Philippines Entertainment News & Sports

By: Josephine Ramos Busan, South Korea- From September 19 to 23, 2025, BENTE Productions Inc., the multimedia company of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), took part in the Asian Contents and Film Market (ACFM), held alongside the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) at the BEXCO Exhibition Center II in Busan, South Korea. BENTE Productions President Marilyn Manila expresses her excitement towards the films, saying, “It is not just the films that we brought, but the stories of change, stories of our communities that show courage and triumph despite challenges.” “The opportunity to participate in this event is not just for our institution but for all Filipinos whose voices we strive to amplify. This recognition gives us the strength to continue creating meaningful stories of love and hope. For our community and partners, this is our shared success,” she added. BENTE Productions’ participation in the ACFM also served as an opportunity to connect with severa...

The future of Philippine cinema shone brightly as the 8th Sine Kabataan Short Film Festival recently concluded its awards night at the Shangri-La Plaza Red Carpet Cinemas in Mandaluyong City. Organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines as part of the Philippine Film Industry Month celebration, the festival championed the diverse voices and bold storytelling of young filmmakers aged 18 to 23 from across the country. Emerging as the night’s biggest winner was the intimate family drama “When It Rained Malunggay Leaves,” which took home the Best Short Film, in addition to winning Best Screenplay for writer-director Cedrick Valenzuela and Best Editing for Vince Maliksi. The film follows a young woman (Gabby Padilla) who returns home for All Saints’ Day (Undas), forcing her to confront years of unspoken generational trauma and familial distance with her mother (Tanya Gomez). Valenzuela, whose script evolved into a story of healing, used the malunggay as a nourishing s...

Kuala Lumpur– A Kalibonhon resident is expanding her influence on the ASEAN scale as she was appointed as one of the ambassadors representing the Philippines. Maria Damian, who hails from Barangay Estancia, Kalibo, said that her appointment as one of the ambassadors came after she participated in the 10th ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival. The said event was recently held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This year’s theme is “Inspiring Global Transformation.” The carnival aims to celebrate a decade of connecting and empowering young entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration, and creating impact among the ASEAN nations. Damian said the Philippines will host next year's ASEAN meeting. The Philippines chairmanship was announced during the Gala Ceremony held last October 16. Damian was a member of the Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association. Among her colleagues is the Fil-Am star Christian Bables. "The Philippines is host to the 11th ASEAN Young Entrepreneur Carnival next y...

Mendiola, Manila, Oct. 16, 2025 — As the IMF and World Bank hold their annual meetings in Washington, DC, hundreds of activists march today to Mendiola Bridge, demanding “Stop the harm! Cancel the Debt! Reparations and Just Transition Now.” They join CSOs and movements in at least 50 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America in a Global Day of Coordinated Mobilizations, holding the IMF, World Bank, and G7 countries accountable for the debt, economic, and climate crisis. The demonstration brings together campaigners and activists from Oriang National Women’s Movement, Kilusan para sa Kabuhayan Kalusugan Kalikasan at Katiyakam sa Paninirahan, Sanlakas, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice. Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Zone One Tondo Organization, and the regional Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD). The mobilization calls out corruption as a systemic problem, requiring systemic solu...

KALIBO, Aklan- While many Akeanons are asleep, the iPhone 17 made its historic launch for Apple enthusiasts in Kalibo. The launch was held at the iyagi cafe at midnight on October 17, 2025, joined by several young people and powered by the Koks de Kalibo. Robi Carillo hosted the event. Several young professionals came to order the said phone Juan Climaco 'Bors' Abella III, who founded the Koks said that the iPhone 17 can now be bought at their shops at Gaisano Grand, Citymall, Gaisano Capital and in their store along Pastrana Street.The said phone can also be purchased through HomeCredit and Maya. The midnight launch also featured other products such as the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro/Promax. "We offer promos from October 17-19, where those who will buy will be given thousands of pesos worth of free accessories only at Koks," Abella told the Boracay Island News Network. Those who attended the launch also enjoyed some parlor games prepared by Carillo ...

An all-women contingent protested in front of the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City today as part of Asia-wide demonstrations on the International Day of Rural Women. The demonstrations, led by the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), were also held in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia in the wake of a monsoon season that has devastated South and Southeast Asia. Protesters called for the recognition of women as food producers in policies and programs for food systems, equal access to land, water, seeds, and resources, and the protection of women and their communities from climate impacts. Nearly one in four women worldwide will be moderately to severely food insecure by 2030, and this will only worsen as the climate crisis intensifies. In a scenario where global temperature rise exceeds the current path, 240 million more women and girls will go hungry, compared to 131 million more men and boys. “The food and climate crises are ...

Croatia- Punong-puno ng kulay, musika, at kultura ang pagbubukas ng Philippines–Croatia Friendship Week sa DMW Main Office sa Mandaluyong City nitong October 14, 2025. Tampok sa programa ang mga Filipino performers na ipinamalas ang husay at galing ng lahing Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng awitin at sayaw. Umindak sa entablado ang mga kabataang dancers sa masiglang Tinikling performance, na sinabayan ng mga awiting Filipino na nagbigay-buhay sa selebrasyon ng pagkakaibigan ng dalawang bansa. Saksi sa makulay na cultural showcase sina Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, mga opisyal ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Philippine Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, at mga Croatian delegates na pinangunahan nina Mr. Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, at Mr. Ivan Vidiš, State Secretary ng Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy. Sa pagbubukas ng Friendship Week, ipinahayag ng DMW ang patuloy nitong pagsuporta sa pagkakais...

Ni: Shaine Sorrosa Nabas, Aklan- Inanunsyo ng kilalang lokal na banda na bato balani sa kanilang opisyal na Facebook page na sila ay magtatanghal sa darating na Mayo 27, 2026, bilang bahagi ng taunang kapistahan ng Barangay Union sa bayan ng Nabas, Aklan sa darating na Mayo 27, 2026. Ang naturang performance ay inaasahang magiging tampok na bahagi ng fiesta celebration, na taon-taong pinagdiriwang ng komunidad. Inaasahang magdadala ng kasiyahan at makabagbag-damdaming musika ang banda sa entablado, tampok ang kanilang mga paboritong awitin. Sa mga nakaraang taon, naging bisita rin ng Barangay Union Fiesta ang ilan sa mga kilalang pangalan sa musika at social media, kabilang na ang bandang Sweetnotes Music at ang sikat na bandang na si Elias J. Tv. Band . Ang Bato Balani naman ang inaabangan ng mga tagahanga at lokal na residente. Mapapawow at sanaol ka nalang!

Habang nagpe-perform si Elias J. Tv. , nauna munang nag-perform si Kenji. Pagkatapos ng isang kanta ni Elias, mahinahong nilapitan siya ni Kenji at nagpaalala: "May simbahan sa gilid," sabay turo sa direksyon nito — isang simpleng paalala na puno ng respeto. Dahil dito, agad na naging maingat si Elias. Nag-anunsyo siya sa audience na huwag muna silang magpakasobra sa kasayahan dahil nais niyang igalang ang presensya ng simbahan malapit sa venue. Kaya't kahit madalas niyang kinakanta ang "Sabak Ka Diri" — isang kanta na karaniwan ay inaakyatan ng mga tao, lalo na ng mga kababaihan, upang makisaya sa entablado — pinili muna niyang kantahin na may pag paalala na wag muna aakyat bilang tanda ng paggalang. Ipinakita niya na higit pa sa pagpapasaya ng tao, mas mahalaga sa kanya ang pagrespeto sa Diyos at sa banal na lugar. Natapos ang kanyang performance na puno ng dignidad, kababaang-loob, at tunay na malasakit sa kapwa. Saludo po ako kay kenji — salamat sa pag...

Climate activists from around the world gathered in Pasay City this morning outside Conrad Manila, where the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) is holding its 7th Board Meeting (B7). The protesters, joined by allies from the FRLD Board, called on Global North governments attending the meeting to scale up their financial contributions to the FRLD and stop funding the Gaza genocide. The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage was established as a result of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at its 28th summit (COP28) held in Egypt in November 2022. The Fund is designed to provide assistance to developing countries for economic and non-economic loss and damage resulting from the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow-onset events. Governments of developed countries, or those in the Global North, are expected to make contributions to the fund, given that they bear primary responsibility for clima...

Quezon City, Philippines — Communities from Barangays Pinamucan, Libjo, and Malitam in Batangas City, together with the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), sent a letter to Ayala Corporation (Ayala Corp) on Oct. 6, 2025, calling on the latter to support just energy transition to renewables instead of fossil fuels. Ayala Corp AC Energy (ACEN)'s Ace Enexor (ENEX) owns 50 percent of the Batangas Clean Energy (BCE) Project, which includes a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and a combined cycle gas turbine power plant. PMCJ has long been arguing that fossil gas is never clean as it releases harmful pollutants that can contribute to smog, acid rain, respiratory problems, and cardiovascular diseases. “A peer-reviewed study published in 2024 found that LNG has 33 percent higher greenhouse gas emissions than coal. The actual burning of gas accounts for only about a third of the total emissions. Gas is still a fossil fuel and therefore not a cleaner alternative to coal,”...

Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio Davao City- There are numerous methods to worship God. One of the most effective ways is through singing. The Bible itself declares: “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1). Another scripture encourages, “Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders” (Psalm 105:2). In the Philippines, individuals sing to the Lord some gospel songs made famous by American artists. One such artist is Donald James “Don” Moen, who also composes and produces the majority of his songs and serves as a pastor. “I don’t have any problem writing a secular song, a love song,” he tells this author in an exclusive interview. “I will probably write one for my wife. Love songs are great but I don’t think they will change a lot of life completely. But I have no problem with people who write pop songs or love songs. I believe that all music comes from God.” Perhaps not many Filipinos are aware that Moen actually had no intere...

RSV highlighted as a serious and immediate threat to infants and older adults, raising the need for awareness. Immunization now offers a vital tool to protect those who are at most risk. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remains to be the leading cause of respiratory illness especially in young children1, prompting experts to raise awareness about the burden of the disease through better surveillance and prevention efforts8. In a forum initiated by Pfizer dubbed “RSV: The Invisible Thief that Breaks Breath” held at Rockwell, Makati, the discussion highlighted RSV’s understated yet threatening impact on both ends of the age spectrum – infants under six months1 and older adults over 60, particularly those living with chronic medical conditions2-4. “We are taking this awareness initiative to help provide more information to the public because RSV is a real threat; it’s like a thief that takes away the patient’s ability to breathe. The good news is that it is preventable, so no life...

Green Gala Awardee and internationally-renowned singer Geneva Cruz joined the Day of Action Against Incineration in Smokey Mountain, attended by over 500 urban poor residents. “The people of Smokey Mountain have struggled with the impacts of poverty and environmental injustice, now facing job losses, forced evictions, and reprisals from proponents of the WTE project. Dean Michael Roxas and I will meet you all at San Pablo Apostol Parish & Covered Court in Tondo, Manila, where we were both born, for this important event by Gaia Zero Waste Asia against incineration”, she posted days before the activity. The singer who rose into stardom as a member of the seminal quartet Smokey Mountain, named after the former Manila dumpsite, has championed environmental awareness. She dedicated a medley of the band’s songs entitled Kailan, Paraiso, and Better World inside the San Pablo Apostol covered court. Around 500 residents attended the event throughout the day. President Ferdinan...