Star Powerhouse

  The journey of an actor is often defined by the moments they choose to step completely outside their comfort zone. For Filipina actress Zar Donato, that leap has not only taken her across geographical borders but has also placed her at the forefront of a new chapter in her professional life. From her early days in local independent cinema to her current strides on the international stage, Donato is establishing herself as a remarkable talent to watch. Donato was recently selected one of the 20 finalists for The Master Series: Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Acting Workshop for Filipino Talents 2026. The program offers an opportunity for growth, placing her under the mentorship of acclaimed directors Jose Javier Reyes, Laurice Guillen, and Joel Lamangan. For Donato, a film graduate from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, this training marks a refining of her craft. It is a transition from the raw talent first discovered in the 2018 QCinema entry “Billie and Emma” t...

For its 22nd edition, the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival opens and closes with two internationally acclaimed independent films that reflect the complexity of Filipino experience: the opening film, Enjoy Your Stay , explores a mother's enduring love for her daughter, while the closing film, Filipiñana , follows a teenage girl whose job at a country club leads to unexpected discoveries. Opening Film  Directed by Dominik Locher and Honee Alipio and co-produced by Close Up Films and JBA Production, Enjoy Your Stay follows Luz, a Filipina who has spent years working as an undocumented cleaner in Switzerland. Living in the shadows alongside her friend Aileen and other Filipina migrant workers, she constantly faces the threat of being discovered and deported.  When she sees her ex-husband appear on a Filipino reality TV show with their six-year-old daughter, Luz’s life is shaken. In desperation to keep her child after years of working abroad, she promises on live te...

  The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Cultural Exchange brings the 2026 Kaisa sa Sining (KSS) Apprenticeship Program (AP) to Tagum City from July 22-31. Now on its 8th edition, the City of Tagum Cultural Center will be the official venue of program specifically at the Herminigildo Balayo MD Hall.  This year’s apprentices total to 24 from 17 KSS organizations nationwide.  The hands-on training modules are designed to enhance the competence level and skills of regional cultural workers in technical theater (sound and lights), and stage and production management.  The roster of trainors, facilitators and resource speakers are prominent in their respective fields to include Arnelio Manzano, Joey Nombres, Renz Sevilla and Chinggay Bernardo.  Mentoring on specific work areas in arts and theater with accompanying lectures, interactions, demonstrations, case studies, practical applications are included in the program. Three apprentices from the 2026 batch expre...

  What if seeing a play once meant you had only seen one version of it? That is the invitation of El Fuego del Alma, Porvenir's Filipino adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke. While every theatrical performance is unique by nature, El Fuego del Alma takes that idea further. Every show is intentionally different, shaped by changing environments, shifting seasons, and rotating lead performers. No two audiences experience exactly the same production. Rather than presenting a fixed version of the play, the creative team embraces change as part of the storytelling itself. A Story Told in Day and Night Vincent Pajara as Juanito & Hariette Mozelle as Alma (Evening) One of the production's defining features is its dual staging. Some performances take place in daylight. Natural light pours through the glass walls of Sine Pop, revealing every gesture, every silence, and every moment of vulnerability. The space feels exposed, immediate, almost documentary in its intim...

  The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in partnership with National Theatre Live and Ayala Malls Cinemas, brings another exciting lineup of world-class British theatre to Philippine shores through the third season of CCP National Theatre Live, running from July 2026 to July 2027. Featuring some of the finest stage productions from London's most celebrated theatres, the new season offers audiences the unique opportunity to experience acclaimed plays filmed live on stage and especially adapted for cinema screens. Through this program, CCP continues its commitment to making international theatre more accessible to Filipino audiences. Following the success of its previous seasons, CCP National Theatre Live expands its reach with screenings at Ayala Greenbelt in Makati, Ayala Vertis North in Quezon City, and Ayala Nuvali in Laguna, bringing exceptional theatre productions closer to audiences in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The third season opens on July 28 with The Audien...

  When Gener Caringal received the Gawad CCP para sa Sining, he closed his acceptance speech with borrowed words from Andres Bonifacio: "Dadalhin ko sa bagong kabanata ng aking buhay ang mga hiram na salita galing kay Andres Bonifacio: 'Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa?' Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.' Nais kong ituloy ang nasimulan with this as my guide. I look forward to more opportunities to love my art, my audience, and my country." In many ways, the universe honored that wish. Nearly three decades after its premiere, Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT) brings Andres KKK back to the stage, allowing Caringal's masterpiece to once again reach a new generation of audiences—and another opportunity to serve the country. As revolutionary as their beginnings, they celebrate the company’s fortieth year in the industry with a bold move to change their season opening from the classics to a histor...