Star Powerhouse

Ballet  Manila principal dancer  Abigail Oliveiro as Snow White.   Ballet Manila continues its cherished Holiday Cheer Series, a family oriented program that has become a staple of the Christmas season since 2022. This year, audiences are invited to experience the enchanting and timeless story of Snow White, running from December 25 to 29, 2025 at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City. For Ballet Manila’s CEO and artistic director; and Snow White choreographer,  Lisa Macuja Elizalde, the Holiday Cheer Series has brought nostalgic tales to life year after year, making ballet accessible entertainment for everyone and an experience that families can share.  A kiss of true devotion breaks the spell—Snow White awakens, and love triumphs to the cheers of all (photo courtesy of Iron Rose photographer Mr. Wu Wenbo) “Holiday Cheer Series is our way of bringing people together through ballet,” shared Lisa. “These productions are not only about artistry, ...

Bistro Rising 2025 returns to Manila with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing together some of the most promising Filipino indie artists from Singapore and the Philippines in a cross-cultural music showcase. The highly anticipated event will take place at 70’s Bistro in Quezon City on December 29, 2025. Co-headlining the show are three Singapore-based Filipino bands that have steadily gained recognition within the Lion City’s underground music circuit: soul-pop act iLaya , indie rock outfit Nostress , and ‘80s new wave-inspired band The Next Wave . The trio will share the stage with Shumi , a Bulacan-based city pop band, and Rooftop Reveries , an indie pop-rock group known for their compelling songwriting and polished live performances. Bistro Rising 2025 is presented by Mushi Entertainment . The show is part of a broader effort to strengthen creative ties between the Philippines and Singapore, both linked by an increasingly visible community of Filipino musicians and talents. “Thi...

  The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) ushers in the Christmas season by illuminating the iconic facade of its Main Building with a striking Lubenas parol from Pampanga alongside a belen logo, forming a centerpiece that embodies the enduring spirit of the Christmas season for Filipinos. Titled “GABAY”, the display also highlights the building’s ongoing construction, making it a major component of the display. The façade lighting will be on display from 6pm to 5am, from December 16, 2025 to January 6, 2026. This year’s Christmas facade lighting references the early Filipino belief that a star-shaped lantern (parol) guides churchgoers to the dawn masses (Simbang Gabi). The light display is directed by CCP Trustee and Gawad CCP Awardee for Lighting Design Felix “Monino” Duque. It was conceptualized and designed in collaboration with culture and arts officer and lighting designer Jericho Pagana. “I wanted to have one clear element, which is the logo of the belen. It serves as t...

  Filipino creator and digital entrepreneur Abi Marquez is set to participate in a panel session at the 1 Billion Followers Summit , happening January 9-11 in Dubai , marking another milestone for Filipino representation at one of the world’s most influential gatherings for creators, digital leaders, and global cultural figures. The panel will focus on how creators transform brand partnerships into content audiences genuinely want to watch . Panelists will share insights on turning products into story moments, integrating brand deals seamlessly into content, and scaling partnerships — from early collaborations to multi-six-figure and seven-figure deals . Widely known as the “Lumpia Queen,” Abi has built a global following of over 10 million by championing Filipino food and culture through modern, highly engaging digital storytelling. Represented by NYMA Talent Management, her work has shown how culturally rooted content from the Philippines can resonate far beyond local audiences,...

  Prime Video released the tease art, teaser trailer and premiere date for Young Sherlock , starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin ( After series) as Sherlock Holmes. This reimagining of the beloved detective, brought to life by visionary director and executive producer Guy Ritchie, charts the origin story of Sherlock Holmes in an irreverent, action-laden mystery that follows the iconic detective’s early adventures. All eight episodes of the thrilling series will premiere on March 4, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.     With all the wit and charm of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes feature films, Young Sherlock follows the origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character’s early days. Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man – raw and unfiltered – when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty. His first ever case unravels a globe-trotti...

Every piña fiber, abacá , and jusi fabric woven into a barong Filipino carries the struggles of being acknowledged as the Philippine national dress for men. Along with them, the nation’s fight for acceptance and freedom is reflected in patterns drenched in Philippine culture and tradition.  “The barong Filipino overcame many obstacles, the biggest of which is the Filipinos’ own colonial mentality,” said cultural advocate and Gawad CCP awardee Dr. Nicanor Tiongson in his special lecture at Costume Laboratory (COSLAB) 2, the Costume Design and Construction Laboratory for Philippine Theater workshop held last November 17 to 23, at the De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde. Through its Production Design and Technical Services Division, the CCP conducts ladderized workshops and lectures on the national dress with COSLAB. COSLAB started with the Traje de Mestiza from the 1890s to 1920s.  COSLAB 2 features the baro - the men’s shirt covering the period 1800s, 1920s and 1970s. COSLAB...

  All eyes are on acclaimed French actress Garance Marillier, French cinema’s fearless feminist ingénue, who arrives in Manila as the guest of honor of the 28th French Film Festival.  The Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, led by Ambassador Marie Fontanel, in partnership with SM Supermalls, hosted a press welcome for Marillier, followed by a Gala Screening of Couture at SM Cinema, SM Aura. Her presence underscores the festival’s celebration of feminism, creative collaboration, and the transformative power of cinema, showcasing stories that champion women’s voices both on and off the screen. Marillier, who embodies the modern feminist spirit of cinema, and French Ambassador Fontanel bring renewed spotlight to feminist cinema, an advocacy that the French Embassy has championed since 2024 under France’s feminist diplomacy. This year’s festival continues the movement, highlighting female perspectives, women-led stories, and the artistic courage of women across bo...