Star Powerhouse

  Filipino singer-songwriter Paolo Sandejas releases his highly anticipated debut album, the world is so small —out now via Sony Music Entertainment. The 8-track release is a profound exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery, reflecting the beauty in life’s emotional turbulence, particularly within the formative years of one’s 20s. According to Sandejas, the world is so small isn’t just an album; it’s an anthology of moments that mirror the intricate web of human connections. From fleeting romances to enduring heartbreaks and the quiet hope that lingers through it all, Sandejas uses his music to explore how we are all bound by shared experiences. “This album is divided into four thematic arcs, each representing a different phase of a relationship,” Sandejas explains. “The first two songs cover excitement of a honeymoon phase. The next two dive into mental health. The third set focuses on the challenges of long-distance relationships, and the final set covers the moving on sta...

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, iACADEMY—a premier institution under STI Holdings known for its niche college courses—proudly launches the second edition of the iNDIEGENIUS Project Lab. This initiative continues its mission to empower filmmakers with regional backgrounds and concepts rooted in indigenous and regional themes, providing a platform to bring these projects to life. Presented in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Directors Guild of the Philippines (DGPI), the program underscores a shared commitment to fostering film education and supporting the next generation of filmmakers. “The first edition counts newly minted award-winners among its mentees,” said Raquel Perez Wong, iACADEMY President and COO. “These include Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay and Richard Jeroui Salvadico, co-directors of Tumandok —winner at Cinemalaya 2024—and iACADEMY’s own Cedrick Labadia, whose film Threefor100 won ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best ...

DVent Pictures and Warner Bros. Philippines , in cooperation with WEU , have unveiled the official poster of Eraserheads: Combo On The Run , a documentary film about the iconic Pinoy rock band and the monumental staging of their Huling El Bimbo reunion concert in 2022.   The film’s poster was designed by Brandon Schaefer of Jumpcut NYC , a multimedia artist renowned for his work on some of the most acclaimed films in recent memory. His portfolio includes the poster for Drive My Car , winner of the 94th Academy Award for Best International Feature, as well as artwork for the Sundance and Cannes-winning documentary All That Breathes , and the 40th anniversary release of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver . Producer and filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura shared that Schaefer came up with multiple design concepts with minimal guidance, allowing him the freedom to explore different visual approaches.  “I had such a difficult time choosing just one,” said Ventura. “But in the end, it w...

  Global J-pop superstar KENSHI YONEZU releases “ Plazma ,” a new single and the official theme song to the latest installment in the iconic Gundam franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-. The track features electrifying vocals from Yonezu alongside high-tempo synths and electronic rhythms to match the vibrant universe of the mecha and their epic space battles. Today’s track is the latest in a string of prolific theme songs by Yonezu following his contributions to Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, the Final Fantasy XVI video game, and his global hit theme for the Chainsaw Man series.  Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuuX -Beginning- premiered in a total of 426 theaters, including IMAX® theaters in Japan on January 17th, as a re-edited version title comprised of some of the episodes. The TV anime is scheduled to premiere later on in 2025 worldwide. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuuX -Beginning- is already a huge hit, grossing over 598 million yen (3,829,801 USD) at th...

Filipino rising artist MURI is set to take the stage at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival in Austin, Texas, from March 10-15, 2025. The AXEAN Festival alumna joins an impressive roster of international talents, showcasing her unique blend of soul, indie, and jazz-pop music to a global audience. Photo credits: Franco Maigue “I feel incredibly honored to have been chosen and to be representing the Philippines on such an international stage,” MURI shares in an official statement. “I’m excited because SXSW is one of the biggest festivals for artists to showcase in, and it’ll be my first time going. Aside from playing, I’m also pretty excited to be there as an attendee, watch other artists perform, and attend all the cool talks and presentations.” As she prepares for this significant milestone, MURI hints at even bigger plans for her music in 2025, including collaborations, new music releases, and performances all around the world. “I’m working on a few collaborations and n...

  Ahead of their much-anticipated repeat concert next month, Pinoy rock queens Acel Bisa , Aia de Leon , Barbie Almalbis, Hannah Romawac , Kitchie Nadal , and Lougee Basabas have officially launched Tanaw Collective —a supergroup that celebrates the power of women-led collaborations. This new initiative will explore exciting ventures including collaborative music releases, live performances, and other creative projects that amplify female voices in the music industry.   In addition to the serialized Tanaw shows, the six-piece force will release their first official single “ Landslide ,” on Friday, January 31, 2025 across all digital music platforms worldwide. A stripped-down reimagining of the iconic Fleetwood Mac classic, the song was self-recorded by the artists, and mixed/mastered by Angee Rozul . Fans can expect to hear a special arrangement of “Landslide” live at the Tanaw: The Repeat concert, taking place at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City on Februar...

IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide,   has today announced the launch of The Official Philippines Chart , bringing official, industry-backed weekly music charts to the country for the first time.   Marilag , the hit song by Filipino R&B star Dionela, has the honour of being the first ever Official #1 track in the Philippines. The song, released in November 2024, soundtracked the remainder of the year and has continued its strong streaming performance into 2025.   The Official Philippines Chart Top 20 will be announced every Tuesday, and will showcase the most popular tracks from local and international artists based on streaming across all major platforms. The Official Philippines Charts will be available alongside Official Charts for five other ASEAN markets at the Official Southeast Asia Charts website ( www.officialseacharts.com ), and via the related social media channels on Instagram and Facebook, allowing music fans to engage with trending tracks...