2019re in the driver\u2019s seat, the rewards, the fulfillment, are unmatched.\u201d\nTo inquire about the BLSS Summer Swim Program or their other programs, contact the Bert Lozada Swim School through their social media pages, send an e-mail to blss.inquiry@gmail.com, or call 0917-700-7946. The school has over 40 venues nationwide. \u2014 Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "date_published": "2026-04-14T00:06:40+08:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-13T19:04:45+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "大象传媒", "url": "/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fc38d2668fdee8f1e2b22df5e72ae6f4ad265ab7814de4aa60060edd377a70ce?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BLSS-Summer-Swim-Program-poster-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Bront\u00eb H. Lacsamana", "Arts & Leisure", "Editors' Picks" ] } ] }![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Board-game-2.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Board-game-5.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Board-game-7.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Board-game-6.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260509_161249.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mimi-nolledo.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/nolledo-books.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260509_161522.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260509_161407.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ALYSON-1.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ALYSON.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Septic-Tank-4-Cast-1.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Septic-Tank-4-Cast.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Love-Is-Never-Gone.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Love-Is-Never-Gone-KA-4x5-1.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RAYE-album.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/sofiane-pamart-album.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/kehlani-album.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Vera-book1.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Vera-book.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260423_142856.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260423_163654.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260423_164116.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_172825.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_174308.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_174317.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_172748.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260424_171956.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Photo-by-Mayks-Go.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AOTN26-SCHED.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Photo-3.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DSC_2878.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Datirati.jpg\")
\r\n ![\"\"](\"/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Maytubig-from-Locus-Pocus-series.jpg\")
\r\n